Watsons hosted its first-ever “Move with PowHER” Forum, an inspiring event dedicated to women’s wellness and empowerment. This groundbreaking forum encouraged women to embrace their authentic selves while celebrating their strength, grit, and achievements.
The first-ever ‘Move with PowHER’ Forum, an inspiring event dedicated to women’s wellness and empowerment powered by Watsons PH.
It brought together women from diverse backgrounds — professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, community leaders, and more — to connect, share experiences, and uplift one another.
She Talks Asia’s Lynn Pingu, Women’s Run PH’s Nicole Dela Cruz, Mental Coach Hazel Calawod, Sharon Decapia, Jared De Guzman and Zyra Tinio from Watsons Philippines
Through engaging discussions on physical, emotional, and mental wellness, career growth, leadership, and advocacy, Watsons aimed to empower women to thrive in every aspect of their lives.
Physical and mental wellness
Hazel Calawod, a sports occupational therapist, mental health professional, and coach of two-time gold Olympian Carlos Yulo, emphasized the importance of building physical and mental resilience.
Nicole de la Cruz, CEO of Women’s Run PH
Drawing from her experience coaching elite athletes, she highlighted how mental toughness and physical strength are essential not only for peak performance in sports but also for navigating everyday challenges.
Sharon Decapia, SAVP of Watsons
“For young athletes aspiring to be an Olympian, one, you have to have grit. Sport is a highly competitive environment. It is no joke. Every day, you are going to compete with yourself, every day you are going to have to learn about your weaknesses because if you’re going to be an Olympian and if you want gold medals or to be at that level, every day you have to constantly discover what else you can do, what else you are missing,” she said.
“You need to have a healthy form of perfection. Healthy is the word because to be at the top level of your sport, that takes a lot of dedication, learning, waking up even though your body is tired but you are very committed to what you envision yourself to achieve. You have to show up for your dreams because you are the only one that understands what your dream is,” Calawod continued.
“Two, you need to be coachable because if you have too much ego, it’s going to limit your ability to learn. Three, find people of right credentials to help you so you have to study the people you will be working with. You also have to make sure you have a good recovery, take care of your human body and mind because you might break. Finally, build a great strategy,” she added.
Women in sports
Meanwhile, Nicole de la Cruz, CEO of Women’s Run PH and an advocate for women in sports, discussed the significance of representation and resilience.
She shared her journey of overcoming challenges in a male-dominated field, underscoring the vital role of mentorship and collaboration in empowering female athletes to pursue their passions.
“For running, empowerment is very important because you get to build confidence, self-esteem and you are able to pursue your passion. In Women’s Run PH, we are not just about the number of women’s participation but to be able to create a platform wherein women can get to share each other’s problems, a community wherein we get to talk about these things, we get to uplift each other, share advices, and empower others,” de la Cruz shared.
“With our training that we provide to them for free, we were able to give them more confidence and we also make sure that we give back,” she added.
Coach Hazel Calawod, sports occupational therapist and mental health professional
Balancing family and work life
Sharon Decapia, SAVP of Watsons’ Marketing, PR & Sustainability, offered insights on balancing her roles as a corporate executive and mother. She emphasized that true empowerment involves embracing both family and career with purpose and confidence.
Decapia provided practical advice on achieving personal and professional goals while prioritizing self-care and wellness, encouraging women to nurture themselves as they pursue their ambitions.
“When you’re trying to balance two very demanding roles, it can actually be overwhelming. But I think when you commit to it, when you set your goal not just at work but also at home, you are able to prioritize. I always make sure that whatever I do, I am 100 percent good. It’s very important that you don’t get overwhelmed and that you ask for help from your teammate or family,” Decapia said.
“What I do is I block off important dates, nonnegotiable dates, at work and at home and then I over communicate to my team and family members on the things that I needed to do well. With that, it was a little bit manageable and easier. Also, it’s even more important that I put value in terms of my health — be it mental, emotional and physical health,” she added.
Lynn Pinugu, co-founder of She Talks Asia
Women in advocacy
Finally, Lynn Pinugu, the co-founder of She Talks Asia, talked about her advocacy platform dedicated to sparking meaningful conversations about women’s strength, mental health, and gender equality.
She highlighted how She Talks Asia helps women redefine empowerment by breaking societal barriers and embracing their unique identities.
“One of the things that we live by in She Talks Asia is what we call intergenerational wisdom. For us, it’s reminding us that we always have something to bring forward to the table, no matter what life stage you are in. I’m 39 years old so I have more time in this world to build my work portfolio, for example, and I’ve had more time to work on being inspired because I’m a mom in my 30s but it doesn’t mean at 21 you don’t have something inspiring to bring because your perspective matters,” Pinugu said.
Pinugu also discussed the role of advocacy in driving social change. She emphasized how authentic conversations on mental health, gender equality, and self-empowerment break societal barriers, inspiring women to embrace their unique strengths and lead with purpose.
“Growing up, we were socialized that your fellow woman is your competition because most of us, when we were younger, we based our self-worth on social acceptance. That’s how we were socialized to believe but we have to unlearn that,” she added.
A platform for authentic conversation and empowerment
A key theme of the “Move with PowHER” forum was the importance of building supportive communities where women uplift one another. By nurturing these connections, Watsons continues to serve as a trusted partner, providing resources, products, and platforms that help women excel in all aspects of life.
The event redefined traditional notions of leadership, presenting it as a form of advocacy — whether for oneself, for other women, or for broader social issues. Attendees were inspired by stories of women leaders who are effecting meaningful change and discovered how they can also lead with purpose and passion.
The forum also provided a vibrant atmosphere with interactive activities. Guests participated in a floral workshop where they created their own arrangements, reflecting the themes of growth and self-expression. Brand segments featured PH Care, Gynepro, Jeunesse, and partners like Modess, Charmee, Cleane, and Sisters, celebrating products that support women’s health and wellness.
“Move with PowHER” reflects Watsons’ commitment to helping women look good, feel great, and do good. By celebrating individuality, Watsons encourages women to embrace their unique beauty and confidence. Through programs like scholarships, volunteerism, and sustainability, Watsons supports women in giving back to their communities and thriving.
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