24 March 2025, Phnom Penh - In observance of National Women’s Month, the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia organized a webinar on personal finance and entrepreneurship on 23 March 2025, to help empower the the Filipino community in Cambodia, women in particular, by providing them with the useful knowledge to grow and manage their finances.
Titled “Girls Just Wanna Have FUNds: A Webinar on Personal Finance and Entrepreneurship,” the National Women’s Month webinar gathered some 50 Filipino participants from various sectors eager to achieve financial independence and explore entrepreneurship.
Philippine Ambassador Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo, in her opening remarks, spoke about the importance of financial resilience especially among women of the so-called sandwich generation who bear multiple family responsibilities. “Mas mainam na tayo ay may tamang kaalaman kung paano pamahalaan ang pinaghirapan nating kinikita sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa, upang masiguro ang ating kinabukasan, kasama ng ating mga mahal sa buhay. Sa gayon, sakali mang may unos na darating, tayo ay nakahanda. Ika nga ng mga nakatatanda, kapag may isinuksok, may madudukot,” the Ambassador said.
The webinar featured two female Filipino trailblazers in finance and business: TV and radio host Salve Duplito and Airspeed Group of Companies CEO Rosemarie Rafael.
Popularly known as the “Financial Beshie ng Bayan”, Ms. Duplito presented valuable tips on saving and making money, as well as spotting investment red flags. Her interactive talk surfaced her audience’s interest in pursuing financial security through smart financial management.
Ms. Rafael, an accomplished entrepreneur and ardent advocate of women empowerment, discussed the current state of the PH job market, shared her insights on future-proofing jobs, and provided advice on business opportunities receiving government support. She cited a “growth mindset” as a must-have for would-be entrepreneurs.
Members of the Filipino community who participated in the webinar appreciated the webinar and recognized how financial empowerment programs can help them achieve their personal aspirations. “Hoping that there will be another and more educational information (dissemination) like this empowerment (webinar). I am interested in learning more on entrepreneurship,” a participant commented.
Cambodia is home to approximately 7,500 Filipinos who are employed in the education, garments, finance, hospitality, construction, and healthcare sectors. Based on the Embassy’s records, women comprise sixty percent (60%) of the Filipino Community population in Cambodia. END