With warm sunlight shining through the Mercedes Benz Showroom, JCI Zugbuana welcomed their guests and media during their March for Women press conference.

In an hour or two, various members of the all-female organization clad in their signature hot pink color introduced their projects which support women’s empowerment, health, and well-being. The event ended with a new sense of excitement for their upcoming projects.

A Can for Hope

Cans for Hope is one of JCI Zugbuana’s yearly donation projects in which they distribute cans for hope to various partner establishments.

By the end of six months, all proceeds collected will be distributed to their beneficiaries, including Glory Reborn, an establishment dedicated to helping indigent mothers and their children as they go through various phases of pregnancy and birth. Cans for Hope will also benefit causes of JCI Zugbuana such as Zugs Cancer Initiatives and Zugbuana Cares. The project was launched through a ceremonial turnover of a can to one of their partners, Pearl Uy-Ang of Pearl Medical Aesthetics.

If you’re looking for an avenue to help women with special medical needs or you’re an advocate of promoting maternal care, watch out for these pink cans and spare a peso or two. As these cans will be distributed in about 100 establishments, you’ll be sure to find a way to share!

Locks of Love

A legacy and unique project of JCI Zugbuana which started in 2016, Locks of Love is a hair donation drive dedicated to cancer patients and women who suffer from medical hair loss.

This year, the project was kicked off through an actual hair-cutting ceremony with their partner, David’s Salon, who will be giving out free haircuts this year to support the cause. The project aims to produce more wigs to continue its goal of spreading love, hope, awareness, and empowerment, one strand at a time.

For anyone who’s seeking to donate their own hair, you may reach out to JCI Zugbuana’s various social media pages. This year, they’re receiving all kinds of hair—virgin, bleached, colored, rebonded, etc. as long as the length reaches 12 inches.

EmpowHER

In partnership with Sangguniang Kabataan Mabolo, Mabolo’s Gender & Development Office, and IBP Cebu Chapter, JCI Zugbuana launches a new project this 2023 – EmpowHER. This livelihood project will serve as their culminating activity on March 26, 2023, at the Barangay Mabolo Sports Complex Gym.

Various activities and workshops will transpire in hopes of honing the skills of the women of Barangay Mabolo to help them secure an income source. The event was launched through the signing of a memorandum of agreement between Hon. Jackson Tudtud of Barangay Mabolo and JCI Zugbuana’s Vice President-External, Rae Villareal.

EmpowHER aims to help two sectors of the women of Barangay Mabolo—the youth and the adults, by choosing workshops that fit their needs. On top of that, IBP Cebu Chapter will be giving out free legal consultations on the said day.

Women for Women Fashion Show 

To end the month with a bang, JCI Zugbuana will hold a fashion show for a cause in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Cebu and the Clothes for Life Foundation.

On March 31, 2023, various empowered Cebuanas from all walks of life with inspiring stories to share will walk down the runway in support of the cause. From a doctor to a businesswoman to a photographer, every woman has an inspiring story to share.

A few names to watch out for are Haidee Benedicto, Chloe Palang, Michaela Durano, Frances Siao, Angeli Dinsay, Joey Esguerra, Pearl Hung, Dr. Eden Opay, Luna Manlangit, Kaye Tumampos, Maria Glen Pontanar, and Isabel Abello.

These inspiring women will walk down the runway wearing novelty creations from renowned Cebuano designers Philipp Tampus, Rei Escario, la Coca, and Abello Couture. They will also share the runway with different Mercedes-Benz cars that showcase their personalities. 

Proceeds of the event will go to C.U.R.E. Foundation, a non-profit organization that rescues, shelters, and supports women and children who have been exploited, and JCI Zugbuana’s future community development projects.

The fashion show will be held in the Mercedes-Benz Cebu Showroom, along Nivel Hills in Lahug. Tickets are now on sale for Php 1,500.00.

^{Photos: Antonio Java}