Asia | Philippines | Crimes

Female pickpocket gang targets male tourists in Philippines

An all-female group of pickpockets, called the “Sex Bomb Gang,” stole the wallet of a man from the United Arab Emirates in a mall in Manila. The wallet had about $3,700 in it, plus IDs and credit cards. In his complaint the victim, Anter Slayem Mubarak Salmeen Alnuaimi, said he went into a currency exchange bureau in the capital. On his way out, three women blocked his way while five others bumped into him several times. He was also kissed by one of the female culprits before they fled in different directions. Local police said the suspects are part of a syndicate of women who us

Asia | Philippines | Activism

Indigenous women are raising their voices and can no longer be ignored

Source: theguardian

As a teenager, I joined fellow indigenous activists on Luzon, the Philippines’ largest island, to protest against the Chico dam project. The scheme would have displaced roughly 300,000 indigenous people from their ancestral lands. The leaders of the movement were all men, but women were also on the frontline, risking their lives. These were our lands too, and we women fought to defend them even when our activities were criminalised by the Filipino government. We didn’t give up until the government and the World Bank cancelled the project. Since then, I have witnessed indigenous women

Asia | Philippines | Business

10 Filipino women entrepreneurs who smashed the glass ceiling

Source: TechinAsia

The recent MasterCard Worldwide Index of Women’s Advancement also showed that the Philippines is one of only two countries in Asia Pacific with more than 50 female business and government leaders and business owners for every 100 of their male counterparts. The other is New Zealand. In no particular order, here are 10 women entrepreneurs in the Philippines who serve as an inspiration to many others in breaking the glass ceiling. These women are leading the way in innovation and offering smart solutions in sectors, including real estate, media, ecommerce, financial tech, and tourism.

Asia | Philippines | Culture

Celebrating empowered Maranao women

Source: Philstar

The culture and tourism councils of the Municipality of Taraka in Lanao del Sur mounted another gathering of the Maranao Women Performers and Entrepreneurs after holding the 2015 Women’s Day celebration last March 23 and 24. Barangay officials as well as representatives from the private sector and the academe attended the colorful event that bannered the theme, So Kilangka-An ko Malong E To-Os ko tiardi. “We celebrated their success as empowered Maranao women by showcasing their talents on preserving our culture and arts and their personal advocacies,” said Taraka Mayor Nashiba Gan

Asia | Philippines | Business

‘I want to be an inspiration to women,’ says first female Bedan bar topnotcher

Source: Manila Bulletin

Her dream was not only to pass the bar exam but to be No. 1, “to create history and be an inspiration to women.” Irene Mae Alcobilla will now live that dream, topping the bar examination and putting her name in the history of San Beda College as the first female graduate to top the examination for lawyers. Hours after the list of successful bar examinees was released last Monday, Alcobilla, who described herself as a “feminist,” told the Manila Bulletin in an exclusive interview of what she had prayed for. “If I would be given a chance to top the exam, I wished I could be th

Asia | Philippines | Culture

Women, youth express support for peace process

Source: ABSCBN News

Women and youth groups also showed their support for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as different events were held throughout the day to mark the anniversary of the signing of the peace deal. Listen to the statement that starts at the 1:00 minute mark...perfect Senator Grace Poe on Friday urged President Aquino to give Congress the opportunity to pass a constitutional version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before convening a national peace summit. In a text message, Poe, an ally of the administration who got elected under Aquino's Yellow coalition, said it is good to have respected