Johnson & Johnson Philippines, alongside ABS-CBN Foundation and the Miss Universe Philippines Organization, aims to normalize the conversation on menstrual health with the outreach program #BeNextPeriodReady.
Held at San Antonio High School in Parañaque, #BeNextPeriodReady tackled the importance of having the right sanitary pads for menstruation needs.
Jason Khu, senior brand manager for Modess of J&J Philippines, talked about the reality of teenagers during the Covid-19 pandemic: Young Filipinas went through their first menstruation while on lockdown.
"These experiences will be different as they go back to having face-to-face classes, meeting up with friends, and engaging in more activities outside of their homes. Modess is committed to helping these teens improve the state of their menstrual health, hygiene, and habits, the next time they get their period — so that they are now #NextPeriodReady," Khu said.
MUP 2022 Celeste Cortesi and MUP 1st runner-up Anabelle McDonnell believe, too, that young Filipinas need to be educated on menstrual health and should have better access to products that would improve their menstrual hygiene.
"The need to bring this conversation into normal situations should come from a place of love and pride. Young girls should be proud that they are menstruating and can talk about it freely with other people, this way, girls can be ready together and be more open about the need for access to menstrual health and be next period ready. As for my connection with Miss Universe Philippines, we continue to inspire girls through our way of being relatable and campaigning the message heavily everywhere, so that young girls especially, will feel the need to value themselves as someone to be proud of," Cortesi said.
ABS-CBN Foundation also supports the advocacy by helping distribute 2,500 menstrual hygiene kits to different schools and communities nationwide.
"Like always, we at ABS-CBN Foundation have always trusted J&J Philippines and Modess in continuing our shared advocacy on menstrual health and hygiene education. Together, the benefit of having girls learn and treat conversations like this as a norm will bring back a lot of lessons to them personally. As for kids receiving the kits, alam ko madami ang matutuwa at magkakaron ng bagong approach sa menstrual health ngayon matapos 'yung conversations natin dito with our panel," Levi Ambon-Rota, program head of ABS-CBN Bantay Bata 163 said.
Modess continues their advocacy in creating safe and comfortable spaces for teenage girls with the right knowledge and products to help them navigate the outside world confidently and worry-free.
Visit www.modess.com.ph or follow www.facebook.com/modessangelsofficial and @modessph on Instagram.