Mondelez Philippines took part in Ateneo de Manila University’s annual Pride celebration through #ProudToBeMe, Proud To Be Blue. Held on October 23, this event was part of the Talakayang Alab ng Bayan (TALAB) — Ateneo’s annual set of events and efforts for university-wide nation-building. Mondelez team leaders and employees from the multinational snacks company joined panel discussions with advocates and organizers for LGBTQ+ rights from the university.
The event was opened by drag artist Miss Juicy, who performed a rendition of Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul.” Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan then took the stage to host for the afternoon. She introduced keynote speaker Janlee Dungca, managing directress of PR firm Castro Communications, who then talked about her career progression as a trans woman. She highlighted her initial rejection from a development job due to her transgender identity and discussed her journey to success in the PR and communications industry.
“Dito sa Ateneo, we become persons for and with others,” Habijan wrapped up the keynote speech.
Dungca’s talk was shortly followed by three panel discussions. The first panel discussion was between representatives of ADMU Sanggunian’s Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) and ADMU’s Gender and Development Office (GDO). CGE’s community engagement co-deputy Isabela De los Santos and GDO coordinator Mibo Borres had an engaging conversation on how it feels to be part of the LGBTQ+ community within Ateneo, as well as the roles of their respective entities in safeguarding LGBTQ+ rights in the university.
Notably, De Los Santos mentioned that the university recently experienced its first time having an HIV testing center on school grounds due to a CGE-LoveYourselfPH partnership. Other significant projects and initiatives of the student government commission included a queer fair for artists, gender sensitivity training, and first responder services for victims of harassment.
In response to a question about ensuring a diversity, equity, and inclusion-backed environment, Borres emphasized the “power of the collective” and praised today’s generation for knowing how to stand their ground.
The second panel discussion was led by Mondelez Philippines’ People Lead April Valencia and E-commerce Lead Monch Cruz, who spotlighted Mondelez’s efforts and benefits within the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) advocacy. Valencia revealed that Mondelez Philippines is one of the first companies in Southeast Asia to have gender rights in their policies. Additionally, both panelists mentioned the gender neutrality of Mondelez benefits, of which are transferable to an employee’s declared partners even without marriage.
According to Valencia, Mondelez plans to invest 1 billion dollars into underrepresented communities globally. This is one of their many commitments to DEI, further affirmed by the organizational structure’s 60-40 women to men leadership ratio and a 3-year program for gender sensitivity and allyship.
The final panel discussion brought both sets of panelists together to examine the alignment between Mondelez Philippines and Ateneo’s efforts in DEI. Borres stated that Ateneo’s Gender Hub counseling sessions can benefit from applying Mondelez’s DEI frameworks. Meanwhile, speaking from a student perspective, De los Santos mentioned that it was “reassuring” to see employment opportunities that do not discriminate against queer job-seekers.
“No matter how different we are, we still have the same strengths,” said Monch as a synthesis for all three panel discussions.
#ProudToBeMe, Proud To Be Blue culminated in a performance to Beyoncé’s “Alien Superstar” by drag queen Myx Channel. Habijan’s final remarks also served as a flashback to a less-progressive reality towards LGBTQ+ individuals in the 2000s, marking the significant progress that has been made since through companies like Mondelez Philippines.
