National Towns Week

Categories:: Special Interest
Tags:: Appreciation International Women
Where:: Philippines
Date change rule:: Week ending with October 31
Holiday emoji:: 🇵🇭

National Towns Week shines a spotlight on the last week of October, honoring the outstanding women who drive progress across the Philippines. This annual observance, championed by The TOWNS Foundation, celebrates their diverse contributions to nation-building. Discover their impactful stories, support their initiatives, and recognize their vital roles in shaping the country’s future.

Deals
Platforms
Social
Brands
Hero
History
Timeline
Businesses
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate

Expected National Towns Week Deals

For National Towns Week, the focus shifts from commercial deals to profound recognition and support for women’s empowerment in the Philippines. Organizations like The TOWNS Foundation, which spearheads this observance, often partner with corporate entities such as SM Investments Corporation and Ayala Corporation to amplify the achievements of outstanding women. Expect philanthropic initiatives, corporate social responsibility programs, and public awareness campaigns rather than sales. Businesses may offer special recognition events for their female employees or launch donation drives benefiting women’s leadership programs. We encourage direct engagement with The TOWNS Foundation and other local women’s advocacy groups to learn how to contribute. We will update this page with confirmed live programs as October approaches.

Platform Guide for National Towns Week

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #NationalTownsWeek. Share profiles of inspiring women leaders in your network and highlight their contributions.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalTownsWeek. Post stories about local women making a difference in their communities across the Philippines.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalTownsWeek. Follow discussions on women’s leadership and share news about the TOWNS Foundation’s initiatives.

National Towns Week Hero

Helena Z. Benitez

Helena Z. Benitez (1914–2016) was a pioneering Filipina educator, civic leader, and stateswoman. A co-founder of The TOWNS Foundation, she served as a senator and significantly contributed to environmental protection and cultural preservation. Her vision helped establish the foundation's mission to recognize women's critical role in national development, leaving a lasting legacy of empowerment.

History of National Towns Week

The TOWNS Foundation was established in the late 1990s to support deserving women across the Philippines as they transformed the future of their nation. The foundation has impacted the winners’ lives, furthering their agendas and ideas for a better and stronger Philippines.

Such honor and respect for women’s achievements are not new to the Philippines. The country has held a notion of gender equality even before its colonial days. Some historians point to evidence that maternal lineage had as much as, if not more, importance as paternal lineage. Women were entitled to property, could engage in trade, and even become village chiefs without a male heir even in those ages. There were even female high priestesses and astrologers. One of the most powerful rulers in Filipino history, Dayang Kalangitan (1515 B.C. to 1450 B.C.), was a female Buddhist ruler co-regent with her husband, Rajah Lontok.

Colonialism transformed these beliefs into the famed social structure of the time, in which women were viewed as weak and inferior to men. The U.S. took over The Philippines and implemented new educational institutions. They made education accessible to all Filipino women, regardless of gender, allowing more women to pursue careers and enter the workforce.

The present-day Filipino woman has a more significant role in their families and society. Their worth is now well-established, and their contributions are widely acknowledged. The only thing left was to celebrate their accomplishments, which National Towns Week does, every three years.

National Towns Week timeline

September 17, 1937

Women's Suffrage In The Philippines

Women in the Philippines can now vote legally — making them one of the first Asian countries to legalize women's suffrage.

1974

TOWNS Is Founded

The foundation, since its inception, has acknowledged and cited more than 150 exceptional Filipino women.

February 25, 1986

The First Female President

Corazon Aquino takes office, ending the previous ruler's 21-year authoritarian rule.

2022

A Virtual Search Is On

The TOWNS foundation resumes searching for their latest batch of awardees virtually after their previous National Towns Week in 2019.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Towns Week

Local businesses in the Philippines can honor National Towns Week by highlighting the achievements of their female employees through internal recognition programs or social media campaigns. Consider partnering with local women’s organizations for mentorship initiatives or skill-building workshops. Restaurants might offer special menus inspired by Filipina culinary traditions, while retailers could feature products from women-owned businesses. Companies can also organize donation drives to support the TOWNS Foundation or other groups dedicated to women’s empowerment and leadership.

National Towns Week FAQs

When is National Towns Week?

National Towns Week 2026 runs from Sunday, October 25, through Saturday, October 31, celebrating the impactful contributions of Filipina women.

How are TOWNS awardees selected?

The TOWNS Foundation conducts a rigorous, year-long nationwide search, accepting nominations from various sectors. A distinguished board of judges then evaluates candidates based on their exceptional achievements and significant contributions to the Philippines.

How many women have received the TOWNS award?

Since its inception in 1974, The TOWNS Foundation has recognized over 170 outstanding Filipina women across various fields, celebrating their leadership and contributions to national development.

What is the significance of the TOWNS award in the Philippines?

The TOWNS award is considered one of the most prestigious accolades for women in the Philippines, symbolizing excellence, leadership, and unwavering dedication to nation-building. It inspires future generations of Filipina leaders.

National Towns Week Activities

Celebrate Filipino women's achievements
Do you have a Philippine-born friend or family member? How about demonstrating to them that their efforts and contributions are valued? Please tell everyone you know about this day so that more Filipino women can receive the accolades they deserve.
Learn about past TOWNS awardees
Check out previous National Towns Week winners and what they've accomplished since winning the award. Learn more about how they've achieved their successes.
Do your part to support women
Not just women from the Philippines, but every woman is deserving of some support as she navigates her way through this gender-imbalanced world. Lend a hand, an ear, and a little bit of your time to support women's causes and other rights issues to support every female around you.

5 Cool Facts About Gender And TOWNS

Towns awardees are automatic members
Every woman getting a TOWNS award is a member of the TOWNS Foundation and is supposed to continue her work towards supporting the Philippines.
The lowest rate of gender disparity
The Global Gender Gap Index 2017 puts the Philippines 10th out of 145 countries, higher than any other Asia-Pacific country.
Women in business
According to various surveys, almost one-third of businesses across the Philippines are owned and operated by women.
Women in politics
They've had two female presidents, and in February 2021, they had 28% of parliamentary seats filled by women.
Positive trends in upper-level management
The same February 2021 statistic also revealed women hold almost 50.5% of managerial positions in the Philippines.

Why We Love National Towns Week

Women get some much-deserved validation
National Towns Week allows the rest of the world to acknowledge Filipino women's values, hard work, and talent. It even inspires them to devote more time and effort to their causes and fields.
Celebration for women, by women
A group of women who wanted to help other women succeed in their respective industries founded the TOWNS Foundation. A sisterhood of supportive women is the best method we can think of to create a gender-neutral environment.
Younger generations get their role models
Past awardees become role models for young Filipino women and girls who wish to pursue similar fields and nation-building. Research some Filipino awardees today and see how you can inspire others with your knowledge.