Zonta Club of Makati and Environs launches Her LegaZ podcast

The Zonta Club of Makati and Environs, Philippines, launched their Her LegaZ podcast to promote Zonta's advocacy of women empowerment. The podcast pushes to deepen discussion about women's issues to a much wider audience by creating a roundtable discussion. Hosted by ZCME members Marcy Kotchett-Chua and Joanne Zapanta-Andrada, the podcast touches on topics that many women think about but rarely bring themselves to openly talk about.

Among the podcast channel’s initial guests was theater actress and sexual assault survivor Maritina Romulo who discussed rape culture. In addition, Martina touched on her traumatic experience, society’s reaction to sexual violence and the growing movement in Philippine society to empower survivors.

Feminist, chef and LGBTQ rights advocate Giney Villar also guested on the show. Giney shared what it is like to be a lesbian in a predominantly Catholic society, the struggles and prejudices that are attached to being in this minority group as well as the gains that LGBTQ organizations have achieved in promoting gender inclusivity in the social and legislative front.

Theater and film actress Shamaine Buencamino opened up about her teenage daughter’s suicide and the state of mental health among young people in society today. Shamaine discussed her journey to create meaning and purpose in the aftermath of her family’s tragedy. She also spoke of The Julia Buencamino Project, an advocacy created in memory of her daughter that seeks to spread mental health awareness in the country.

Fashion model and TV actress Marina Benipayo gave an honest portrayal of the grit behind the glamor of fashion and film. She relayed how, despite the appearance of having it all, she struggled to make ends meet as a single parent for her two sons and how she was at the brink of poverty. She also shared how her faith and her willingness to work hard and to stay humble helped her family survive the darkest of days.

Multi-awarded family judge Lissa Flores gave a very informative and lively talk on women’s rights under Philippine Law. In this podcast she discusses the shocking and sometimes hilarious happenings that she has witnessed as a family judge. She spoke of the male and female dynamics in local society and how women have to be freed from the concept of machismo and patriarchy.

The first guest for 2022’s podcast is fashion model and entrepreneur Anne Torres Bichelmeir whose life was made even more interesting when her house manager stole almost a million pesos worth of jewelry and cash from her home. Anne retraced how she uncovered the crime, located the stolen goods and secured jail time for the thief through protocols she learned from Facebook and Google truly made for interesting conversation.

An upcoming guest is movie and TV star Iza Calzado who will recount her story about body dysmorphia and will discuss the issue of body shaming in modern society. Iza is the marketing director of She Talks Asia, a movement that seeks to empower women through    online and on-ground communication.

The show’s team believes that every Filipina has a story to tell; and her story is her legacy.

Her LegaZ podcasts are featured every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. The podcast is now available on Spotify.