March 8, 2013 – More than 6,000 women attended the International Women’s Day Celebration in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. About 1,500 of the attendees graduated from the COKE-TESDA Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (S3TAR) Program’s Basic Entrepreneurship and Gender Sensitivity training course, their graduation from the course was affirmed by Coca-Cola Philippines, TESDA Palawan, the Charity Women’s Foundation and the Local Government Unity of Puerto Princesa City. L-R: Matt Mendoza, Jack Palanca, Councilor Jonjie Rodriguez, Councilor Vicky de Guzman, Victor Oliveroz, Councilor Mark Hagedorn, Coca-Cola Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications Atty. Adel Tamano, Pastor NidaMacasaet, Charity Women’s Foundation Founder Ma. Elena Hagedorn, TESDA Provincial Director ArnelCampued, Roy Ventura, Coca-Cola Field Sales Manager Benjamin Gineteand Coca-Cola Operations Manager Ronald Pador.

The S3TAR Program is part of the global initiative of The Coca-Cola Company which aims to empower 5 million women by the year 2020 through its 5by20 program worldwide. It aims to transform women with small sari-sari stores into becoming better entrepreneurs.