A new women-led initiative was launched at The Manila Hotel on March 31, just as Women’s Month came to a close, with a bold and urgent mission — to safeguard the first 1,000 days of life.
The group, called Ladies for a Cause, was born from a meeting between Philippine Red Cross Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang and former Senator Joey Lina, who is also president of The Manila Hotel and convenor of the Children’s First 1,000 Days Coalition (CFDC).
In just a few weeks, what started as an idea turned into a full-fledged movement involving 150 women leaders.
“This is a historic event,” said Lina.
“It’s the women who must be at the forefront of this cause. The child is first nourished in the womb. After birth, breastfeeding is critical, and if we miss this period, the consequences are irreversible.”
Lina emphasized that the first 1,000 days are the foundation for a person’s health, cognitive ability, and future development.
Poor nutrition and lack of care during this window, he said, are tied to alarming levels of stunting, learning poverty, and low educational performance in the Philippines.
For Pang, the urgency is deeply personal and national.
“They’re not just numbers,” she said. “They are dreams unfulfilled and families shattered. This is not charity, it is justice. No child’s potential should be stunted by malnutrition, and no mother should die from preventable causes.”
Pang said Ladies for a Cause will focus on five key areas — raising awareness, gathering resources, educating mothers and caregivers, engaging policymakers, and partnering with grassroots organizations.
Among those who expressed support was New Zealand Ambassador Catherine McIntosh, who cited a Māori proverb: “Ko te whaia, te takere o te waka”—mothers” are like the hull of a canoe.
to action for maternal and child health
“They are the heart of the family,” McIntosh said. “Ladies for a Cause, may you continue to nurture and inspire the next generation.”
DSWD Undersecretary Diana Cajipe, who previously served as an OB-GYN, spoke candidly about the loss of mothers during the pandemic.
“I operated on 24 women. Some made it, but some did not,” she said. “We are women from different sectors. But if we work as one, we can fill the gaps. Let’s ask ourselves what we can do.”
SM Foundation executive director Connie Angeles also emphasized the long-term impact of the movement.
“This mission transcends statistics,” she said. “It touches lives. In the first 1,000 days, the seeds of a child’s future are planted.”
The launch ended with a commitment pledge and a call for women from all sectors to add their voices, skills, and influence to the cause.
“We gather not just as individuals,” Pang said, “but as a collective force of compassion, passion, and action.”