Jillian Gatcheco-Cantada

Former Editor-in-Chief & Deputy Editorial Director, Cosmopolitan Philippines

For International Women's Day, Jillian shares her perspective on the topic of Expectations of Being a Woman and she continues to champion them in her own way.

About Jillian

Jillian dedicated 15 years of her career to Digital Publishing, culminating in her stint as Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan Philippines and Deputy Editorial Director at Summit Media, the Philippines' top digital network. Through Cosmo, she and her team were able to reach millions of Filipinas to show them they are empowered to make choices to live their best life—like her decision to be child-free. Recently, Jillian took a self-care break from work to focus on herself, her family, and stuff that spark joy—plants, baking, and rollerskating, among other things. She's excited to explore the next chapter of her life and career while manifesting the best that's yet to come.

What does International Women's Day and its theme this year, #BreakTheBias, mean to you?

For me, breaking the bias means being seen for who we are, and not how society expects us to be. It’s being unapologetic for choices we make that spark joy and fulfilment. It’s not about attaching our worth to a salary, role, relationship, or stereotype. It’s not being reduced to one's productivity, life's milestones, career highlights, or ability to procreate. When we #BreakTheBias, we become exactly who we’re meant to be, in our own time, at our own pace, even if we make others uncomfortable and challenge the norm.

If you could have dinner with one inspirational woman (dead or alive), who would it be and why?

My Mom inspires me to be better because she gave up so much to be the best parent she knows how to be. Through the sacrifices and choices she made in her family and her career, she taught me what to prioritize, dream of, and value. The honesty in our conversations now that I'm older has paved paths for me to know what to pursue and avoid, and I'm so grateful for her and the role she has played in my life. I think daughters should spoil their moms more. A nice heart-to-heart talk over dinner can be one way to do it!

"You champion your narrative by doing what lights you up, whatever that may be."

What do you think is the biggest challenge modern women face in balancing their families, homes and careers?

That we can have it all — at the same time, but in seasons and phases. You have to give yourself the time and space to breathe and acknowledge boundaries and limitations and make room for what truly matters most at certain points in your life.

Maybe in your 20s, it’s hustling in your career. Maybe in your 30s, it’s building a home. Maybe in your 40s, it’s putting up your own business. And for you to be truly present during key moments of your defining decades, you need to make space for where you want to pour your energy into.

And I think that is a beautiful thing — knowing what to drop, what to hold, what to save for later. So many women suffer from "Superwoman Syndrome," referring to how attempting to "do it all" leads a woman to neglect herself and suffer the consequences. And this "Superwoman" persona is a bias we need to break. It's okay to ask for help. It's okay to take a break. It's okay to not do everything at once. As women, we need to be kinder to ourselves.

What help, resources or support systems do you rely on? Why are they important to you?

I cannot overemphasize the importance of a support system — in my case, it’s my husband, parents, and sisters. I also have a low-maintenance small circle of friends I hold near and dear; they're the type of friends I don't need to talk to often to know we're there for each other. A support system comes in different forms for everyone, but these are people who magnify your energy and not deplete it. They don’t make you feel guilty for healing, growing or changing and accept you as you are, in all your conflicts and imperfections. They always listen and even if they don't understand (or don't know how to help) sometimes, they make you feel like you're more than enough when you think you have nothing left to give.

"When you follow your joy, you become the best version of yourself, which shows others that perhaps the path you took is a possibility for all the other women."

Lastly, for our #LBCommunity — amid the varied expectations women face in society today balancing career and family, how do you champion your own perspective or narrative?

You champion your narrative by doing what lights you up, whatever that may be. When you follow your joy, you become the best version of yourself, which shows others that perhaps the path you took is a possibility for all the other women. It's also equally important to allow yourself to change your mind. There's this artwork by @zaza_illustration that says, "I am learning to love the sound of my feet walking away from things not meant for me." I think that is so powerful. We should recognize that we have the power to do this, despite the boxes we've been put in and the expectations everyone has buried us with. That moment we rise, stand proud, speak up, and walk away, is the moment we #BreakTheBias.

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