Phenomenal women share thoughts about empowerment

The weather was lovely in New York City. Summer was bidding goodbye and everyone was ready to welcome fall. I just finished hosting the annual The Outstanding Filipinos in American Awards or TOFA, when I was invited by my dear friends Jerry Sibal and Edwin Josue, to host an intimate event — a simple early evening conversation with three phenomenal women.

Women who, in their field of expertise, showed unparalleled strength, wisdom and resilience to be the empowered women they are today — Filipino-American businesswoman and philanthropist lawyer Loida Nicolas Lewis, Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu and Los Angeles-based Filipino-American businesswoman and CEO of O Skin Care, Olivia Quido-Co.

It was moving and humbling to hear their stories of struggles and successes. Not just for me, but for those who were there — our kababayan from the Tri-state area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut), supporters and allies of the Filipino community, Miss Universe executives, businessmen and more.

Harnaaz and yours truly are joined by Fil-Am businesswomen — philanthropist-lawyer Loida Nicolas Lewis (leftmost) and skincare brand CEO Olivia Quido-Co.

For Loida, it was her father that inspired her from the very start. She said, “I have two brothers and I’m the only girl. As an empowered woman, it’s been from day one, that I can do what I wanted to do. And that I think is what empowers me.”

Harnaaz, who has been a subject of social media bashing and criticism, draws her strength from her mom. She narrated, “I’ve seen her in the most difficult situations of her life. She has never given up on anything she wanted to do. She wanted ‘doctor’ in front of her name, and she broke the patriarchy system in my community and she just did things she wanted to do and encouraged me to be independent and do things I want to do. So that word ‘empowerment’ to me, is my mom.”

“You need to be strong from your back and you need to be strong alone. Only then, you can inspire others to be strong at the same time,” she continued.

With Bong Quintana and Harnaaz (who says that the word empowerment ‘is my mom’).

As for Olivia, who started her life in America cleaning glass windows and handing out fliers in parking lots, hoping people would call her for facials and massages, gave tribute to her parents and her strong Christian faith as her guiding light and motivation to be empowered.

“I want to inspire everyone to say things that speak life to other people. Say things that will empower people. If you’re going to say things that will hurt people, might as well not say them. I believe in choosing life all the time,” she said.

Their stories are meant to be told. Their stories are meant to inspire. Their stories are meant to empower other women (or men) to take charge of their lives, reach for their dreams and be somebody.

Just like these women, I stood on that Players’ stage with my nanay and my tatay, with my grandparents, rooting for me, “Boy, go ahead. Tell your story.” Each one of us stood on the shoulders of our ancestors. We are never alone. Just like that line from the poem To my Grandmother of the great Maya Angelou, “I come as one. I stand as ten thousand.”

And I embrace that line with pride.