March 12, 2013 – TESDA Secretary Joel Villanueva and Coca-Cola Philippines Vice President for Public Affairs and Communication Atty. Adel Tamano led the Women’s Month Celebration together with the successful women graduates from the training of the Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (S3TAR) program held at the TESDA National Headquarters Compound, Taguig City. Hundreds of S3TAR Program women sari-sari store partners and TESDA Women’s Center trainees attended the event. S3TAR program booths for the Training, Merchandising and Microfinancing were also set-up to showcase the program components along with a Health and Wellness booth where participants can get free massage and hair care services.

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.