Be a woman who empowers other women

Atty. Kristine Yuzon-Chavez is a mother of two, lawyer, and business professional who was recently as appointed the new Executive Director of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). She vows to develop and implement plans that empower women in their livelihood, employment, health, and safety, among many others.

“My advocacy, in line with that of PCW, is to advance women’s rights and ensure the availability of equal opportunities for all women,” she says. “Because only through women’s empowerment and gender equality can we achieve genuine progress that will never fade.”

Be a woman of resilience

When she was 27, Joy Wong discovered that she had Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD), a condition that made her unable to bear her own children. Instead of letting this development steal her joy, she and her husband became active advocates of legal adoption. They now have two children through adoption.

“At 27, I came into terms with the possibility of dying young. I had cancer,” she says. “But something inside me knew that it cannot be the end of my life just yet, and so I fought, and I fought really hard. My cancer survival story is not the end of my journey.”

These health issues didn’t stop Joy from working hard to accomplish her goals. In 2017, she completed the Ironman 70.3 triathlon race. She is also a Smile Train Charity athlete, and has raised $3,864 to fund free surgeries to children with cleft lip and palate.

Be a woman who uses her platform for meaningful change

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach isn’t just known for her beauty queen titles and multiple brand endorsements, but also for her multiple advocacies. Pia is an advocate for proper sexual education, gender equality, and HIV awareness — an issue that used to be considered taboo. As the UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for Asia and the Pacific, Pia has launched campaigns that support public HIV screening as well as proper sex education through social media.

“To never fade does not mean that you will always reign,” she says. “To #NeverFade means to use your voice and platform to create meaningful change that impacts people’s lives now and for years to come. I have always believed that a lasting legacy can only start when you choose to take a stand, and you stand by this belief wherever you go – wherever life takes you.”

Be a woman who challenges beauty standards

Actress Iza Calzado-Wintle is a huge advocate of body positivity and self-love, because she believes that women’s lack of self-belief shouldn’t hold them back from succeeding. Iza is also one of the co-founders of She Talks Asia, a community dedicated to increasing the representation of Asian women globally.

“We have to start teaching young women to change their standards on how they see themselves as women,” she says. “Today, we teach them to look beyond the expectations of perfection — where beautiful traits like bravery, confidence, and sense of humor can be found. What will never fade? It’s how you see and accept yourself as your own standard of beauty.”

Be a woman of compassion

Broadcast journalist and TV host Kara David has produced award-winning documentaries that shed light on the extreme inequalities of society. Her career as an investigative journalist opened her eyes to the pressing need to help less fortunate Filipino children, which is why she founded Project Malasakit in 2001, giving children access to education for almost 20 years.

“Through [Project Malasakit’s] outreach program, we have made food, medicine and education accessible to remote communities that otherwise, had no basic government support,” she says. “There is indeed a lot more that needs to be done. But if we harness the power of our collective compassion — we can make a change that will never fade, one school at a time, one child at a time.”

Be a woman who’s not afraid to get real

Social media has made millions of people strive for a standard that just isn’t real, which is why Bianca Gonzales-Intal‘s voice is such an important one. Reaching more than 5 million via her social media channels, Bianca is candid, open, and genuine about the ups and downs of motherhood, particularly when it comes to breastfeeding. She has talked openly about her breastfeeding struggles, and by allowing herself to be vulnerable, she’s empowered other moms who have had similar experiences.

“I started posting my real struggles as a new mom using the hashtag #mommydiaries, to share not just the beautiful but also the ugly side of motherhood,” she says. “I had no idea that a simple hashtag could spark many conversations. To this day, I continue to share my pains, my learnings, hacks and tricks I’ve discovered, to hopefully make a never-fading impact and help make other moms feel a little less alone.”

Be a woman who advocates for equality

A long-time World Vision volunteer, Jasmine Curtis-Smith was appointed a World Vision Ambassador in 2015. Through the organization, she has sponsored five children — the first one will start her college education this year.

“A fair access to education encourages a better future for all. When a child has access to education, he or she will grow up empowered to see the possibility of a self-capable, successful future. I use my voice as an extension of their voices, my dream is to create a bright future for these children that will never fade” shares Curtis-Smith.

Be a woman whose spirit never fades

These seven women demonstrate the dedication to build legacies that never fade, which is why Downy recognized them as #NeverFade Awardees to celebrate National Women’s Month.

“We always envision the Downy woman to be confident and beautiful inside out, and tonight, our Downy #NeverFade Awardees become the true embodiment of these characters,” says Rebecca Kan, Regional Brand Communications for P&G Asia Fabric Care. “We are truly proud to present these remarkable Filipinas and their stories of passion. As we support the National Women’s Month Celebration led by the Philippine Commission on Women, Downy celebrates all Filipinas for their inspiring passion and never-fading spirit to make positive change in the society.”