Cosmopolitan Women Of Influence 2024 Recognition Dinner Highlights

Cosmopolitan Philippines

TRIGGER WARNING: An awardee's speech from 8:29-9:33 contains a discussion of sexual assault and trauma. Viewer discretion is advised.  On March 21, 2024, Cosmopolitan Philippines hosted a Recognition Dinner to honor the awardees of this year's #CosmopolitanWomenOfInfluence campaign. That night, the Cosmo team recognized the consistent efforts of Iza Calzado, Kaladkaren, Angely Dub, Carla Abellana, Agatha Wong, Janina Vela, Pola Del Monte (Miss Chief Editor), Dr. Aivee Teo, Lorelie Quiambao-Osial, and Kathrina David in using their platforms to promote their respective advocacies.   Special thanks to major sponsors Globe Business and Dove, and our official venue partners Brittany Hotel and Origine, for helping us make this event successful.  VIDEO PRODUCED BY:  Ira Nopuente, Andie Estella VIDEO SHOT BY:  Jino Del Mundo, Jham Mariano, Jez Villapando, Greeko Joy Junio VIDEO EDITED BY: Greeko Joy Sunio

Transcript

00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:03 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:06 [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:10 [Music]

00:37 We're incredibly honored to have all of you here tonight.

00:41 The Council of All Women of Influence recognition day is a perfect occasion for us to celebrate women

00:47 who are the embodiment of the world's most poignant figures of our heart.

00:51 Thank you so much Council of All Athletes of the Philippines for making me part of the Women of Influence list in 2024.

00:59 Having gone through everything that I've gone through and now being able to use it for a purpose beyond myself

01:07 to hopefully inspire another, even just one woman, or even just one 19, 20, 21 year old girl who was just like me back in the day

01:20 to really believe in herself, to love herself more, and to also know that I'm still a work in progress and I have such a long way to go.

01:31 [Music]

01:35 It is an honor for me to receive this prestigious recognition. So a big thank you to Cosmoportive Magazine and thank you to GLOW Business.

01:44 So partnering with GLOW has been a joy and working with the people of GLOW have been a joy too.

01:50 I think I also really believe that when it comes to looking at digital transformation and innovation

01:56 and I've had the pleasure of meeting a few AI and machine learning implementations the last few years,

02:02 the diversity, equity, and inclusion in the team that you have really matters.

02:07 And you have better transformational and innovative outcomes when you have a diverse team.

02:12 So that's also I guess one thing that we are celebrating this month when it comes to that.

02:17 As a woman of energy, I do believe we can have a sustainable future, but it can only be sustainable if it is equitable as well.

02:23 [Music]

02:25 I'm very honored to be here as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.

02:33 I'm honored to be here as one of your honorees and most especially I'm honored to be here to be a woman.

02:43 Alam nyo po, it's very difficult to be a transgender woman in this society.

02:50 Every day we face so many challenges and tribulations.

02:57 In fact, when I posted that I'm one of the women of influence in 2024,

03:03 may mga taong nagsabi na bakit siya nandyan eh? Hindi naman siya babae.

03:10 I think she's taking up space not meant for her, but meant for other women.

03:17 But I don't care because Cosmopolitan Philippines thinks otherwise.

03:24 I am standing here right in front of all of you as myself, as my true self, and I am so proud of that.

03:35 And nothing can take that away from me, no matter what other people say.

03:41 I am me. I am Khaled Karen and I am proud to be myself.

03:46 [Music]

03:50 So I believe I am not extraordinary.

03:54 There are so many people who are more capable than me, smarter than me, prettier than me, sexier than me.

03:59 It's never ending. There's always someone else.

04:02 But there are some things I've learned in my 33 years of existence that make me different from a lot of people.

04:08 Consistency, discipline, showing up when you want to cry, and being there for your loved ones, for people you don't know.

04:17 Just being kind to everyone. There are days I'm not kind. I snip, you know, I trigger.

04:22 But it took me a lot of time to learn that I will never find myself in this lifetime,

04:29 but I will create it, recreate it, reinvent it, then go all over again.

04:35 So see, that's the thing. You try and try and try because life is about showing up,

04:41 being consistent about your dreams because nobody is going to give it to you unless you came from a rich family.

04:46 And that's also okay. I took my master's in Madrid, then I realized I was classmates with the son of CEO of this from Paraguay, Uruguay,

04:55 and I was just Angelita of Access Travel. And that made me proud because that was mine.

05:01 It was not given to me by my parents or anyone. That was mine.

05:05 And it will be always. And this is my story to tell. I don't need a script or anything because this is my story.

05:11 And that's what I want to leave a mark here. Create your own story no matter where you are from.

05:16 A woman of influence has the courage to use her voice no matter how terrifying.

05:25 If it's for the truth, if it's for what is right, and if it's for a cause she truly believes in.

05:34 Thank you very much, Cosmo PH, for recognizing my passion and advocacy.

05:39 I dedicate this award to all women animal welfare advocates, volunteers, rescuers, fighters, believers, adopters, donors.

05:49 May you continue using your voice and keep shining your light.

05:53 Keep making a positive impact in my life and in the lives of animals and other women everywhere.

05:59 So thank you very much. Thank you, Cosmo PH, for this recognition.

06:07 I can't believe that I'm standing here today with all of these amazing women.

06:12 You know, the women of influence, the women of love, behind GLOBE.

06:16 Thank you so much for recognizing me because it means a lot.

06:20 Especially that my sport isn't as recognized in the Philippines.

06:25 My sport is a martial art. So for Taekwondo, it's Korean. In Karate, it's Japanese.

06:31 So naturally, my sport is Chinese. You know, just being with all those strong men and just being with them and training with them,

06:39 I think mentally and physically, I've gotten stronger, even though I don't look like my Bruce.

06:45 You know, we don't have to look strong to be strong.

06:48 And I think that's a really important thing that I want to deliver to everyone here in this room.

06:54 You know, you don't have to look strong. You don't have to be masculine to be strong.

06:58 So thank you so much, Cosmo PH and everybody in this room.

07:02 Thank you so much, Cosmo PH. I've been here for so long and there's been so many high moments.

07:14 And there's also been a lot of low moments. But I've come to realize that a lot of them are really just moments.

07:21 A lot of, you know, a lot of life, we highlight the big stuff.

07:26 I think social media has made life about virality, you know, millions of views, the trends.

07:33 It's about big achievements and awards. And I'm very thankful for this one.

07:37 I realized that life is not only about virality, but integrity and consistency.

07:43 I have this honor and I share this honor with seven other amazing women.

07:47 But I want to share this honor as well to the women who are in the 99 percent,

07:53 the mothers who tirelessly parent their children without the recognition.

07:59 All of these women and girls who won't get the recognition, I share this with them.

08:03 Because, you know, this is the one percent and they're working and the 99.

08:09 So I think I want to say just I'm proud of all of the women here,

08:14 the media who's working hard to tell important stories, everybody here who's here making a difference.

08:20 I share this recognition with you.

08:23 What was your first impression of your school bus?

08:28 When I was seven years old, I was waiting for my school bus at home.

08:35 I was in front of the TV and a man entered our house.

08:41 He stood right beside the television set.

08:44 He unzipped his pants, pulled out his genitals and performed an act that would change my life.

08:55 And at that time, because I was too young, I didn't have the words to describe what was happening.

09:03 And so not having the words effectively silenced me.

09:08 And this is why I have learned that words hold power.

09:14 And this is why I am in this field of journalism.

09:17 Because while I may not undo the trauma that was inflicted upon me,

09:23 while I might not be able to undo other people's trauma, I can inform.

09:29 I can uplift. I can inspire. And I can empower.

09:34 This is the reason why women of influence and other people should be more responsible about how they talk,

09:41 how they write, how they use social media.

09:45 Because we can maintain power in society, we can hurt people, but we can also empower, we can also uplift.

09:53 Congratulations to all the women. You guys are so great. I'm so proud of you.

10:02 And I'm so proud to be part of this group of women of COSMO Women of Influence 2024.

10:10 It's really such a diverse group of women.

10:13 And it's so nice to be included in this super wonderful set of women.

10:18 As a dermatologist, I really deal with women every day.

10:22 In the clinic, I empower women to be the best version of themselves.

10:26 And of course, in my advocacy, the Beauty Beyond Borders, I'm so proud that we help women in the communities.

10:33 We give free treatments. We help bring back their confidence and give them a service that they cannot afford.

10:40 So I'm truly honored to be just with all of these women tonight.

10:45 Thank you, COSMO, for recognizing all our efforts.

10:48 And I really am so happy to celebrate the success of every woman in this room

10:54 because we are paving the way for women achievers in our society.

10:59 So let us continue to celebrate women and let us continue to celebrate each other's successes.

11:04 [Music]

11:29 you

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