Want to make a greener, healthier choice for your nails?
by Coco Timajo
Maan Pamaran is no stranger to the word “toxic”; she was in this kind of relationship for 18 years.
After a year of dating her ex-partner, they got married. It wasn’t long after when he started showing red flags. He isolated her from her loved ones as he didn’t want her to spend time with her family and friends. On top of this, he began to put her down and make her feel less.
When she had their first child, he influenced her to quit her job, despite having accomplished so much in her career already. During her second pregnancy, he began to physically abuse her.
She was able to go back to work once their first child was older, but he once again made her quit when she got pregnant with their third. Even their three children were beaten, slapped, and strangled by their father. Their home only felt safe when he was away.
Because she was jobless and isolated from her loved ones, her ex-husband continued to downplay her achievements and made her feel as if she had nowhere to go.
After about 18 years together, Maan finally put her foot down when he got another woman pregnant. Despite the pressure from his parents to take care of the child and protect the family reputation, she refused.
3 years ago, she and her kids left their home. She only brought with her a wallet and a tablet, but she never looked back. She deems herself lucky to have found a safe space with her family and friends, despite not having access to the resources that now exist for domestic abuse survivors.
Today, Maan talks about her experience openly and continues to inspire people who are going through similar toxic or abusive relationships. She advocates for fellow survivors to know their worth and leave once they recognize toxicity.
If you are a victim of or know someone who needs assistance, you may reach out to:
Sulong!
Volunteer-run organization that bridges victim-survivors of sexual violence to pro bono legal advice, psychological aid, and other services.
Email: general.sulong@gmail.com
Facebook: /sulongphilippines
Request form: bit.ly/SulongRequestForm
Donate here: bit.ly/SurvivorsSolidarityFund
Maya’s Organization Philippines
Davao-based support group offering help and advice to victim-survivors of sexual, physical or emotional abuse.
PH Mobile: 09631115935 (Smart) | 0966 7552253 (Globe)
PH Landline: (082) 291 9481
Email: mayasorgdavao@gmail.com
info@mayasorganisationphilippines.org
PNP Women and Children Protection Center
Lead unit of the PNP that handles Violence Against Women and Children.
Aleng pulis hotline: 0919 777 7377
FB: /wcpc.didmpnp
Email: alengpuliswcpc.didm@pnp.gov.ph
Website: wcpc.pnp.gov.ph
Women and Children Cyber Protection Unit
Unit in the PNP responsible for addressing concerns and reports on sexual and gender-based cybercrimes.
Facebook: /PNPACGWCCPU/
Tel. +63 (8) 723-0401 local 5354 / 0927 084 3792
Tel. +63 (8) 723-0401 local 7494
Email: pnp.acg.wccpu@gmail.com
Whether it’s being late to literally everything or working on a project at the very last minute, we all share at least one “toxic” trait. 🤪
We headed over to Twitter to find the "toxic traits” people have aired out on their accounts. Some are genuinely fascinating, while some are too funny (not to mention totally relatable) that we needed to share them with you. Keep scrolling!
What would you add to this list? Let us know at @naminatural on Instagram!
Imagine you're walking in an aisle of newly launched beauty products or scrolling past the IG feed on an online shop on Instagram. How long do you visualize your pro-con list before adding it to your basket? Does that list include social, ethical, and sometimes even philosophical reasons? If so, you might already be practising conscious consumerism! 💗
In layman's terms, conscious consumerism is when purchase patterns are motivated by a desire to make purchasing decisions that have a positive social, economic, and environmental impact. A socially conscious consumer will first consider whether consumption is essential. Then, once they have decided to purchase, they will consider who is providing the goods and how the product impacts every stakeholder during its development and distribution.
The consumer model is constantly shifting, with many customers today focusing on what is known as "conscious consumerism", but then why does it matter?
For starters, it drastically helps humankind inch closer to achieving sustainability goals. With the climate crisis looming and growing steadily day by day, conscious consumerism can curb the effects of human waste and pollution. It cuts back the need for mass consumption and production, which is one of the main culprits behind the degradation of the environment.
It is also necessary from an ethical standpoint, given that conscious consumerism places a strong focus on the idea of having a beneficial social and economic impact on the world. Unfortunately, unethical practices are no alien to the world of shopping. Child labour and animal testing are just parts of the whole.
The glaring truth is that businesses are in business to make money. Using your funds to purchase ethical products and services and the entry of ethical brands can help shift the narrative, demonstrating that companies can be both good for the world and suitable for their company.
Spreading awareness is quite simple to accomplish. It is inexpensive and straightforward to spread a message through social media technologies with a broad reach. Even though it is critical to highlight, you can raise awareness about a specific topic without criticising or imposing your viewpoints on others. Instead, devote your time and energy to raising awareness and teaching those interested in learning more.
As a brand, the first step in our journey to reinventing what it means to be beautiful is to be transparent about our products, so that our customers can make conscious decisions. Our products are intended to benefit not just our consumers, but also the earth we live on. 🌿 For starters, you can check out PETA’s Global Beauty Without Bunnies program, an online database of certified ethically produced beauty products that we’re incredibly proud to be part of!
There are still hurdles to conscious consumerism; the biggest ones having to stay on a budget and the lack of time. But that shouldn’t stop us from trying, right? Think about it, with every purchase we make, we have the opportunity to set a precedent for how businesses will operate in the future and demonstrate that companies that care about the world are so much more worth it than those who don’t! 💗
We all have the ability to make a difference, and by working together, we can gradually develop a future that benefits everyone!
Women that inspire us come from many areas of life. Nothing is more vital in today's world than pushing one another up to achieve success, empower one another, and dare to lead by being fearless in the face of fear.
These 10 boss babes not only demonstrate how far the country has progressed in fostering gender equality in business and the workforce, but their work has also become a model for all aspiring women here in the Philippines.
Founder and president, EcoNest Philippines
Nikki Sevilla aims to provide everyone with the opportunity to adopt environmentally friendly packaging. Her startup, EcoNest Philippines, was founded in 2018 to reduce the use of plastic. It sells cassava bags, edible straws, and sugarcane food storage boxes, among other innovative, technologically advanced, and environmentally friendly packaging items.
Co-founder and CEO, 1Export
Exporting can be intimidating for small businesses. They are concerned about prices or paperwork or simply do not know where to begin. But, Anna Melissa Nava, who co-founded 1Export, a one-stop, end-to-end platform for cross-border trading, says her psychology major helped her create trust with clients. As a result, the company now works with 450 companies that are export-ready and has a presence in 15 markets.
Co-founder and CEO, Allcare
Cindy Burdette's goal with Allcare is to provide freelancers with the same employment benefits as full-time employees and empower SMEs to provide their employees with the same benefits as large corporations. Allcare, a membership-based marketplace that began in 2019, offers various worker benefits—from insurance to training to mental health checks—to employees who would otherwise be excluded. As a result, Allcare's client base rose tenfold from 2019 to 2020.
Founder and CEO, Access Travel & Tours
Angely Dub owns a travel service that has become a favourite among well-known local musicians, travel bloggers, influencers, and those looking for well-planned itineraries to maximize their vacation time. Fate took Dub down a different road when she began her own business at 19. She had to deal with several challenges, including being betrayed by a business partner and losing all she had worked so hard for.
Founder, Jesla Integrated Farm
The farmers' unwavering commitment to learning and applying new knowledge to their crops encouraged Soriano to start and run a farm school. The PalayCheck primer is included in the farmers' major textbook for learning. In addition to running a farm school, Jehanel launched a Youtube channel. They began to document their everyday farm activities, which they described as their own way of promoting agriculture to their peers.
Co-founder and director, QBO
Katrina Chan hopes to strengthen the Philippines' tech startup ecosystem through her accelerator QBO, which she co-founded in 2016. The business is a public-private partnership that includes the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, JP Morgan, and the accelerator IdeaSpace. It hosts the annual Philippine Startup Week and has over 500 startup programs under its belt. In addition, it just started the Startup Pinay campaign to encourage women to pursue careers in technology.
Co-founder, Happy Skin
Rissa Mananquil Trillo was the co-founder of the successful cosmetics and beauty product line Happy Skin. The company is known for its innovative makeup products that cater to the Filipina skin. Though Rissa has recently announced her departure from the company, she was one of the key persons behind Happy Skin’s growth: 13 storefronts and around 100 beauty kiosks. It has also won 30 beauty accolades, including Watsons Philippines' Most Promising New Cosmetic Brand.
CEO and Owner, Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corporation
Alice Eduardo is the owner and CEO of Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corporation, one of the Philippines' largest development corporations. She leads a large, profitable construction company and oversees a large number of employees, all while contributing to the development of our country in multiple ways. She continues to prove herself in this male-dominated industry day after day.
Founder and CEO, MFT Group
Mica Tan chose to establish her own business when she was 19 years old. Fast forward eight years, and Tan, now 27, has accomplished just that: she co-founded and is the CEO of MFT Group, a private equity business with assets of more than US$61 million that operates in nine countries and 18 locations around the world. Tan also received the Filipina Women's Network's Most Influential Filipina Award in 2019.
Founder and CEO, Angkas
Angeline Tham is the founder and CEO of motorcycle taxi service app Angkas. It surprised everyone as the motor industry is usually considered a part of a man's world. Tham is working on expanding Angkas by offering free training to drivers and starting the Philippines' first motorcycle ambulance.
The fight for equality is far from over, but these women have demonstrated that they can care and empower everyone in whatever sector they choose. Their stories each teach a valuable lesson: be a dreamer, a doer, a thinker, and see possibility everywhere!
