Ladies For A Cause strives to create better future for at-risk mothers and children

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A child’s first 1,000 days of life—270 days in the mother’s womb and 730 days after birth—is a sacred window. During this critical period, the foundation of a child’s lifelong health, well-being, and cognitive abilities is established. That’s why proper nutrition for both the child and the mother is essential during this time.

To help at-risk Filipino mothers get the support they need and secure a brighter future for their children, Republic Act 11148, or the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act,” was enacted in 2018. In 2019, the law was put into action through the establishment of the Children's First 1000 Days Coalition (CFDC).

Atty. Joey Lina (Photo by John Louie Abrina/Manila Bulletin)

“We have organized so many activities to pursue the cause. We hope that, in the Philippines, children will be brighter, taller, and stronger within a decade,” said Atty. Joey Lina, president of the Manila Hotel and convenor of the CFDC. “This can be done if we focus on the first 1,000 days of life, from conception to the child’s second birthday.”

The coalition has made a major impact through partnerships with the government, including the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health (DOH), and the National Nutrition Council, among others. More recently, it began its regional mission with a launch in Guimaras, together with First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos, in June 2024. However, more still needs to be done to achieve the coalition’s goal—and Atty. Lina believes that success must involve the backbone of the community.

“The coalition will be insufficient—it will not succeed—if we do not hear from the strongest voice that must be heard—the women,” he said. “They have to be at the forefront because it is in the womb of a mother that the child is first nourished.”

On March 31, 2025, the last day of International Women’s Month, women from various fields, all dressed in pink, gathered at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel to mark the beginning of a transformative journey, the launch of Ladies For A Cause.

Dr. Gwen Pang (Photo by John Louie Abrina/Manila Bulletin)

The idea for the organization began when Atty. Lina and Dr. Gwen Pang, secretary general of the Philippine Red Cross, met in February to discuss issues surrounding malnutrition, unhealthy pregnancies, and the need for a group to address these concerns. On March 19, 2025, the two gathered 27 women to join the mission. Two weeks later, Ladies For A Cause was born.

“Although many actions have been taken by various sectors to support the coalition, the gap is still too wide—and we need to act together to close it,” said Dr. Pang, lead convenor of Ladies For A Cause. “We believe women can do it.”

Women present during the launch of Ladies For A Cause (Photo by John Louie Abrina/Manila Bulletin)

Ladies For A Cause aims to strengthen the coalition’s mission through fundraising, mentoring, and influencing policies to break barriers. It is guided by five pillars of impact: raising awareness, gathering resources for its initiatives, equipping mothers and caregivers with knowledge and skills for proper nutrition, engaging with policymakers to strengthen programs supporting early childhood development, and collaborating with grassroots organizations.

H.E. Catherine McIntosh, Connie Angeles, Dr. Nona Ricafort, and Diane Cajipe (Photos from CFDC)

Supporting these goals are the women who were present at the launch. Over 150 women pledged to help build a better future for mothers and children. Among those leading the movement with Dr. Pang are New Zealand ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Catherine McIntosh, SM Foundation Inc. executive director Connie Angeles, Global Peace Foundation Philippines’ Dr. Nona Ricafort, and DSWD undersecretary Diane Cajipe.

In the coming months, Ladies For A Cause will be discussing their roadmap for the initiative and welcoming new members to the organization—not just women from Manila, but from various parts of the country.

“This is where we have to step in,” Dr. Pang noted. “Women are at the heart of every home and the backbone of every community. We are nurturers by nature. When women unite across sectors, we become co-equal architects of solutions.”