Bag-It-Forward goes to Malaysia

In a powerful expression of rehabilitation, empowerment and hope, the Zonta Club of Laguna, Philippines, under the leadership of Club President Ann Matibag, has brought international recognition to the resilience of incarcerated women through its Bag-It-Forward livelihood initiative.

As part of the club's ongoing support for women behind bars, handcrafted bags made by women detainees in San Pedro City Jail were distributed as official tokens to members of the Coordinating Committee of Women Parliamentarians of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (WAIPA) 2025. Each bag—designed and stitched within the jail walls—tells a story of strength, transformation and dignity.

Among the recipients were high-ranking female legislators and leaders from across Southeast Asia, including Ambassador Ulziisuren Jamsran, UN Women Representative in Indonesia and Liaison to ASEAN. Deeply moved by the initiative, Ambassador Jamsran not only praised the quality and meaning behind the bags but also placed an order to further support the women artisans.

“These bags symbolize women’s resilience and their desire to reclaim agency and purpose in the face of adversity,” said Ambassador Jamsran. “Every stitch is a step forward.”

She also offered an inspiring message to the women of San Pedro Jail: “You are not defined by your past, but by your ability to grow, to contribute and to rise. The world needs your talent, your resilience and your voice.”

Club President Ann Matibag echoed this sentiment: “This initiative reminds us that women—wherever they are—can be agents of change. We are proud of the women in San Pedro Jail for proving that rehabilitation is not just possible, but powerful.”