In photo: AFC SME Finance and PBCWE teams pose for a group photo
Pasig City, Philippines – AFC SME Finance Inc. (AFC SME) was formally welcomed into the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE) as its 57th member company at a welcome event on Friday, 9 October 2026, at the AIC Gold Tower in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
The company’s entry adds to a growing roster of Asialink Group of Companies members in the coalition, a sign that gender equality and inclusion are becoming part of how the group does business. Among those members are Asialink Finance Corporation, Global Dominion Financing, South Asialink Finance Corporation, and Cepat Kredit.
“When businesses choose to lead, people and communities rise with them,” said Ma. Aurora “Boots” D. Geotina-Garcia, PhilWEN Founding Chairperson & President and PBCWE Governing Council Chairperson. “When you open doors for your people, you open doors for those they serve.”
In a video message for the event, Maya Juwita, Workplace Gender Equality Director of Investing in Women (IW), an initiative of the Australian Government, said AFC SME’s purpose of opening more doors for Filipinos extends naturally to its own workplace.
“Financial inclusion and workplace inclusion must advance together,” Juwita said. “A company that supports opportunity in the marketplace should also foster opportunity within its own workforce. This is why workplace gender equality matters.”
Juwita noted that AFC SME’s property-backed financing helps entrepreneurs invest in their businesses and families pursue important goals, particularly among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are central to the Philippine economy. “Financing is not simply a transaction,” she said. “It can be a bridge to opportunity, resilience, and a more meaningful life.”
PBCWE noted that AFC SME has women in key leadership and decision-making roles, reflecting a company culture that values diverse perspectives. Public records show that more than half of the Asialink Group’s workforce are women.
“AFC SME recognizes that workplace gender equality and inclusion are at the heart of a strong and progressive organization,” Geotina-Garcia said.
In photo: Executive leaders from AFC SME Finance and PBCWE gather for a photo during the welcome event
Bernadette S. Recto, President & CEO of AFC SME Finance Inc., said the membership reflects the company’s commitment to its people.
“At AFC SME, our purpose is to open more doors for Filipinos, and that starts with our own people. Joining PBCWE helps us build a workplace where women and men have equal opportunities to grow and lead. We believe that when our employees thrive, they serve our customers and the entrepreneurs who trust us even better,” Recto said.
As a PBCWE member, AFC SME gains access to the coalition’s knowledge, training, and peer network. Members are committed to advancing gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.
Among PBCWE’s key tools is the Gender Equality Assessment, Results, and Strategies (GEARS), a diagnostic tool that helps companies measure gender equality in the workplace, identify gaps, and map out strategies for improvement PBCWE is looking forward to a strong partnership with AFC SME and the entire Asialink Group of Companies, one that champions DEI and builds workplaces where every voice is heard and valued.
