Every girl has gone through a slight moment of panic during their first menstruation (or menarche). And for the duration of their monthly periods, the search for sanitary pads, the cramps, and the worry of staining their bottom garments are only a few of the worries.

But if period is a natural thing, why are women so naturally anxious of it?

We grew up in a culture where the talk of periods is only kept between women to women. We grew up with the tendency to keep our periods a secret, especially to our prying guy classmates. It’s as if bringing a sanitary pad is a sin, or a period bloodstain on our skirt is equals a piece of murder evidence.

There’s also the favorite “Sungit ah. First day mo?” every time you get a little cranky. Although this could be because of discomfort and fluctuating hormones, women’s menstruation has been used as a point of putting women down when in fact, it's as a natural body occurrence—like sneezing or blinking.

But come to think of it, the reason why we dread our period more than what is necessary is because there are not enough “normal” conversations about it.

Educating women, even men, about menstruation is a must. It helps to have our sanitary brands campaign to keep the conversations on menstruation going. Modess Move Camp encourages girls to #KeepMoving. It shows how young girls can be active and confident, not letting their period stop them from doing what they love. This girl-power brand also partnered with the Philippines Red Cross for a series of school tours, aiming to educate students on how to be the best versions of themselves during these times.

This is the mark of sparking conversations about menstruation, and we hope this is the start of normalizing talks about our periods. Girl power!