SPARK! partners with Sony Music Entertainment Philippines to empower young women and girl

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SPARK! Philippines will receive funding from Sony Music’s Global Social Justice Fund to accelerate young women’s rights advocacy through music and film   

Photo from left to right: Prerna Suri, VP, Communications, Asia & Middle East, SME; Hans Kevin Madanguit, Senior Program Manager, SPARK! Philippines; Shridhar Subramaniam, President, Corporate Strategy & Market Development, Asia & Middle East, SME; Maica Teves, Executive Director, SPARK! Philippines; Roslyn Pineda, GM, Philippines, SME; and Andrew Smith, EVP & CFO, Asia & Middle East, SME

SPARK! is delighted to announce new funding from Sony Music Entertainment Philippines to champion young women’s rights and provide access to free and quality education, improved reproductive health products and services, as well as support for gender sensitive and responsive programs.      

As a new beneficiary, SPARK! Philippines will develop an initiative that capitalizes on the power of storytelling through film and music to showcase inspirational narratives of the young women they support. The selected girls will collaborate with a critically acclaimed female filmmaker and Sony Music Philippines artists to produce original short biopics or documentaries featuring impactful musical scores and theme songs. A separate series of short videos will also be made to showcase how Sony Music Philippines artists engage with the young women through their workshops and songwriting and recording sessions.

“In addition to elevating young women and raising awareness for the issues they face, we want to inspire them to be more creative, to dream deeply, and to aspire for more,” said Maica Teves, Executive Director at SPARK! Philippines. “Young women need help with strengthening and amplifying their advocacy efforts, and support from the Sony Music Philippines’s musicians and filmmakers will help them achieve that in a creative way. Through our collaboration with Sony Music’s Global Social Justice Fund, we aim to give our young women a positive platform to showcase their collaboration and develop meaningful stories that shed much-needed light on the pressing issues they face. We want to embed a belief in equal rights and the importance of education at a young age and will work hand-in-hand with Sony Music Entertainment Philippines to realize these goals.”      

“We are happy to partner with SPARK! who are impacting the lives of young women across the Philippines,” said Roslyn Pineda, General Manager, Philippines, Sony Music Entertainment. “As a global music company, Sony Music Entertainment is dedicated to empowering and elevating all members of societies where we have a presence. We are committed to bridging gaps in society and look forward to working with SPARK! to unlock the creative potential of young women in the Philippines.”

Established in 2012, SPARK! Philippines is an NGO composed of empowered women committed to the development of women and women’s organizations as full partners in national development. The funding from Sony Music Philippines will help strengthen collaboration and build alliances with people and organizations across various fields and sectors to advance the rights and welfare agenda of young women, encourage young women to be agents of change from a young age by actively participating in social development programs and community projects, claiming their right to engage in spaces of policy discussion, and support men in allyship and activism by joining activities that advance gender equality.

SPARK! Philippines is the latest recipient announced in Asia from Sony Music Group’s Global Social Justice Fund. Launched in 2020, the Fund supports social justice and anti-racist initiatives around the world. Two years on, the Fund has pledged 71% of the total $100 Million USD fund to more than 400 community organizations worldwide, covering areas including civic engagement, environmental justice, criminal justice reform, and education.

Bringing Colors in A Time of Pandemic

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Ever since the pandemic has begun, education is one of the areas that has been affected tremendously and detrimentally; education meaning specifically our heroes or our teachers. As firm believers and upholders of the power of educating one child at a time, teachers have been tirelessly working in bridging the learning gaps, improving the education system, and contributing to national development, especially in a time of pandemic. Hence, it is right and proper to recognize the hardwork of teachers and educators.

In accordance with National Teachers’ Month, SPARK! Philippines in partnership with Sunnies Face gave lipsticks to teachers in Quezon City. The first batch composed of 5,000 pieces were turned over by SPARK! Executive Director Maica Teves to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Quezon City Public School Teachers Association (QCPSTA) President Mr. Kristhean Navales, and Vice President Ms. Ruby Ana Bernardo.

“The efforts and hardwork the teachers put into at this time of a health crisis to continue the education of every child is exceptional and commendable. They may be reminded that although their students need their support and uplifting in reaching their full potential, moreso for them who give and bring colors to their students’ lives, and thus the reason for this activity.”, said Executive Director of SPARK! Philippines Maica Teves.

She added, “We thank Sunnies Face for being our partner in uplifting and recognizing the services and contributions of our teachers and educators, and most especially for sparking joy among them amid these challenging times.”

SPARK! Philippines promotes gender equality, women empowerment, and advances women’s economic roles. Its partners include government agencies, private sectors, embassies, civil society organizations, and academe. Its aim is for people to integrate gender issues into the mainstream, promote women’s rights, and be receptive and conducive to gender and development (GAD).