Inaugural International Women’s Day Sports Symposium

Participants gathered for the first ever IWD Sports Symposium for International Women's Day

​MANILA, PHILIPPINES: Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) and Girls Got Game PH (GGG), in partnership with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Max’s Group, International Women’s Day, and Australian Embassy, organised #PressforProgress – International Women’s Day (IWD) Sports Symposium held last March 3 in Makati City for female athletes tackling challenges inside and out
of their sports environments.

Over 70 participants from National Sports Associations, schools, and different universities from across Luzon participated in the Symposium. The participants were primarily female athletes, coaches, and other players with a direct stake in women’s sports in the Philippines. During the Symposium, they participated in a workshop on
design thinking process that allowed the participants to share, collaborate, and discuss the various challenges in women’s sports in the Philippines, and create actions steps on how to address them. The workshop was run by a certified strength coach and former national athlete for football, Mrs. Monette Santos-Fider and her team.

Aside from the workshop, notable Filipina athletes such as Ms. Mikee Cojuanco-Jaworski (former national athlete for equestrian and current IOC representative), Ms. Francesca Altomonte (captain of RP Blu Girls softball), and Ms. Cassy Tioseco (former national athlete for basketball), shared their challenges and experiences as Filipino athletes in engaging and inspiring keynote speeches. Girls Got Game and the National Sports Agencies also set up booths to introduce their respective programs to the participants.

PRFU Secretary General, Ada Milby, stated that the reason behind the Symposium is to “create a starting point for young women to build a network of support that goes beyond our individual sports. If we want to press for progress we need to better understand the challenges of our athletes, especially those transitioning from athlete
life to non-athlete life, and work together to empower each other.” Clare Duffield, Counsellor from the Australian Embassy added “sport is an important tool to empower women and girls. Sports diplomacy programmes like this sports symposium help to create solidarity, and support the progression of women in sports, both on and off the field of play.” Australia supported the forum as part of its sports for development initiatives in the Philippines.

PRFU and GGG would like to thank POC, PSC, Max’s Group, IWD, the Australian Embassy, and the tireless volunteers for all their support to make this event happen. The real winners of the day were the participants who showed up and helped #PressforProgress for their own sporting communities, and for all current and future Filipina athletes.