SM MOA Globe glows purple in powerful call for gender equality
Leading the illumination: SM Cares Program Director for Women Atty. Pearly Joan Turley, Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla, SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing Jonjon San Agustin, and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Assistant Country Representative Jose Roi Avena light up the SM Mall of Asia Globe in purple to celebrate Women's Month this March.
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The SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Globe lit up in a striking purple hue on 28 February 2025, marking the launch of "Purple Your Icon Illumination"—a nationwide initiative led by SM Cares, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), and the United Nations Philippines. This symbolic illumination celebrates the start of the 2025 National Women's Month, serving as a beacon of support for gender equality and women's empowerment. The MOA Globe will continue to shine purple nightly until the end of March, reinforcing a collective commitment to advancing women's rights and opportunities.
The power of purple: A symbol of equality
The "Purple Your Icon Illumination" initiative goes beyond simply lighting spaces in purple; it symbolizes women's lasting impact on society and serves as a call to action for gender equality. PCW Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla highlighted that this movement is a challenge to turn awareness into real, lasting change.
Aligned with the United Nations' theme for International Women’s Day, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” the campaign emphasizes the need to address the disproportionate burden of unpaid care and domestic work that limits women's economic opportunities.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative Dr. Leila Joudane further stressed the importance of unlocking equal rights and opportunities for women and girls, recognizing the role of youth in creating a more inclusive future.
Purple, a color synonymous with justice, dignity, and equality, served as the central theme of the event. Apart from the illumination of the SM MOA Globe, simultaneous purple Light-Emitting Diode (LED) screen displays across various SM malls nationwide will also extend through March 6, symbolizing unity in advocating for gender equality and women's empowerment.
A symbol of empowerment: SM Cares Program Director for Women Atty. Pearly Joan Turley, PCW Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla, and UNFPA Assistant Country Representative Jose Roi Avena champion the cause for gender equality.
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A call to action
SM Cares Program Director for Women Atty. Pearly Joan Turley highlighted the importance of this initiative, noting, “Through initiatives like the 'Purple Your Icon Illumination,' we aim to inspire a collective movement, where every individual recognizes and champions the invaluable contributions of women to our society."
