For many Filipinas, caring for everyone else often comes naturally. They show up for their families, excel at work, nurture relationships, and juggle countless responsibilities every day. Yet amid the demands of modern life, one person is often left at the bottom of the priority list: themselves.
That was the central message behind Because She Can: Preventive Health for a Thriving Future, a recent women’s health roundtable that encouraged Filipinas to see preventive healthcare not as an obligation, but as one of the most powerful forms of self-care.
Organized by MSD in the Philippines through its Guard Against HPV initiative, the gathering brought together advocates, medical experts, and public figures for an open conversation about women’s health, cervical cancer prevention, and the importance of taking action before illness strikes.
Leading the discussion were content creator and advocate Ayn Bernos, former Miss Universe Philippines MJ Lastimosa, Miss Philippines Earth 2025 Joy Barcoma, and obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Ada Angela Cabrera, with content creator and momfluencer Alexis Tinsay serving as moderator.
More than a health forum, the event became a space where women could talk honestly about concerns that are often left unspoken — whether due to fear, stigma, misinformation, or simply the tendency to put everyone else’s needs first.
“We are gathered here because we need to take care of ourselves. We need to take action and take ownership of our health because we can,” said Dr. Mary Ann Galang-Escalona, MSD in the Philippines Country Medical Lead, during her opening remarks. “We only have one life, and the choices we make for our health will shape the kind of life we intentionally want to live.”
A preventable threat that still claims lives
Because she deserves to (from left): MJ Lastimosa, Joy Barcoma, and Ayn Bernos encourage women to prioritize their health and well-being.
The conversation comes at a time when cervical cancer remains a serious health concern in the Philippines.
Despite advances in prevention and treatment, cervical cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Filipino women, claiming the lives of an estimated 12 Filipinas every day.
Nearly all cervical cancer cases are linked to persistent infection from high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that affects both women and men. Medical experts note that most sexually active individuals may acquire HPV at some point in their lives.
What makes the statistics especially concerning is that cervical cancer is largely preventable through vaccination and regular screening. Yet many women continue to postpone preventive care due to busy schedules, concerns about cost, fear of diagnosis, or discomfort discussing reproductive health.
For Dr. Cabrera, this is precisely why conversations like these matter.
“The younger you are when you receive the vaccine, the better the protection it can provide,” she explained. “But regardless of age, if you are over 45, have not yet been vaccinated, and have the means to do so, getting vaccinated is still worth considering. It is always better to invest in prevention and protect yourself early, rather than having to deal with the consequences later on.”
She emphasized that preventive healthcare should not be viewed as an expense, but as a long-term investment in one’s future.
Creating spaces where women can speak freely
Dr. Ada Cabrera (2nd from left) encouraged women to view preventive healthcare as an investment in themselves during a panel discussion.
Beyond the medical facts and statistics, one theme resonated throughout the afternoon: women need safe spaces where conversations about health can happen openly and without judgment.
For Miss Philippines Earth 2025 Joy Barcoma, breaking the stigma begins with normalizing these discussions in everyday life.
“I try to normalize these conversations and create an environment where people do not feel ashamed or embarrassed to talk about their health,” Barcoma shared. “I want to be a safe space for others.”
She believes that when women feel supported, preventive healthcare becomes less intimidating and more empowering.
“When we create safe spaces, conversations like these can thrive, and prevention becomes not something people fear or blame themselves for, but a healthy practice that we embrace.”
That sentiment was echoed by Ayn Bernos, who stressed the transformative power of education and access to accurate information.
“Information alone is already a big step forward, and everything else can follow from there,” Bernos said.
For many women, she noted, fear often stems from uncertainty.
“Being intentional meant allowing myself to receive the information and education that I needed. In doing so, I realized that this was never something I needed to fear in the first place.”
Once women begin taking action, she added, the process often feels far less overwhelming than expected.
“The real power lies in taking action. Once you take those steps, you realize that it is not as overwhelming as it seems. We do have control, and we have the ability to influence what happens in our lives.”
Caring for your future self
MJ Lastimosa lends her voice to the “Because She Can” campaign, encouraging Filipinas to prioritize prevention and well-being.
Former Miss Universe Philippines MJ Lastimosa offered another perspective — one that connected preventive healthcare with the long-term choices women make every day.
“It is not just about how you look physically or what you post on social media. It is also about genuinely taking care of yourself,” she said.
For Lastimosa, wellness is not a one-time decision but an ongoing commitment.
“Many diseases develop over time, and the choices we make today can have a lasting impact. Taking care of your future self begins now.”
She added that prioritizing health means continuously learning, growing, and advocating for oneself.
“To me, taking charge of my health means understanding that I will always be a work in progress. It is not about fixing one thing and considering the job done. I will continue to advocate for myself, seek ways to become better, and share what I learn with my family and friends.”
Choosing yourself, without guilt
Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from the discussion was also the simplest: women deserve to prioritize themselves.
Preventive healthcare is not merely about avoiding disease. It is about creating opportunities for a healthier, fuller, and more empowered life.
It means making time for regular checkups, seeking reliable health information, getting screened when recommended, and recognizing that self-care extends far beyond beauty routines and wellness trends.
As the Because She Can campaign continues its advocacy, it hopes to encourage more Filipinas to replace fear with knowledge, hesitation with action, and silence with meaningful conversations.
Because when women are equipped with the right information, supported by their communities, and empowered to act early, prevention becomes more than a medical strategy—it becomes an act of self-respect.
And perhaps one of the most important reminders every Filipina can give herself is this: taking care of your health is not selfish.
It’s something you do because you can — and because you deserve to.
