Women in tech-voc break glass ceiling in auto sector

Agudo interacts with Tesda graduates.

“You are all modern-day heroes,” says Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, president and CEO of Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), in her keynote address to the first batch of Tesda Women’s Center graduates under the Ariel #AhonPinay program.

For the HARI chief, a hero means having a “Heart to Empower and Reach Out to Others,” embodied by women filled with purpose at home and in the workplace.

In addition, Agudo paid tribute to mothers as society’s unsung heroes, faced with the challenges of balancing work and family.

“But do we have to choose?” she challenged. “Are work and family not complementary? Family gives us purpose. Family makes us better at everything we do. We work hard because we are inspired by the people we love…. We must be valued for what we are and what we actually contribute to family, society and the economy.”

The Philippines is the only Asian country to be in the top 10 of the most gender-inclusive nations, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Gender Gap report.

In the report, the Philippines placed 10th out of the 144 countries surveyed, recognized for its gains in four categories: labor force participation, educational attainment, health and survival and political empowerment.

Despite this, many Filipino women still struggle to achieve true gender parity with their male coworkers.

With the first batch of graduates under the TESDA-Ariel #AhonPinay program were (second row, from left) Tesda Women’s Center chief Maria Clara Ignacio; P&G Ariel Philippines assistant brand manager Darla Bautista; P&G regional communications manager for fabric & home care, Southeast Asia Louie Morante; HARI president and CEO Ma. Fe Perez Agudo; P&G Philippines country leader for laundry John Terence Dy; and Tesda-NCR regional director Cenon Querubin.

The 60 new graduates of Tesda courses in Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Plumbing, Automotive Servicing and Electrical Installation and Maintenance must deal with the fact that these fields are still considered “male territory.”

To this, the HARI chief recounted her own journey of breaking through the glass ceiling in the local automotive industry—from being born to a modest family where her parents struggled to provide all their children the best possible education, to hurdling her lack of familiarity with an industry that is traditionally led by men.

Coming full circle, she encouraged her audience to do the same—to “choose to succeed,” that is, to pursue a life of learning and courage in the face of adversity.

Agudo, a firm advocate of women empowerment, congratulated Procter & Gamble for the #AhonPinay campaign, and Tesda, for striving to advance women empowerment and gender inclusiveness in the country.

“Women have the right to quality education, health services, housing and employment, not because we are women, but because these are basic human rights,” she said.

In closing, she said her dream was for women to be valued, and given an equal opportunity with men to achieve their dreams.

“We all have the right to be free to fulfill our roles and duties as mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, friends, workers and professionals. Being a hero means being able to pursue our dreams for ourselves and those we love,” she added. —CONTRIBUTED