On 8th March 2025, the Filipino Women’s Association UK (FWA-UK) proudly hosted its International Women’s Day Celebration at the York Suite, Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington. Themed “Leadership and Entrepreneurship: Filipino Women Shaping the Future in the UK,” the event brought together an inspiring lineup of speakers, distinguished guests, and members of the Filipino-British community for an afternoon of insightful discussions, networking, and empowerment.
Honoured Guests and Speakers
FWA-UK was privileged to welcome esteemed guests from the Philippine Embassy in London, including Madam Louie Locsin, Consul General Rhenita Rodriguez, and Consul Ira Valdez, who joined us in celebrating the achievements of Filipino women in leadership and entrepreneurship.
Our distinguished guest speakers, all trailblazers in their respective fields, shared their invaluable experiences and perspectives:
Gina Romero, Founder of Mettamatch, delivered an inspiring talk on “Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Technology”, highlighting the urgent need for greater female representation in AI and tech industries.
Gina shared her mission to power an inclusive workplace of the future by bringing women into tech at scale, particularly through AI data services. She emphasised how gender disparities in technology not only limit economic opportunities but also pose risks to society. Women currently make up less than a third of the world’s tech workforce, and addressing this gap is crucial for creating an equitable and ethical digital future.
She discussed the biases in AI systems, citing real-world examples where facial recognition and image enhancement AI have demonstrated racial and gender discrimination. These cases underscore the importance of diversity in AI development, ensuring that technology is designed with ethical standards and inclusivity in mind.
Gina outlined key actions to drive change:
✅ Data & AI Literacy at All Levels – Educating women to make informed decisions and hold the industry accountable.
✅ Diversity & Inclusion in AI – Encouraging varied perspectives in design, development, and implementation to prevent biased systems.
✅ Ethical AI Supply Chains – Involving social enterprises in AI policy discussions to prevent exploitation and ensure fair opportunities.
She closed with a powerful message: “AI is shaping the future, but who is shaping AI?” Calling on the audience to support initiatives that bring opportunities home for Filipino women, Gina encouraged women to step into tech careers, advocate for ethical AI, and become active participants in shaping the future of technology.
Roni Bandong-McSorley, Founder of RoniB’s Kitchen, captivated the audience with her talk on “Challenges in Marketing Filipino Flavours in the UK,” sharing her entrepreneurial journey in bringing Filipino cuisine to mainstream markets. She recounted how her success began in 2016, when her Filipino dish won “Best Alternative Christmas Dinner” on Channel 4’s Kirstie Allsopp’s Handmade Christmas Show, which motivated her to launch RoniB’s Kitchen in 2017.
Roni discussed the challenges of sourcing authentic ingredients in the UK while staying true to traditional Filipino flavours. She emphasised the importance of educating the British market about Filipino cuisine and distinguishing it from other Asian food offerings.
Her biggest milestone came in 2024, when her Banana Ketchup won a life-changing contract with Aldi UK on Channel 4’s Aldi’s Next Big Thing, securing shelf space in over 1,000 Aldi stores.
Roni’s presentation highlighted the resilience and innovation needed to bring Filipino food to mainstream markets, inspiring entrepreneurs to push forward despite challenges.
Councillor Lotis Bautista, a Camden councillor and advocate for social equity, shared her inspiring journey to becoming Chair of the East and Southeast Asians (ESEA) for the Labour Party. She spoke about the challenges she faced in politics, including building confidence, taking up space in leadership, and balancing public life with personal challenges.
Lotis emphasised the lack of Filipino representation in UK politics, despite the 165,000 Philippine-born residents in the UK (as of 2021), 28,000 Filipino NHS nurses, and significant contributions of Filipinos in various sectors. She posed a powerful question: “How many Filipino representatives are there in the UK?”—challenging the audience to step up and become active participants in governance.
She outlined who can represent their community in politics, encouraging eligible Filipino-British individuals to consider running for local office and advocating for issues that matter to their communities. She also introduced ESEA for Labour’s local council mentoring programme, a resource to support aspiring leaders.
Her call to action was clear: Filipinos need more representation in UK politics. She urged the audience to step forward, use their voices, and help shape policies that impact their communities.
Empowering Conversations & Community Engagement
The event also featured an interactive audience discussion, where attendees explored key topics such as:
- Success stories of Filipino women in business and leadership.
- The barriers and challenges women face in professional and entrepreneurial spaces.
- The power of mentorship, family, and networks in fostering success.
As FWA-UK Chairman Velly Cattermole noted in her closing remarks, the event was not only a celebration of achievements but also a call to action—to continue empowering and uplifting Filipino women across all sectors.
A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors
This event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. A heartfelt thank you to:
🌟 Agnes Panga from AyalaLand
🌟 Marijelle Moreno from MM Beauty Lounge
🌟 Leilanie Marie Indopia from Thermomix
🌟 Nick Fruto from Skinfaciality
Your contributions played a vital role in making this celebration a success, and we are deeply grateful for your support of FWA-UK’s mission.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming FWA-UK Events
As we continue to build on the momentum of this event, we invite you to join us in our upcoming gatherings:
📅 5th April – FWA-UK Founding Day & Salo-Salo Celebration
📍 St. Helen’s Church, North Kensington
📅 24th May – 2025 General Meeting
📍 Venue TBC
📅 7th June – Philippine National Day Charity Fundraising Gala
📍 Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington
📅 27th September – 2025 Annual General Meeting & Community Engagement Forum
📍 Venue TBC
Join the Movement
FWA-UK remains committed to its mission of empowering Filipino women in the UK. If you would like to be part of our events or support our initiatives, we encourage you to get involved, share your insights, and continue fostering a community where women thrive and lead.
Stay connected with us for more updates and future events. Together, we celebrate, empower, and inspire!