Leveraging Technology, One Brave Step At A Time.

As World Pulse Philippines Ambassadors were planning on how we can collectively promote World Pulse, we thought about recording a short introduction of ourselves using our respective dialects. It was later compiled into a video by sister Blanche. Watch here.

The experience of recording it was fun. I even joked I might consider becoming a Youtube vlogger because of it. 

Later, I also participated in World Pulse's #SheTransformsTech promotional video. It was a very empowering experience as well.

These two events plus World Pulse Philippines' Zoom meetings helped me became courageous in holding my first webinar entitled The Power of Empathy on March 14, 2020. 

The idea of streaming the webinar live via Facebook was quite daunting for me. There were many things that held me back. For one, I am aware of my limitations as a speaker since I am more comfortable expressing myself through writing. I am also conscious of how critical my countrymen are to those who are vlogging. There were actually thoughts of \"you are not good enough\" and \"who do you think you are?\" in the process of preparing for that event.

It was that time I understood how it takes bravery to show up and be vulnerable, which means not being able to control what the outcome would be. In my mind, I have to repeatedly say, \"It is NOT the critic that counts....but the woman in the arena.\"

This morning, a week later, I watched the replay of my webinar for the first time. I know that I am my own worst critic, that I have this mild perfectionist in me, but I had to show compassion and grace to myself as I watched the video just as I would show support to any World Pulse sister. I took note of where I need to improve and told myself, \"As a first timer, you did a great job.\"

First of all, I am happy that I shared about empathy, and there were viewers who appreciated it, my husband included. He is already intentional in showing empathy to me, to his workmates, and to the COVID-19 pandemic as a whole. He encouraged me to start my own YouTube channel so I can continue to share about the things I care about. Five other friends told me to do the same.

Again, the idea is quite daunting to put myself out there, but from personal experience, I have witnessed time and again how the courage to share our stories can create an impact on another woman. 

I took BS Community Development in college. One principle that I learn from the course is to \"start from what you know; build on what you have.\" It is identifying what your current resources are and use them for social transformation.

With technology on our side, we can actually create online movements. Let us leverage online platforms to speak about our advocacies, one brave step at a time.  

Sharing to you the strategies provided by our World Pulse Changemakers on how to grow online movements: 

• Believe in your power. 


• Believe in your dream. 


• Believe in the change you want to see. 


• Believe in yourself. 


• Believe in sisterhood.


• Find your community and support them.


• Pick a mentor who will inspire and encourage you.


• Build a network you can fall back on when you doubt yourself.


• Do not engage in unhealthy comparisons. 


• Be comfortable with yourself - imperfections and all. 


• You are growing with a sisterhood behind you.


• Start! No matter how small. 


• Make good use of online resources to stay safe and leverage opportunities.


• Speak truth to unhealthy power.

In this season of community quarantines and lockdowns, I encourage you, dear sisters, to sit down, to reflect, and to plan on how you can start your online movement. While the world is focused on solving this pandemic, let us be ready to launch one online movement after another because \"together we can change the future of technology and make it work for women\".