(from left to right): SPARK! Philippines Executive Director Maica Teves, L’Oréal Philippines Corporate Affairs Head Krhizzy Pasigan, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, TikTok Philippines Country Head for Brand and Growth Partnerships Paolo David, and TikTok Shop Philippines Marketing and Communications Lead Franco Aligaen.
L’Oréal Philippines strengthens its commitment to social inclusion and women empowerment by expanding the L’Oréal Digital Beauty Academy (DBA) to Makati City. This year, L’Oréal aims to support 1,000 Makatizens with the help of its partners SPARK! Philippines, TikTok and Watsons.
Now in its second year, the L’Oréal DBA program continues to provide holistic training in beauty and digital to help beneficiaries improve their overall wellbeing and thrive in the online space. The program provides a comprehensive and practical training on the basics of beauty – including skincare, haircare, and make-up, how to create compelling digital content, social commerce platforms, fostering positive online spaces, and small business literacy.
“L’Oréal believes in the power of beauty to create positive social impact. The expansion of the L’Oréal Digital Beauty Academy to Makati, one of the most dynamic cities in the Philippines, is a step towards a more inclusive future. At the end of the year, over 1000 Makatizens will have access to much-needed beauty and digital commerce tools that promote financial opportunities for Filipinos,” shares Yannick Raynaud, Managing Director of L’Oréal Philippines.
The stories of some alumni of the program demonstrate how beauty education can become a catalyst for inclusion and a force to uplift people’s lives. Shierrah Sumacot, 22, boosted her confidence after the training, helping her expand her career in the field of hosting, singing and social media content creation. Angelica Galang, 24, who used to be a stay-at-home mom, is now able to finance the needs of her family from her earnings as Tiktok Brand Affiliate. Erica Lee, 42, who previously graduated from L’Oréal’s expert hairdressing program and later worked at a salon, joined the training to further upskill himself in other beauty capabilities.
“Here in Makati, we are committed to creating pathways that lead our residents to better, more fulfilling futures. Partnering with L’Oréal Digital Beauty Academy, we are not just teaching beauty and digital skills – we are empowering our citizens to transform their passion into professions. This is how we build a stronger, better, and more inclusive Makati.” shares Mayor Abby Binay of Makati City.
“SPARK! is grateful to add the city of Makati under the leadership of Mayor Abby Binay in its roster of partners for DBA. This innovative program is a wonderful opportunity to improve the economic conditions of women in Makati especially those who are considered in difficult circumstances.” adds Maica Teves, Executive Director of SPARK! Philippines.
The Digital Beauty Academy is an extension of L’Oréal’s Beauty for a Better Life program, aiming to provide people, particularly women from marginalized communities, with the ability to transform their lives through the power of beauty. Last year, over 500 students from Quezon City successfully finished the program. L’Oréal hopes to continue expanding the training program to more cities around the Philippines and further generate positive impact.
