PH Consulate General in Jeddah Conducts First GAD Forum for 2020
Participants during the Gender and Development (GAD) Forum. (Jeddah PCG photo)
JEDDAH 13 March 2019 – In celebration of National Women’s Month, the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, in cooperation with BDO, held its first Gender and Development (GAD) Forum on 11 March 2020.
With a theme, “Bridging the Financial Literacy Gap for Women”, the Forum highlighted the Philippines’ interesting case of women having the largest financial inclusion gender gap in their favor. But, while this is true, Filipino women need to be better informed as to how they can maximize this opportunity and become more financially wise and independent.
In his inspirational remarks, Philippine Consul General to Jeddah Edgar B. Badajos emphasized that Filipino women are one of the most empowered in the world. He also added that they occupy key positions in both the government and the private sector, thus, giving them the opportunity to become financially independent.
BDO Marketing Officer for the Middle East Jonathan T. Celis was invited by the Consulate to speak before the predominantly female audience, which included Consulate personnel and dependents, administrators and teaching staff from the Philippine-curriculum schools in Jeddah, Filipino community organizations, Filipino women’s groups in Jeddah, local beauty pageant winners and contestants, and female wards of Bahay Kalinga.
During the forum, Mr. Celis gave practical tips on how women can improve their capacity to increase their savings for possible investments in business and real estate in the future.
OFW-entrepreneur and reigning Ms. Queen of the Desert Jijeth Echevarria, on the otherhand, spoke about her experience as an OFW who successfully ventured into business.
Also present during the forum was BDO Vice President for Business Development in the Middle East Marcelino Tolosa, Jr. END
Mr. Jonathan Celis, BDO Marketing Officer (Jeddah PCG photo)
Ms. Jijeth Echevarria, OFW-Entrepreneur (Jeddah PCG photo)
BDO Vice President Marcelino Tolosa and Mr. Celis are joined by Consul Mary Jennifer Dingal, Vice Consul Sheila Mae Briones and Queen of the Dessert candidates with Mr. Sherwin Zuniga (Jeddah PCG photo)
For more information, visit https://www.jeddahpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinJeddah/.