A MESSAGE FROM FWN FOUNDER & CEO MARILY MONDEJAR

I also found a letter from a girl who attended our very
MARILY MONDEJAR,
Founder & CEO
Filipina Women’s Network
It’s so amazing to reach #15. Time flies so fast. I was
going through my archives recently for the publication
of my chapter about FWN milestones in the third book
of the DISRUPT Filipina Leadership Series and found
the program of the very first Filipina Conference in
2002. Thumbing through the eight pages, the session
topics were all about career advancement which has
always been the focus of FWN. We had a homemade
logo but I think we did a pretty good job overall. And
here we are, preparing for the FWN Magazine 2018
and we’re at 44 pages, glossy and full color.
This year’s Filipina Summit is an exciting endeavor
for FWN. We’re in London, United Kingdom. Never
imagined we’d be convening in a foreign land,
expanding FWN’s reach worldwide, a strategy we
implemented in 2013. It’s been quite an exciting
journey meeting our Filipina sisters in 31 countries
supporting the vision of FWN. It is interesting to note
that our issues as women are pretty much the same
worldwide.
Attending the
summit this year is
founding member
and board member,
first Pinay Speed Femtoring in 2011. Azja Ragasa is
an accomplished young woman now but her letter
still moves me and that’s why I kept it. It’s this type of
feedback that makes you realize the value of the work
we do.
An important project dear to my heart is the FWN
Against Violence campaign whose core is the
production of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues. It
was the murder of Claire Joyce Tempongko, a 22-year
old Filipina woman killed in front of her two young
children that triggered this campaign. Her murder was
the catalyst for the City of San Francisco to examine
its systemwide response to domestic violence. In
collaboration with V-Day, we’ve convened the TVM
production in areas with a high population of Filipina
women raising awareness of the high incidence of
intimate partner violence in our communities – San
Francisco,
New York,
Washington
DC, Las Vegas,
Toronto,
Canada
and now in
London, UK.
The show is
now part of
the Filipina
Summit’s
agenda. I
really like the
poster of our
premier TVM
production
in 2004 – it
captures the
essence of the FWN Filipina woman, evolving, re-
inventing, emerging, yet graceful and strong. In 2015
we selected the Face of Global Pinay Power, Francine
Maigue, again in 2017, Rowena Romulo. This year, I
can’t wait who she’ll be. Filipina women have many
facets of power like a diamond. We need to recognize
that we may come from the same Philippine heritage
Romulo Face of Global Pinay Power_1936_BLEED_FINAL.pdf
but we manifest power and
influence in many ways.
Annually, we pay tribute to
the Comfort Women of the
Philippines by reading the
monologue especially written
by Eve Ensler in 2006 to remind
us that rape of women is a
weapon of war. September
2017 was remarkable. FWN
together with the other members of the Comfort
Women Justice Coalition inaugurated the Comfort
Women Memorial in San Francisco. It was quite a
struggle getting the Board of Supervisors to approve
the memorial because Japan and the Japanese
American community mounted a vigorous opposition.
The bronze memorial depicts three young girls:
Chinese, Korean and Filipino, the age when they were
conscripted by the Japanese Imperial Army during
WWII. The Filipina girl is depicted wearing a puff
sleeved dress and a bandanna on her hair.
I’m really impressed with FWN’s 2018 Global FWN100™
Awardee Cohort from 12 countries. I can’t wait to see
them all together in one room, rejoicing the power of
Filipina women. I read every nomination submitted so
I feel I know each one. I’m excited to meet all of those
selected for the award at the summit. Kudos goes
to Thelma Boac, the chair of the Global FWN100™
Award Selection Committee. These awardees are
doing important work, helping FWN develop its talent
pipeline of next-generation leaders. I can’t be prouder.
Exciting feature this year is the inclusion of the
previous awardees attending the summit in the
awards ceremony. They are also featured in the FWN
Magazine souvenir issue so we capture their latest
accomplishments in the magazine. This additional
feature is through the generosity of our printing
sponsor, Dr. Carol Enriquez. It was her idea to add the
awardees who attend the summit.
1 11/22/17 7:58 PM

Laarni San Juan. All

these years, she’s
the only member
who has faithfully
paid her annual
dues since 2001.
We’ve been friends
and colleagues
since 2000. Her
daughter, Sydney,
we consider the first
C

CM

MY

CY

CMY

Grateful is the word that comes to mind – the amazing

FWN baby. There’s FWN Board especially President Susie Quesada who
been many more has been my partner in executing the mission of FWN
FWN babies but GLOBAL for a number of years now. Franklin Ricarte, my son,
Sydney is special to who has been with me since the inception of FWN, is
PINAY
Lorem ipsum

me. The last summit my rock. Indeed, it takes a village. FWN is rising and
Laarni attended rising and joyful because of all the members who are
was in 2007 in Washington DC but it was London that POWER still with the organization and those who have moved
on – thank you for the best 15 years.
beckoned to her again.

26B FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org

A Message from A Message from
FWN President Susie Quesada FWN Board Chair Maria Beebe
Welcome to the 15th Annual Filipina In July 2018, I celebrated my
Women’s Leadership Summit in birthday reading and editing
London! Thank you to our London stories of courage by the
and European Sisters for supporting influential women of the world
FWN and our Summit Chapter Leonor celebrated by the Filipina Women’s
Vintervoll in making this Summit Network in DISRUPT 3.0. Filipina
Successful, Significant and Relevant. Women: Rising. These women
showed bravery in facing threats,
This is an important milestone year challenges, difficulty, pain, or
for us as we gather in Europe for the disruptions; honesty in living
first time. We kicked off our 15th year an authentic life; perseverance
by celebrating how our members are in finishing what they started;
making an impact through the United and zest in bringing energy, and
Nations 17 Sustainable Development excitement to life. These Filipina
Goals in August. FWN Members from women leaders are self-aware,
around the world held an event during the third week of August open-minded, committed to diversity, and risk takers. They
to not only commemorate the milestone but to share with their balance historical perspectives with global awareness,
organizations and communities how they are contributing to demonstrate intercultural capability, and successfully
these Sustainable Development Goals. Our company partnered collaborate across cultures. The leadership themes they
with the local Chamber of Commerce and Toastmasters club to articulated included recognition of Philippine values such
highlight the SDG’s for Ramar Foods and gave other companies in as malasakit and delikadesa, confronting failures, and
the area a chance to share their impact. I look forward to sharing celebrating success.
some of these celebrations with other Members at the Summit.
As we celebrate, FWN’s 15th anniversary in London, we
We are gathering from all over the world to discuss the issues need to stay focused on what we gain from our FWN
that matter to you, to connect you to each other and to fulfill the connections and the opportunities we have to make a
FWN Mission of a Filipina leader in all industries across all sectors. difference both locally and globally. My grandchildren who
Let’s embrace each other and what we bring to this gathering: attended my birthday celebration from time to time would
Success. Significance. Relevance. It is you -- our Members who break into singing “How Far I’ll Go.” To them it was just a
keep our Mission and Vision strong. Thank you for all you do for song from a movie. To me it was a reminder to live a life of
FWN. Here is to another 15 years of making an Impact for Filipina passion, risk, and adventure: “See the line where the sky
Women and Girls and the next generation of Leaders! meets the sea, it calls me. No one knows how far it goes.”

15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK • 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018 27B
 Message from the H.E. ANTONIO M. LAGDAMEO
The officers and staff of the Embassy of the Philippines in London
join Mrs. Lagdameo and me in extending to all members of the
EDITORIAL TEAM Filipina Women’s Network, their family members, friends and guests
MARILY MONDE JAR
a warm welcome to London.
PUBLISHER
JORDAN RICARTE
We are glad that FWN selected London as the venue for the 15th
FWN FELLOW Filipina Leadership Global Summit from 12 to 17 September
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR 2018, primarily because the bulk of the Filipino and Filipino-
FWN BOARD British communities in the United Kingdom is made up of highly-
AMAR BORNKAMP skilled, capable and empowered Filipinas. It is our hope that the
DR. CAROLINE MARIAN ENRIQUEZ
GEORGITTA “BENG” PIMENTEL PUYAT convergence of these two potent forces – FWN and Filipino women
LEONOR VINTERVOLL in the United Kingdom – would translate into a fruitful, memorable
ISABELITA “LITA” MARCELO ABELE
MARIA BEEBE, PH.D. and relevant summit for all those attending.
MARIA ROSENI “NINI” ALVERO H.E. ANTONIO M. LAGDAMEO
MARIA SANTOSGREAVES
HON MARILY MONDEJAR Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary We note that FWN is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. We
SUSIE QUESADA Philippine Embassy, United Kingdom, with wish you well as you continue to initiate programs and activities
HON THELMA BOAC
concurrent jurisdiction over Ireland that enhance public perceptions of Filipina women’s capacity to
FWN EXECUTIVE ADVISORY assume top leadership positions in the private and public sectors
COUNCIL (EAC)
BAMBI LORICA, M.D. worldwide. We hope that your indefatigable efforts in supporting
COL. SHIRLEY RAGUINDIN Filipina women attain unassailable success in the corporate, non-
GRAPHIC DESIGN BY profit, entrepreneurial and public service sectors would lead to the
IDIYANALE INC. realization of your mission to put a Filipina woman leader in every
CORINNE ROMABILES
BENNY MUÑOZ sector of society.
JAMIE CACAYAN
KEITH BRIOSOS
Mabuhay ang kababaihang Filipina saan mang panig ng mundo!
PHOTO CREDITS
AMAZE STUDIOS
ANDREW LAWSON
GANI RICARTE TABLE OF CONTENTS Policymakers and
JOSE RICARDO BONDOC 11A Emerging Leaders 20A Visionaries
MARTIN FIENNES 100 Most Influential
SCOTT BUSCHMAN 21A Filipina Women in the USA
Founders and Pioneers 13A Susie Quesada 27B
100 Most Influential Filipina
Women in the World 21A Innovators and Thought Summit Schedule
16A Leaders 44B-47B at a Glance
The views and opinions of advertisers 33B-42B 2007-2017 Awardees
and contributors expressed in this publication do not Juslyn Manalo 30B-31B AD: Cynthia Barker 35B
necessarily state or reflect those of Filipina Women’s
About Filipina Women’s
Network.
Network 32B
© 2018 Filipina Women’s Network. All Rights
4A Keepers of the Flame 40B AD: Elena Samson
About the
Reserved. No part of this publication may be 43B Filipina Summit
published without the expressed written permission
of the publisher. Leonor Vintervoll 22A-23A AD: Forest City 48B
H.E. Antonio M. Lagdameo 28B
Maraming Salamat
27B Sponsors! 38B AD: Grace Skincare
5A Behind the Scenes
Leaders
Maria Beebe 27B AD: Marissa Magsino MD 40B
Builders 8A
26B Marily Mondejar 2A AD: Megaworld
31B Continuing Influential
2018
“Nicole” 20A AD: Ramar Foods 36B
International
DISRUPT 29B

FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK: P. O. Box 192143, San Francisco, CA 94119, USA | Phone: 415. 935. 4396
www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org | facebook.com/FilipinaWomensNetwork | Twitter@filipinawomen
DISRUPT
Filipina Leadership
Book Series
The FWN Filipina Leadership Book Series
fills the gap in the leadership literature
that has missed the opportunity to survey
the leadership competencies of the women
of Philippine ancestry. A groundbreaking
book series that documents the leadership
stories about victories over poverty, domestic
violence, incarceration, discrimination and
harassment which shaped their world view,
leader identity, life purpose, power and
influence. The book series is key to FWN’s
strategy in building its pipeline of qualified
leaders that some will rise to the leadership
position in all sectors of the economy.
2014: DISRUPT. Filipina Women:
Proud. Loud. Leading Without A Doubt.
35 authors from 9 countries. 582 pages
2016: DISRUPT 2.0. Filipina Women:
Daring To Lead.
35 authors from 5 countries. 497 pages
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
2018: DISRUPT 3.0. Filipina Women:
Rising.
38 authors from 9 countries. 624 pages
Book Launch: 13 September 2018
UK Parliament, London, UK
Leadership stories of leaning in, daring greatly,
channeling grit, fueling fire, disrupting tradition
and rising boldly ahead whilst embracing
Filipina women’s relational virtues with family,
heeding the call for service, and leading lives of
commitment. The authors’ journeys have been
championed not only with fellow sojourners,
overseas Filipina workers, Filipina women in the
diaspora, aspiring and emerging Filipina leaders
but also with thought leaders across public and
private sectors of the global economy.
Why DISRUPT Filipina Leadership Series?
Filipina women are the ultimate disrupters. They
disrupted their personal and professional lives,
and their organizations as they became achievers
in their professional fields and broke “glass
ceilings”. Filipina women disrupted the business
landscape when they innovated products,
improved or created services that impacted the
lives of women and the citizenry. They disrupted
their communities as they became strong
advocates for social issues that affected their
families and children. Filipina women across
the world have engaged in culture-spanning and
have overcome increased complexity in their
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018
work. Filipina women do not back down—once
they make up their minds that they will get
behind a cause or an issue that will change how
we live or aim for that promotion or leadership
position—they don’t stop. They’re tenacious.
They’re firm. They’re forceful. And they don’t
give up. More info: www.filipinaleadership.org
The Filipina Leadership Series will be useful:
(a) for people who have current leadership
responsibilities with varying degrees of culture-
spanning,
(b) for leadership development in the global
environment, and
(c) for teaching leadership that not only informs
but also transforms promising leaders into actual
leaders
Narratives about Filipina women leadership
have implications for gender and intercultural
leadership research and practice and for
advancing theories of women and leadership.
Understanding how Filipina women bridge
the range of Filipino and global cultures will
challenge existing theories of multi-culturalism,
co-culturation, and global or diaspora leadership.
Books available at FWN at https://www.ffwn.
org/event-2289844 and Amazon and Kindle
versions at:
http://bit.ly/FWNDISRUPT-2
http://bit.ly/FWNDISRUPT-1
29B
PASSION TO SERVE
Hon. Mayor Juslyn C. Manalo
By: Olivia Carpio

“I have always had a passion to give back, even after

high school, I knew I wanted to be in a profession that
helped others. Today, I’m blessed to create change in
local policy that benefits the largest population of
Filipinos in a mid-size city in the contiguous United
States. Wherever you land, make sure to give back and
never forget your roots. ”
These were the words Hon. Mayor Juslyn Manalo conveys
when speaking to the younger generation. One of the best
parts of her role as Mayor is when she’s asked to keynote at
youth forums.
Hon. Mayor Juslyn Manalo is the the manual labor his body endured.
first Filipina woman elected to He embodied hard work and
the City Council of the City of discipline.”
Daly City. In November 2016, the
same evening she took the oath, In her early career, Mayor Manalo
she also was elected Vice Mayor served as a community services
by her peer councilmembers. advocate for the Filipino World War
In December 2017, she was II Veterans whose benefits were
unanimously elected as Mayor by stripped by the U.S. Congress even
her colleagues. Before the age of though this was promised by the
40, she achieved the role of Mayor U.S government when they fought
in her local hometown, Daly City, in the 2nd World War. She learned
a city adjacent to San Francisco, advocacy firsthand in the halls
California, USA. of Washington, D.C. conducting
legislative visits to the national COMPASSION
Mayor Manalo was born in San
Francisco from parents who were
leaders in Congress and in the
Senate side-by-side with the elder PERSISTENCE
PUBLIC SERVICE
both born in the Philippines. Early veterans. Mayor Manalo previously
in her childhood she was raised managed an affordable housing
in the South of Market in San program assisting low-moderate
Francisco and moved to Daly City income families and individuals.
at the age of eight. She helped this population find
sustainable housing and defend
When asked about what made their housing rights.
her successful, she attributed her
success to her upbringing and her Currently, she is a Community
family values. “My mother always Engagement Associate with Forest
showed compassion to others and City, one of the leading mixed
this was an example to me to always use placemakers in the U.S.,
try my best to help people when envisioning, owning and operating
they are in need. My father worked real estate where people and
in a blue-collar job in manufacturing communities thrive. In her role
and never ever complained about with Forest City, she worked with

30B FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org

 the community and institutions to
develop private-public partnerships
contributing to education, youth
and workforce development, arts
and culture stabilization, affordable
and middle income housing, and
publicly accessible open spaces for
the community.
Mayor Manalo has large dreams
for the community she was raised
in. There are no larger hotels in
the Daly City and the economic
development has been stagnant.
She pushes to change this. She will
continue to fight for public safety,
Mayor Manalo and her family: L-R -- Carlito Manalo (father), Josefina Manalo (mother), Juslyn affordable housing, supporting
Manalo (center), Eluid Palamo (husband), Carley-Ann Manalo (sister). 2nd Row Marley Sayala senior programs and enhancing
Manalo Landicho (niece) & Halina Asahan Manalo Landicho (niece)
youth development opportunities.
“I want the everyday person to
know they have access to their
City Hall and that there is someone
there to listen to their concerns and
take action.”
Mayor Manalo feels that now even
more so, the Filipina woman is
breaking barriers that have not
been broken before. “It is not for
myself, but for the future generations
to see themselves as advocates
and leaders; to stand with power
with their minds and through their
voices.”
Mayor Juslyn Manalo and Mission Fusion, youth organization at Jefferson High School.
Mayor Juslyn Manalo and volunteers for Community Service Day on Martin Luther King Jr. Mayor Juslyn Manalo and Filipino World War II
Veteran hero
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK • 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018
There was one incident when a
young Filipina girl, age 6, was
surprised to see the Mayor was a
woman, when Mayor Manalo gave
them a tour of City Hall and an
overview of municipal government.
“To change the dynamics of what
has been status quo in the past,
and ignite possibilities and break
mental barriers, we must be the
change we want to see. If the
perception of the young Pinay that
day changed, then I am doing my
duty.”
Last April 2017, Mayor Manalo
got married and now she and her
husband are expecting their first
child in December 2018. She is
the first female Mayor in Daly City
expecting a child and possibly
delivering within her term in office.
“Why can’t I be pregnant and
Mayor at the same time? Our time
is now.”
“I love what I do. Being a public
servant is not easy. But I know it
is my calling. I prayed about this
and my heart’s passion is to serve
others and my community.” said
Mayor Manalo as she smiled with
content.
Hon. Mayor Juslyn C. Manalo is
the 2018 Awardee to receive the
Continuing Influential Filipina
Woman in the World Award™
Policymaker and Visionary
Category.
Previous US FWN100™ and
Global FWN100™ Awardees
may be re-nominated again if
awardee has a demonstrated
continuing influential activity in her
workplace and local community.
The Continuing Influential Filipina
Woman in the World Award™
(Global FWN100™) Awardee
Cohort is a small elite group of
accomplished Filipina women
worldwide advocating with FWN
to increase the power of Filipina
women as leaders and policy
makers at all levels in the public
and private sectors. Continuing
Influentials are one step away from
being inducted into the FWN Hall
of Fame, “Always Influential,”
when she is recognized a third
(and last!) time.
31B
 www.filipinasummit.org/naming- Human Trafficking Awareness Campaigns
opportunities o Immigrant Rights
Filipina Summit & DISRUPT Book o The Vagina Monologues
Sponsorship: Customized event-specific productions
sponsorship opportunities to meet your o One Billion Rising
organization’s goals and ROI. MORE 3. Coalition Building
INFO: www.filipinasummit.org/summit- o Annual Filipina Leadership Global
and-disrupt-book-sponsorships Summit
o 100 Most Influential Filipina
MORE INFO: Contact Marily Mondejar, Women in the World Awards™
FWN CEO at marily@ffwn.org or Leonor o Pinay Power 2020 Reunion
Vintervoll, FWN Board Vice President 4. Leadership Development
15 YEARS OF FILIPINA and Filipina Summit Steering Committee
WOMEN’S NETWORK
The Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) is a
San Francisco based 501(c)(3) non-profit,
non-partisan international advocacy
organization that seeks to increase the
power and influence of Filipina women as
leaders and policy makers at all levels in
corporate, government and institutions to
achieve economic and social justice and
women’s rights.

FWN provides the content, credibility and

a worldwide network of Filipina women
professionals to support the success of
Filipina women in their businesses and
careers. FWN convenes programs and
activities that enhance public perceptions
of Filipina women’s capacities to lead and
to build the Filipina community’s pipeline
of qualified leaders, to increase the odds
that some Filipina women will rise to
the president position in the private and
public sectors worldwide.

REACH AN INFLUENTIAL
NICHE AUDIENCE:
700 Most Influential Filipina Women in
the United States and the World.
1,500 Dues Paying Members
10,000 eList Members
30 countries: Australia, Austria,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada,
People’s Republic of China (Hong Kong),
Czech Repu blic, Denmark, Hungary,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan,
Mozambique, Netherlands, Norway,
Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Singapore,
South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland,
Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates,
United Kingdom, and the United States
of America (23 states)
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS: 44% at
C-suite and Executive Management
level; 42% in professions and
management
EDUCATION: 31% have post-grad
degrees, 35% have graduate degrees,
33% have university degrees
HOME OWNERSHIP: 75% are
homeowners vs 20% renters.
GENERATIONS: 52% are Millennials/
Gen Y, 38% Baby Boomers, 10% Gen X
WAYS TO SUPPORT FWN
BENEFITS COMMENSURATE WITH
MARKETING SPEND.
Spotlights your organization’s corporate
social responsibility (CSR) goals, diversity
and inclusivity initiatives and values.
Strategic Partners (YEAR-ROUND):
Opportunity for leading organizations
to align with FWN and build year-round
relationships with FWN members in 28
countries through customized marketing
programs. The program offers multiple
tiers to suit different budget levels.
MORE INFO: www.filipinasummit.org/
strategic-partners-programs
Print and Digital Advertising:
FWN offers many print and digital
opportunities to promote your
organization to Filipina women
worldwide and offers advertisers direct
access to a specialized demographic.
MORE INFO: www.filipinasummit.org/
advertising
Naming Opportunities: FWN offers
your organization various naming
opportunities for FWN’s popular key
programs and initiatives. MORE INFO:
Chair at leonorV@ffwn.org or call
+1.415.610.6637. www.filipinasummit.
org/sponsorships/
FWN Priority Issues
1. Influence Filipina popular culture.
2. Eliminate all forms of discrimination
against Filipina women and girls.
3. Appoint and elect Filipina women to
positions of leadership.
4. Economic independence in housing,
wages and pay equity for equal work.
5. Access to public services in education,
immigration, health care, child care,
senior services, and transportation.
6. Reproductive freedom.
7. Elimination of violence against women
and girls
Our 5 Program Areas
1. Branding
o Shaping the Filipina Image
o Filipina Action Now
2. Social Justice
o Anti-Domestic Violence and Anti-
o Filipina Women Who Could Be
President Fellowship
o Filipinas in Motion
o Boards & Commissions
Appointments
o Political Education Awareness
Training and Voter Registration
o FWN Fellows and Interns
o FEMtorMatch™
o Pinay Speed Femtoring
5. Cultural Awareness
o FWN Salo Salo™
o Sheroes Monologues
o Strategic Alliances with corporate
Filipino employee affinity groups
in all economic sectors especially
organizations with global employee
populations.
oFilipina Global Leadership Series
• DISRUPT: Proud. Loud. Leading
Without A Doubt
• Book Tours
• Filipina Global Leadership
Competencies Workshops

32B FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org

 Recognizing
2007-2017 USFWN100™ and
Global FWN100™ AWARDEES
Annabelle “Anny” Hefti
2015 Global FWN100™
Builder
San Francisco, CA USA
2016 Global FWN100™ Continuing
Influential
Builder
Cebu, Philippines
SWITZERLAND
Dr Caroline Marian
Santos Enriquez
President
Our Lady of Fatima University
Quezon City, PHILIPPINES
2016 Global FWN100™
Innovator & Thought Leader
Cebu, Philippines
Graduated with a degree in Doctor of
Medicine and began working at Our Lady
of Fatima University (OLFU) as Assistant
Administrator. Rose from the ranks and
became VP for College Affairs, then
Executive Vice President and is currently
the President of the university. She
helped steer the university in achieving
Autonomous recognition from the
Commission on Higher Education, only
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
attending the
15th Filipina Leadership
Global Summit
London, United Kingdom
one of 59 colleges and universities with
this accolade from a total count of about
1,700 universities and colleges in the
entire Philippines. The university is also
ISO: 9001:2008 accredited and has a
recognition from Commission on Higher
Education as a Center of Excellence in its
BS Hotel Restaurant and Management
Program and a Center of Development
in its B.S. Pharmacy Program. It has
5 campuses located in Valenzuela
City, Quezon City, Antipolo City, San
Fernando City and Cabanatuan City,
which are all in the outskirts of Manila
or in the nearby provinces. It has a
student population base of about 45,000
students in the different programs of
OLFU.
She is also a member of the Board of
Trustees of Fatima University Medical
Center, a tertiary hospital, a member of
the Board of Trustees of another family
owned company with a diversified
portfolio that includes real estate, food
industry, hospitality services, agriculture
and fast moving consumer goods like Del
Monte.
Dr. Enriquez is a member of the Board
of Directors of Philippine Red Cross
Valenzuela Chapter and is actively
involved in community health planning
and programs.
She is also a member of the Board of
Directors of Philippine Association
of Colleges and University ( PACU )
and holds the position of Second Vice
President. She was actively involved in
the creation of academic management
seminars for the members schools of
PACU and other educational institutions.
Dr. Enriquez was also part of the
monitoring team of the Commission
on Higher Education that assessed the
compliance of the local government
operated colleges and universities with
regards satisfying CHEd requirements
and standards.
If there is one influential action that
makes you very proud of your body of
work since you RECEIVED your award,
what would that be?
Inspired over 1,000 employees to serve
50 volunteer hours last year without
remuneration. We targeted 50,000 hours
but we delivered 72,000 hours.
What is the global imprint of your body
of work since you RECEIVED your
latest award? How are you leading,
advocating, impacting your constituency:
your profession, your organization, your
community?
Consistently educating Filipinos through
affordable and inclusive yet good and
relevant instruction and work exposure.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate? How did it impact
your career or business?
My co- workers inspired me to become a
Bing Carrion
Founder/CEO
better leader. I see them work long hours
Seagull Philippines Inc.
and I owe it to them to make sure that I
Paranaque City, Philippines
am leading them in the right direction.
What is the most significant barrier to
2016 Global FWN100™
Filipina leadership from your experience
Founder & Pioneer
since you RECEIVED your award? How
Cebu Philippines
did it impact your career or business? Did
it help you become a leader or advocate?
Ever changing government regulations
made me conscious of the fact that I
must always be aware of how flexible we
must be.
Notable accomplishments since you
RECEIVED your award.
I was elected the President of the
Philippine Association of Colleges and
Universities, the oldest association of
private educational institutions in the
Philippines
How have you taken your SUCCESS to Christine Amour-Levar
SIGNIFICANCE in society? Co-Founder
Advocacy and Influencing people about Women On A Mission
education and its importance Singapore
What is one piece of advice that you 2016 Global FWN100™
would give to your 20-year old self? Founder & Pioneer
Listen well to your elders Cebu, Philippines
Of French, Swiss and Filipino descent,
What is your ONE expectation from the Christine Amour-Levar is a Social
Filipina Leadership Global Summit? Entrepreneur, Environmental Advocate,
Passing the flame to the next lady. Marketing Consultant and Author
who passionately believes in women’s
leadership and empowerment. She grew
up between Manila, Paris and Tokyo
and is currently based in Singapore,
where she lives with her husband and
four children. After graduating from
Sophia University in Tokyo, with a BA in
International Business and Economics,
and a minor in Japanese language, she
embarked on a fulfilling career that
took her across Europe, Asia, North
and South America for brands such as
Nike, McCann-Erickson, Philippe Starck
and her own Brazilian fashion retail
business, Beijaflor. After selling her retail
business in 2010, she went on to write
Benel Se-Liban the motivational guide, The Smart Girl’s
JBC Group
Handbook to Being Mummylicious,
California, UNITED STATES
published in May 2012.
2011 Global FWN100™
Today, Christine is the CMO of iRace
Founder & Pioneer
Media, one of Asia’s leading
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018 33B
horse racing publishing and media
companies. She also heads Marketing
and Communications at Temasek
Management Services, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Temasek Holdings. From
2013 to 2017, she managed Marketing
and Communications at Temasek Trust,
the philanthropic arm of Temasek
Holdings.
Through Women On A Mission, the non-
profit organisation she co-founded, she
has led teams on challenging expeditions
to the Arctic, the Middle East, Africa
and the Himalayas to raise awareness
and funds for women survivors of
war and to empower and support
women who have been subjected to
violence and abuse. An avid believer in
women as Gamechangers with unique
knowledge and solutions to move
the needle on sustainability, Christine
recently launched #HERplanetearth, a
global women’s advocacy movement
that promotes gender equality and the
integrity of the environment.
If there is one influential action that
makes you very proud of your body of
work since you RECEIVED your award,
what would that be?
One of the most satisfying moments in
the last couple of years since I received
my award was during my trip to Rwanda
in Africa in November 2017. There I was
visiting one of the charities we support,
Women for Women International
(WfWI). Rwanda is a fascinating country
that has risen from the ashes of a civil
war, to become one of the fastest
growing economies on the African
continent. As one proud graduate from
a program, we funded told me, “I am
no longer poor. I can now support my
family by making bricks and selling them
as part of my cooperative. My children
go to school, and we have enough to
eat. I have you and your team of women
to thank for my good fortune.” Her
honesty and gratitude deeply touched
me. The women we met in Rwanda are
courageous, determined, hardworking
survivors of a decimated generation.
They told us their stories through song,
dance, and with tears in their eyes and
in so doing, they touched our hearts
forever.
What is the global imprint of your body
of work since you RECEIVED your
latest award? How are you leading,
advocating, impacting your constituency:
your profession, your organization, your
community?
Being at the core of Women on a
Mission and HER Planet Earth has
allowed me to push myself beyond my
limits on multiple occasions and truly
test my leadership capabilities. Managing
34B FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
teams under pressure on challenging
expeditions to some of the most
inhospitable places in the world such as
the Arctic, the Antarctic, deserts in the
Middle East and Africa, and mountains
in the Himalayas, has taught me valuable
lessons of humility and resilience. Today
my NGO’s have impacted hundreds of
underprivileged women and has made an
impact in their lives.
What is the most significant barrier to
Filipina leadership from your experience
since you RECEIVED your award? How
did it impact your career or business? Did
it help you become a leader or advocate?
In my experience one of the most
significant barrier to female leadership is
the lack of support from other women.
I am convinced that there simply is no
ONE formula for how a woman should
lead her life. Each of us needs to respect
the choices that any woman makes for
herself, for her family, and for her career.
We all have the right to develop our
potential, at our own pace, and when it
suits us. What’s important is supporting
each other. I feel passionately that
women need to empower each other
more, so that we have the courage to
define success on our own terms. I
believe each person’s uniqueness is her
power, and I remind my children about
this often.
Notable accomplishments since you
RECEIVED your award.
I set up a second NGO called HER
Planet Earth, to support underprivileged
women affected by climate change and
I continued my work with Women On
A Mission raising close to a 1 million
dollars for organizations that advance
the position of women around the
world. Thanks to both organizations,
I have taken a combined total of over
80 women outside their comfort zones
on challenging expeditions around the
world to raise awareness and funds
women who are less privileged than us.
How have you taken your
SIGNIFICANCE to RELEVANCE in
society?
I have made it a point to mentor many
young women along the way to share
my learnings with them and to hopefully
help them in their careers and in their
lives.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next-generation
of Filipina women?
Leading our country to a better future
is the biggest challenge facing our next
generation. There has been such a brain-
drain of our brightest and best, that
ultimately, it’s about building our country
up and making it a better place.
| www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
Cynthia Barker
Town Councillor,
Brookmeadow, Elstree & Borehamwood
Borough Councillor, Hertsmere Borough
Immigration Law Practitioner, Alcantara
Consultancy Service
Barker & Partners Consulting (UK)
UNITED KINGDOM
2017 Global FWN100™
Policymaker & Visionary
Toronto, Canada
Dina Dela Paz Stalder
President and CEO
Stalder Group of Companies
Quezon City, Philippines
2017 Global FWN100™
Founder & Pioneer
Toronto, Canada
My skincare quest is relentless. I
remain always on the lookout for more
innovative approaches and breakthrough
treatments that would satisfy even the
most discriminating client. After all,
creating beautiful skin is what my life’s
deviation is all about.
If there is one influential action that
makes you very proud of your body of
work since you RECEIVED your award,
what would that be?
Since I received my award, I was able
to be identified as one amongst the
professionals in the Philippines who
contribute success in our nation-building.
My achievements were recognized in
empowering women’s organizations.
What is the global imprint of your body
of work since you RECEIVED your latest
award?
I was able to promote my business
in Malaysia and Brunei. We are
now preparing for China. I lead my
constituency with conviction and
dedication as I show them what it takes
to be a Filipina entrepreneur.
Filipina women face workplace
challenges every day. With the
emergence of the #MeToo movement,
how are you advocating for Filipina
women on gender equality in your place
of work?
I successfully implemented equal pay
among my employees. It matters not of
their age, profession or gender as long as
they are qualified and worthy of the job.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate? How did it impact
your career or business?
The person who has influenced me as a
leader and advocate is Nick Vujicic. He
has motivated me through his words of
wisdom. He is a man who has no limbs
but he has still been able to show the
world that he can be a great speaker and
mover
What is the most significant barrier to
Filipina leadership from your experience
since you RECEIVED your award? How
did it impact your career or business?
Did it help you become a leader or
advocate?
People always underestimate the
capacity and capabilities of a woman.
These opinions have led me to be a great
leader in my field of work.
Notable accomplishments since you
RECEIVED your award.
After receiving my award in October
2017, I received the Escolarian Vision
Exemplar Award in January 2018. Also,
my company was given the chance to be
included in the Halal Showcase of both
Malaysia and Brunei in April and August
2018, respectively.
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Just go with the flow and live a life full
of love.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next-generation
of Filipina women?
Being too liberated.
 ASEAN Business Awards 2017 under
GREEN TECHNOLOGY Category; Pag-
ibig Fund Awardee as Philippine’s First
Solar Powered Housing Community
Developer with take-outs; CEO Asia
Awards 2016 ADEC Innovations Green
Company of the Year; Recipient- IFC
Green Building Champion Recognition
for promoting the greening of
building sector; Financial Times/ IFC
Transformational Business Awardee
2016 for Achievement in Low-Carbon
Urban Transformation; IFC- World
Bank Excellence in Design for Greater
Efficiencies (EDGE) Certificate for
Green Building; IFC- World Bank Poster
Child for its residential case study, the
development of nation’s first affordable
Editha Tijamo Emma Marcha housing fitted with solar panels, with
water-conserving toilets, and energy
Winterhalter, Ed.D. Imperial reducing construction materials; Social
Director of Administrative Services President and CEO
Enterprise grantee of Netsuite.Org, in
California State University, Northridge Imperial Homes Corporation
supporting capacity building efforts for
Metro Manila, PHILIPPINES
UNITED STATES non-profits and social enterprises around
the world.
2015 Global FWN100™
2017 Global FWN100™ Innovator & Thought Leader
If there is one influential action that
Behind the Scenes Leader San Francisco, CA
makes you very proud of your body of
Toronto, Canada work since you RECEIVED your award,
Her company’s achievements: WINNER of
what would that be?
After receiving my FWN award, I am
proud that Imperial Homes Corporation
continue to innovate and launched Via
Verde Subdivision in Batangas and other
locations offering homes with 24hour
solar solution with lithium batteries
and world class renewable building
technology that lasts a lifetime, fire and
mold resistant.
What is the global imprint of your body
of work since you RECEIVED your latest
award?
The 2018 Renewable Woman of the
World award in Shanghai, created so
much interest from women leader
participants mulling partnership with our
company. We have signed MOUs with
other Philippines developers and India to
also build homes using this sustainable
model which can address 1Billion Global
housing backlog.
Filipina women face workplace
challenges everyday. With the
emergence of the #MeToo movement,
how are you advocating for Filipina
women on gender equality in your place
of work?

Councillor Cynthia Barker

Policymaker & Visionary Awardee 2017
Councillor Cynthia Barker congratulates one of the world’s
100 Most Influential Filipina Women™

cynthiabarker.co.uk

Councillor Cynthia Barker at

15th Filipina Leadership Global Summit,
London, September 2018 Nova Fossgard
congratulates Director
FWN & the Purley Language College Ltd. &
100 Most Influential Filipina Women™ Hazel Residences Ltd.

in the World Behind the Scenes Leader Awardee 2018

15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK • 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018 35B
In my company there are more women
than men. I spoke in this year’s Global
Summit of Women in Sydney and
2017 Filipina CEO Circle event. Both
organizations help women maximize
their full potential to help other women.
I share my innovations to inspire them
reach their goals.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate?
One of the biggest influences in my life
is the Older Man Henry Sy. He gave me
lessons when I was working in Ayala
Investment Development Corporation
that shaped my life into what I am now.
Notable accomplishments since you
RECEIVED your award.
1)Launching of Via Verde Subdivision
as the country’s First Solar Powered
Community.
2)Launching of Imperial Lifetime Homes
and the Danish Connovate Factory
trailblazing the housing construction
industry with superior renewable
Congratulations to 15 years of FWN!
Thank you for advocating on behalf of women and girls
From the Most Trusted Filipino Food Manufacturer in the US
building technology that lasts a lifetime,
fire and mold resistant, the only world
class home in the Philippines
What was your very first paid job? How
old were you?
At age 22, I was Marketing Assistant
to the President in IHEC, an Ayala
Company. I packaged heavy equipment
and operated a bulldozer during the
launching of Ayala Alabang village in
Muntinlupa. I topped the sales of IHEC
and was the only Female among Male
Engineers in the company.
How have you taken your SUCCESS to
SIGNIFICANCE in society?
I promote the model to other developers
of both real estate and solar developer’s
association where I am both active to
educate them that the Lifetime Solar
Powered mass housing communities help
mitigate climate change, provide savings
and value for money to low income
Filipinos and promote shared prosperity
and equality among homeowners.
and elevating the next generation of leaders!
Proud Sponsors Since 2007
#Ramarkable50
How have you taken your
SIGNIFICANCE to RELEVANCE in
society?
The model got numerous awards due to
the deteriorating climate that creates
havoc and poverty to affected areas,
continuous acceptance of buyers of sub-
standard houses for lack of better option.
This IHC model gives buyers a chance to
own a world class affordable home which
can help global housing backlog.
Which living woman do you most
admire?
I admire Marife Zamora, Convergys’
former Chairwoman for Asia Pacific. I
love her grit, strength, good character,
integrity, support for women and
nationalism to help our country. She
also holds the distinction of being one of
Filipino executives in the BPO industry
whose influence extends beyond Asia
and the world.
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
so
If you want to start a business, think
of what a business that would have a
greater impact on others. Think of a
product that will have future impact.
Only provide excellent service for the
greater good of humanity because you
will never go wrong.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next-generation
of Filipina women?
With increase knowledge and skills
through educational opportunities,
and the latest various recognitions that
women are now receiving, young women
nowadays have more breakthrough to be
problem solvers and big contributor to
the society. I think the biggest challenge
that faces the next generation of Filipina
women is still the issue of gender
equality. The world would be better for
the next generation Filipina women if
they have equal access to jobs, equal pay
and the flexibility to juggle work with
raising children.
rbetero
 2017 Global FWN100™
Innovator & Thought Leader
Toronto, Canada
Georgitta “Beng” Puyat is a lifetime
Volunteer with a commitment to service
and advocacy. As a member of the Zonta
Club of Makati and Environs for 32 years,
she has initiated and nurtured projects
that have affected generations of women
and families, including the East Rembo
Livelihood and Skills Training Center and
the award-winning Psychological Center
Francine Maigue for Sexually Abused Children (ages 3-17)
District Director, in Marillac Hills. She was elected Zonta
California State International District 17 Governor in
Assembly, 80th District 2010-2012. She was also the President
California, UNITED STATES and Chairman of the UNIFEM Philippine
National Committee (now UN Women),
2015 Global FWN100™ a Trustee of the Philippine Philharmonic
Emerging Leader Orchestra Society Inc., and Chairman/
San Francisco, CA USA President of the Sigma Delta Phi
Alumnae Association Inc.
She is the Co-Founder and Chairman
of the Philippine Orchard Corporation,
whose mission is to help marginalized
farmers improve their economic status
with innovative products and protocols
that promote quality and sustainability.
She graduated from the University of
the Philippines Diliman with a degree in
AB Political Science and took Masters
in Sociology. She enjoys being with her
family, especially her 3 grandchildren,
and travelling.
Genevieve Jopanda If there is one influential action that
Chief of Staff makes you very proud of your body of
Office of Fiona Ma-Chair work since you RECEIVED your award,
Emeritus-CA State Board of Equalization what would that be?
California, UNITED STATES I was chosen as one of the first
2007 US FWN100™ recipients of the 1st Philippine Women
Builders & Emerging leader Leadership Awards, chosen by CMO
Washington DC., United Sates Asia, the research partner of the World
Sustainability Congress. There was no
2013 Global FWN100™ submission process and it was based
Behind the Scenes Leader on merit and track record. It was totally
San Francisco, CA United States unexpected.
What is the global imprint of your body
of work since you RECEIVED your latest
award?
As a member of Zonta International, I
continuously affect change by support-
ing initiatives and policies that advance
the status of women through service and
advocacy, especially the education of
young girls and women all over the world
as I believe that education is the future
of gender equality.
Filipina women face workplace chal-
lenges everyday. With the emergence
Georgitta Pimentel of the #MeToo movement, how are you
advocating for Filipina women on gender
Puyat equality in your place of work?
Chairman
As District Advocacy Chairman (2014-
Philippine Orchard Corporation
2016) in Zonta, I lectured and supported
Makati City, PHILIPPINES
the Women Empowerment Principles
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
(WEPs), a workplace guideline that
promotes sound business practices that
incorporate the role and leadership of
women. Also, businesses were asked to
endorse the CEO Statement of Support
to implement the changes set by WEPs.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate? How did it impact
your career or business?
Noeleen Heyzer, the former Under
Secretary General of the United Nations
(2007-2017). I was fortunate to have
served under her when I became the
President and Chairman of UNIFEM
Philippines (now UN Women) during her
tenure as Executive Director. She was an
inspiration to my work in volunteerism.
What is the most significant barrier to
Filipina leadership from your experience
since you RECEIVED your award?
If we are to succeed, we need to train
ourselves for the position. Also, we must
have the support of our fellow women to
bolster ourselves against the roadblocks
of professional life. We are a community
who needs to help each other.
LIST two notable accomplishments since
you RECEIVED your award.
I am one of the first recipients of the 1st
Philippine Women Leadership Awards,
chosen by the World Sustainability
Congress. In Zonta, I was chosen as
D17’s first Chairman of the Women in
Technology Scholarships that will give
me the opportunity to search for the
best in the IT field.
What was your very first paid job?
Singing talent for Cathay Pacific Airways
Jingle, aged 16, no impact what so ever.
How have you taken your SUCCESS to
SIGNIFICANCE in society?
You impart your wisdom to future lead-
ers in your field.
How have you taken your SIGNIFI-
CANCE to RELEVANCE in society?
By supporting the next generation of
leaders who have been mentored and
molded with grace and integrity.
The ONE thing that we would not guess
about you.
That I grew up in Cotabato, Mindanao
once you see me.
What is your ONE expectation from the
Filipina Leadership Global Summit?
Meeting and networking with new
friends who share their individual suc-
cesses on a global platform.
If you could connect with an amazing
Filipina woman at the summit - what
traits should she have?
Confidence in herself and in her abilities.
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018
At the same time, she has to have
empathy towards others.
Which living woman do you most
admire?
My 101 year old Mother, my earliest
inspiration who started me on the path
of volunteerism.
Which historical female figure would you
like to have coffee with? What would
you like to learn from her?
Marian de Forest, Playwright,
Philanthropist, Suffragette, and founder
of Zonta International. I would ask for
advice on what drives her on and how
was she able to put together a group
women from different backgrounds to
rally under a common cause.
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Even if you fail, just do not quit. Even if
it takes years for it to come to fruition.
Dream on because they can become real.
What do you think is the biggest chal-
lenge that faces the next-generation of
Filipina women?
Competition and gender bias in the
workplace. Until such that fail safes
against gender bias and discrimination
are placed in the workplace, women will
have a harder time attaining leadership
positions and work stability.
Your LEGACY for the Filipina Women’s
Network.
The printing of the Disrupt 3.0 Book
is my legacy gift to the FWN. I would
also like to think that my being elected
into the FWN Board of Directors a few
months after receiving my FWN 100
Global Award in Toronto 2017 would
speak of my leadership and years of
experience.
Gina Garcia Atienza
President
Sunstar Management Inc.
Cebu, PHILIPPINES
2016 Global FWN100™
Founder & Pioneer
Cebu, Philippines
37B

Gizelle Covarrubias
Robinson
Senior Managing Director -
IT, Digital Accelerator Journey
Technical Owner
Digital Solutions
San Francisco, California
UNITED STATES
2017 Global FWN100™
Innovator & Thought Leader
Toronto, Canada
If there is one influential action that
makes you very proud of your body of
work since you RECEIVED your award,
what would that be?
As co-chair of the PBWC (Professional
Business Women in California)
Scholarship committee we awarded 8
young women of different ethnicities
from low income families funding for
their pursuit of a College degree. They
received their awards during the 29th
annual conference in April this year
which was attended by over 6000 men
and women across the country. They
received a standing ovation for all their
accomplishments which inspired others
to donate to the scholarship fund for
next year’s recipients. The committee
will automate the application process to
widen our reach of young women across
the country.
What is the global imprint of your body
of work since you RECEIVED your latest
award?
I continue to fund the scholarship needs
for special needs children from low
income families at St Mary of the Woods
in Manila.
Filipina women face workplace
challenges everyday. With the
emergence of the #MeToo movement,
how are you advocating for Filipina
women on gender equality in your place
of work?
Last year I met a young Filipina who
found me through FWN and after
reading my chapter from Disrupt 2.0.
She told me that she went to the same
university i went to in the Philippines
and was asking advice on how I made it
here in the US since she had just moved
here. I found her to be engaging, smart
and driven. The only opening we had
at that time was outside of SF. She still
went through the interviews I told her it
was practice for her next job interview.
She did well except her skillsets were
different from what was needed. In
January of this year I received a note
from her saying that she had accepted
a job at Accenture. I was truly happy for
her. In July of this year, I accepted a new
position at Schwab to lead the Digital
Accelerator Retirement Experience
journey. I reached out to her to let her
know that this time we had an opening
for her skillset. I am happy to say that
she now works with me at Schwab and I
am truly proud of all that she is doing for
our clients and our team.
What is the most significant barrier to
Filipina leadership from your experience
since you RECEIVED your award? How
did it impact your career or business?
Did it help you become a leader or
advocate?
At this point I don’t see any barriers. It
has opened doors for me in terms of
people wanting to know more about
Filipina women, the Philippines and our
culture. People don’t see me only as a
technology person but as a well-rounded
person with substance. This helps
provide credibility to who and what I
stand for.
Notable accomplishments since you
RECEIVED your award.
I was promoted to Senior Managing
Director at Schwab. One of 6
technologists and one of 2 women
across the whole company for this new
role. I was selected to be the Journey
Technology Owner for one of three
digital transformation efforts at Schwab.
How have you taken your
SIGNIFICANCE to RELEVANCE in
society?
Gender equity continues to be a mission
that we need to crack. With the platform
I was awarded I can use the information
to show the world how important it
is to continue to recognize women,
what they do for other women, for the
next generation so the future is finally
founded in a level playing field.
The ONE thing that we would not guess
about you.
That I am tremendously sentimental
Which living woman do you most
admire?
Michelle Obama - when people go low we
go high, one of the classiest women ever
What do you think is the biggest If there is one influential action that
challenge that faces the next-generation makes you very proud of your body of
of Filipina women? work since you RECEIVED your award,
Impatience for developing into the what would that be?
women that they can be.... it takes Co-editing and editing FWN DISRUPT
time and patience to fully develop book series
into a true leader. People who want to
shortcut that process may not achieve What is the global imprint of your body
their full potential. In this age of instant of work since you RECEIVED your latest
gratification, the journey of discovering award?
one’s self could be compromised. Designing Techwomen.Asia

Your LEGACY for the Filipina Women’s Joji Ilagan Bian Filipina women face workplace
Network. Chairperson challenges everyday. With the
Paying it forward for the next Joji Ilagan emergence of the #MeToo movement,
generation. International Schools how are you advocating for Filipina
PHILLIPINES Lorna Kapunan women on gender equality in your place
Senior Partner of work?
2017 Global FWN100™ Kapunan Garcia & Equal pay - Hawaii equal pay is
Founder & Pioneer Castillo Law Offices scheduled for implementation on
Toronto, Canada PHILLIPINES January 1, 2019. The work between now
and then requires community education
2016 Global FWN100™ about what the law says for both
Builder employees and employers.
Cebu, Philippines
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate? How did it impact
your career or business?
Hillary Clinton, her unwavering
commitment to her causes which are
similar to mine.

What was your very first paid job?

Laarni San Juan RN How old were you? Amount you were
Janette Nellie Founding Member
Founding Board Member you paid in your currency? Did this
Go Chiu 15th year FWN Member job influence you to seek a leadership
COO, San Francisco, California UNITED role? How did it impact your career or
Nutrivalue Technologies, Inc. STATES business direction?
PHILIPPINES Radio DJ, age 16, helped with my self-
2007 US FWN100™ esteem
2016 Global FWN100 ™ Behind the Scenes Leader
Founder & Pioneer Washington DC How have you taken your SUCCESS to
Cebu, Philippines SIGNIFICANCE in society?
Writing about women and leadership

Maria Africa Beebe How have you taken your

President SIGNIFICANCE to RELEVANCE in
Global Networks society?
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Advocating for equal pay and following
United States up with community education

2011 U.S. FWN100™ ONE (only) Filipino custom you would

Builder like to pass on to others that would
Emerging Leader make an impactful impression in society.
San Francisco, CA Pakikipagkapwa

2013 Global FWN100™ Which living woman do you most

Behind the Scenes Leader admire?
San Francisco, CA Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

PERSONAL MISSION: What is one piece of advice that you

Joanne Michelle Linking higher education with global would give to your 20-year old self?
Fernandez Ocampo Leonor S Vintervoll sustainable development; balancing “See the line where the sky meets the
The Norwegian Institute Owner/Manager social and environmental considerations sea, it calls me No one knows how far it
of Public Health Asean World Travel with economic development; using goes.”
Oslo, Norway NORWAY information and communication
technologies (ICTs) for global Your LEGACY for the Filipina Women’s
2017 Global FWN100™ 2015 Global FWN100™ engagement. Network.
Emerging Leader Behind the Scenes Leader DISRUPT1.0-3.0 books
Toronto, Canada San Francisco, CA United States

15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK • 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018 39B

Maria Nieves
Santos-Greaves
President
Surrey Hearing Care
British Colombia, CANADA
2015 Global FWN100™
Founder & Pioneer
San Francisco, CA United States
40B FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
Maria Roseni
“Nini” Alvero
Senior Trade Commissioner
Philippines Trade and
Investment Center
Toronto, Ontario CANADA
2016 Global FWN100™
Keeper of the Flame
Cebu City, Philippines
| www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
2015 Global FWN100™
Founder & Pioneer
San Francisco, CA
2016 Global FWN100™
Continuing Influential
Cebu, Philippines
Ms. Myrna T. Yao is a graduate of Mas-
ter’s Degree in Business Administration
in the University of the East. A well-
known and successful businesswoman,
she is the President and CEO of Rich-
prime Global Inc and Richwell Trading
Corporation, the exclusive distributor
of Barbie Dolls, Hotwheels, Fisher
Price, Mattel Games, V-Tech Learning
Computer and many other well-known
toy brands, infant and juvenile, shoes
and apparel.
They have expanded their business to
Myrna Tang Yao Thailand, Real Estate and the Online
Business known as Kids Company.com.
President and CEO
Richprime Global Inc
Metro Manilia, Philippines
Global
FWN100 ™
2018
Congrats!
Innovator & Thought
Leader award category.
Dr. Marissa Magsino, M.D.
Functional Medicine
Visit online at
www.Marissamagsino.com
@marisemagsino_md
Recently, she introduces the Aloe Vera
natural line of supplements and skin
care from Australia known as the Grace
Cosmetics.
A staunch advocate of women’s
economic empowerment, Ms. Myrna
T. Yao served as Chairperson of the
Philippine Commission on Women
from 2004 to 2010. She is the
Founding Chairperson of the Philippine
Federation of Local Councils of Women
and Filipino-Chinese Federation of
Business Women and Professional
Women of the Philippines, and the
Chairman Emeritus of Pearl S. Buck,
Philippines.
She is a recipient of different awards
including 2015 Most Influential
Filipina Women in the World; 2013
International Women Entrepreneurial
Challenge Awards, Women’s World
Excellence Award. Also granted the
Presidential Merit Award for her success
in the field of entrepreneurship in the
local and international level.
If there is one influential action that
makes you very proud of your body of
work since you RECEIVED your award,
what would that be?
I would like to receive an award for
being One of the Most Successful Rags
to Riches Award or One of the Most
Successful Micro Entrepreneur in the
World.
What is the global imprint of your
body of work since you RECEIVED
your latest award? How are you
leading, advocating, impacting your
constituency: your profession, your
organization, your community?
Being able to connect local women from
the provinces, to national and global
then economic empowerment and
micro entrepreneurship mentorship
Filipina women face workplace
challenges everyday. With the
emergence of the #MeToo movement,
how are you advocating for Filipina
women on gender equality in your
place of work - e.g., equal pay, sexual
harassment reporting policy, promoting
your Filipina sisters, etc.? Was it
successful? Was it a failure? What did
you do? Describe.
The workplace challenges is an
important action for me especially
on developing Filipino workers in
the locality. the urban area has lots
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
of avenue to turn to and seek for
assistance but i am focusing on the
rural area who needs more help. i
work and partner closely with the local
government to promote our Filipina
sisters who are less recognize and some
of them are already in the barangay and
town leaders.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate? How did it impact
your career or business?
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
What is the most significant barrier
to Filipina leadership from your
experience since you RECEIVED your
award? How did it impact your career
or business? Did it help you become a
leader or advocate?
Most significant barrier is the global
challenge of young men and women
threat to society in their belief that
they don’t need God and they are too
confident of themselves. believing in
God and humility help me become a
leader.
LIST two notable accomplishments
since you RECEIVED your award.
Uplifting the lives of women in local
level or rural areas. The Great Women
Project for indigent women. the Angat
Lahat Mentorship for the country.
What was your very first paid job?
How old were you? Amount you were
you paid in your currency? Did this
job influence you to seek a leadership
role? How did it impact your career or
business direction?
Secretary for P160.00 a month or USD
20.00. i was 18 years old as working
student. I was able to meet influential
people who guided me in my career.
How have you taken your SUCCESS to
SIGNIFICANCE in society?
I am now considered as one of the
most successful entrepreneurs in the
Philippines and Internationally.
How have you taken your
SIGNIFICANCE to RELEVANCE in
society?
I tried to help and mentor young women
who would like to be successful in their
own fields.
ONE Filipino custom you would like to
pass on to others that would make an
impactful impression in society.
Respect for elders and parents
The ONE thing that we would not
guess about you.
Act like a dame but think like a stallion
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Have a Vision (Vision)
Plan on it. (Direction)
Act on it. (Action)
What is your ONE expectation from the
Filipina Leadership Global Summit?
Make one program or project of the
members to have an impact globally
that FWN can be proud of.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next-
generation of Filipina women?
To think less as a Filipina but more of
the other races.
Your LEGACY for the Filipina Women’s
Network.
To bring the Global Successful FWN
Members. to uplift the lives of our
indigent Filipina in the rural areas who
need the real assistance. adopt a project
in the community
Rowena Romulo
Restaurateur, Romulo Café
UNITED KINGDOM
2017 Global FWN100™
Builder
Toronto, Canada
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018
Susie Quesada
President, Ramar
Foods International
California UNITED STATES
2007 US FWN100™
Behind the Scenes Leader
Washington DC, United States
2013 Global FWN100™
Keeper of the Flame
San Francisco, CA United States
If there is one influential action that
makes you very proud of your body of
work since you RECEIVED your award,
what would that be?
Empowering women and girls through
speaking engagements, FEMtoring
inside Ramar Foods and in the greater
community, serving FWN on the Board
since 2010 and through supporting
FWN and other organizations with
similar missions via sponsorships and
donations.
What is the global imprint of your
body of work since you RECEIVED
your latest award? How are you
leading, advocating, impacting your
constituency: your profession, your
organization, your community?
Ramar Foods continues to grow outside
of North America by giving Filipinos
outside the Philippines the taste
of home through our Filipino food.
We have a growth and development
culture to help employees and their
families. We support Filipino community
organizations in the places we have a
large footprint to give back and support
the greater community.
41B
Filipina women face workplace
challenges every day. With the
emergence of the #MeToo movement,
how are you advocating for Filipina
women on gender equality in your place
of work
I advocate for Filipina women through
my involvement and support of FWN
and its programs and share this work
within our company by enforcing
policies that keep women safe.
What was your very first paid job?
How old were you? Amount you were
you paid in your currency? Did this
job influence you to seek a leadership
role? How did it impact your career or
business direction?
Customer Service Rep at 16 years old
at minimum wage at a local department
store; it helped me understand the
importance of service in any business
How have you taken your SUCCESS to
SIGNIFICANCE in society?
For me it is being able to impact our
employees and their families as well as
the greater community through leading
by example and advocating for others.
How have you taken your
SIGNIFICANCE to RELEVANCE in
society?
I believe that setting a good example
by our actions is what will help the
next generations learn how to be good
leaders. I will continue to live by my
values and principles and femtor others
to make a positive difference.
ONE Filipino custom you would like to
pass on to others that would make an
impactful impression in society.
Respect for elders
The ONE thing that we would not
guess about you.
I play in an adult co-ed soccer league
Which living woman do you most
admire?
Oprah
How do you take care of yourself?
What does self-care mean to you?
I work out daily, do yoga, eat often to
avoid being hungry and meditate.
When you take care of yourself and
your needs you can take care of your
family and your business/career. Taking
care of myself gives me the energy
and focus to have a successful and
productive day.
42B FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
What is your ONE expectation from the
Filipina Leadership Global Summit?
Learning more about what my FWN
Sisters do all over the world
If you could connect with an amazing
Filipina woman at the summit - what
traits should she have?
Integrity and Leadership
Your LEGACY for the Filipina Women’s
Network.
To support FWN’s long term
sustainability through sponsorship
and attending the Summit annually.
To support Chapter Development all
around the world. To pass the baton
to the next generation of Filipina
leaders to continue FWN’s mission and
programs.
Stella Solero
Bernabe
Region Head
STELLAR Region ,
MANULIFE Phils.
Cebu ,Philippines
2016 Global FWN100™
Builder
Cebu, Philippines
If there is one influential action that
makes you very proud of your body of
work since you RECEIVED your award,
what would that be?
I was able to expand my influence
to hundreds of Women and Men for
them to be self-sufficient Building up
their Career & fortunes. They are now
self-sufficient because of my personal
support, mentoring and coaching
| www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
What is the global imprint of your
body of work since you RECEIVED
your latest award? How are you
leading, advocating, impacting your
constituency: your profession, your
organization, your community?
I received international awards because
of the hundreds of people I influence
to do daily activities for them to close
many cases of business for them to
succeed in our business .
Filipina women face workplace
challenges everyday. With the
emergence of the #MeToo movement,
how are you advocating for Filipina
women on gender equality in your place
of work?
I was able to groom a Filipina from
being timid to being outspoken I
supported her all the way as part of Myrna P. Young
Nursing Education Specialist
my advocacy and now she knows how
to assert being equal to men in terms Robert Wood Johnson Hospital
New Jersey, USA
of job placement, and let them be
aware not to be shortchanged by her
2017 Global FWN100™
colleague especially men ,she learned
Builder
to be aggressive and now she is reaping Toronto, Canada
awards.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate? How did it impact
your career or business?
Lulu Del Mundo, that in spite of her old
age she is still reaping Awards.,
Notable accomplishments since you
RECEIVED your award.
I was a recipient of 2 International
Awards, GAMA International
Management Award Platinum and
Monthly local Awards because I was
able to build up hundreds of individuals
for them to learn Financial literacy so
they can cascade and share to their
prospects.
What was your very first paid job?
How old were you? Amount you were
you paid in your currency? Did this
job influence you to seek a leadership
role? How did it impact your career or
business direction? Thelma Boac
I was 22 years old was my first job as President, Board of Trustees
a secretary of a foreign company. That Berryessa Union School District
was 1972 and I received 300 pesos per California UNITED STATES
month
2007 US FWN100™
Builder & Emerging Leader
What is one piece of advice that you
Washington DC
would give to your 20-year old self?
Learn more and travel more
2015 Global FWN100™
Keeper of the Flame
San Francisco, CA United States
About the Filipina
Leadership Global
Summit
The annual Filipina Leadership
Global Summit brings
together some of the top
and most influential Filipina
women business owners and
professionals from around the
globe to create a networking
pipeline thru reciprocal
relationships. The speakers
chosen for the summit are at the
top of their game sharing their
experiences and insights on how
they became successful, how
they turned their success into
significance and what it means
to be relevant to society as an
influential woman in today’s
business world. More info:
www.filipinasummit.org/
The Filipina Leadership Global
Summit is exclusively designed
for the Global FWN100™
Awardees—Filipina women
leaders creating change in the
world of Filipinas in diaspora.
Each year, the Filipina Women’s
Network explores questions
about creating change in
communities, work, and
leadership. The sessions, action
group discussions, and personal
reflections, are designed to help
members and awardees gain
insights about the future of
leadership as Filipina women.
The summit is FWN’s signature
fundraiser with proceeds
funding FWN’s programs that
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
foster the Filipina women’s appointed officials, state and
socio-economic, political and local agency representatives,
educational advancement in business owners and community
addition to raising awareness leaders at the Power MeetUp
of FWN’s pipeline development and the Global FWN100™
of qualified next generation Awards and Gala.
leaders to increase the odds that
some will rise to the “president”
position.
The 2018 Summit’s theme is
SUCCESS. SIGNIFICANCE.
RELEVANCE. The theme
speaks to the urgency of using
the success achieved by each
awardee in their professional
lives collectively in FWN
developing new paradigms
for significant actions that are
relevant to today’s society. How
can FWN reposition its advocacy
for social, economic and political
change? How can FWN maintain
its relevance as the world is
rapidly turning? How can FWN
become a major player in future
thinking?
The summit will convene
sessions, presentations, and
Learning Journeys where Filipina
women in the diaspora will share
powerful stories about their
personal and professional lives.
This year’s Summit also includes
exclusive policy briefings and
visits with key legislators whose
policies impact the Filipino
community. Attendees will
have opportunities to network
with legislators, elected and
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018 43B
SUMMIT
SCHEDULE
AT A GLANCE
DAY ONE:
WEDNESDAY, 12
SEPTEMBER
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM –
Learning Journey #1
(On Your Own: OYO):
The Francis Crick Institute
“Deconstructing Patterns: Art +
Science in Conversation”
Arriving early in London?
Join FWN ‘early birds’ at The
Francis Crick Institute, a one-
minute walk from the St. Pancras
Renaissance London hotel, for
a leisurely lunch at the Café....
and then we sashay over to view
the “Deconstructing Patterns:
Art + Science in Conversation”
exhibition.
Art and science in conversation
at the Francis Crick Institute.
The natural world is made up of
patterns. Many we can see with
44B FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
the naked eye, but others only
exist at cellular and molecular
levels. This stunning new
exhibition at the Crick delves
into the extraordinary world of
microscopic patterns.
Presented over three ‘zones’,
the exhibition explores intricate
patterns studied at the Crick,
each one interpreted by a
specially-commissioned artist.
The displays take the form
of a poetry and soundscape
piece by Sarah Howe and
Chu-Li Shewring, a sculpture
and film by Helen Pynor and
a film created by the young
filmmaking group, KaleiKo.
By taking patterns apart, both
the artists and scientists are
seeking new insights into the
beauty and complexity of the
human body.
“Disrupting patterns helps
unravel the mystery of how
they are formed in the first
place”. – Katherine Exelby,
Developmental Dynamics
Laboratory
6:30 – 8:00 PM – Women
Who ROCK: Power Meetup
with FWN Community Partners
and Filipina and British
Women Professionals and
Entrepreneurs (No Host)
Café Romulo London,
343 Kensington High St,
Kensington, London W8 6NW,
UK
Meet the Faces of Global Pinay
Power: Francine Maigue 2015
and Rowena Romulo 2017
Get a head start with social
networking with FWN
Community Partners, our
Filipina British sisters, British
women who share our cause for
women’s rights, entrepreneurs
and government officials in
a Power MeetUp = Power.
Discussion.
Fast track your networking
experience. We will form
groups of 5 each for a more
intimate gathering. Meet up
with fellow professionals and
entrepreneurs. Your group
networking host will be a
local British professional or
entrepreneur. Find out more
about what they’re up to. Find
out what issues they care
about and what life in London
is like for career women and
entrepreneurs!
| www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
DAY TWO:
THURSDAY, 13
SEPTEMBER
7:00 AM – 10:00 AM –
Learning Journey #2: UK House
of Lords: Book Reading • Meet
the Authors • Book Signing:
“DISRUPT 3.0. Filipina Women:
RISING”
CHOLMONDELEY ROOM,
House of Lords, UK Parliament
Dress Code: Business
Book Reading • Meet the
Authors • Book Signing:
DISRUPT 3.0. Filipina Women:
RISING
KEYNOTE: Georgitta Pimentel
Puyat
A select group of authors from
7 countries will read excerpts
from their chapters. Book
signing will follow.
1. ANNABELLE MISA HEFTI
(Switzerland)
2. CYNTHIA BARKER (IUnited
Kingdom)
3. CHRISTINE AMOUR-LEVAR
(Singapore)
4. DINA DELA PAZ STALDER
(Philippines)
5. EDITHA TIJAMO
WINTERHALTER, Ed.D. (USA)
6. GEORGITTA ‘BENG’
PIMENTEL PUYAT (Philippines)
7. JANETTE NELLIE GO-CHIU
(Philippines)
8. JOJI ILAGAN BIAN
(Philippines)
9. JUSLYN C. MANALO (USA)
10. LEONOR S. VINTERVOLL
(Norway)
11. MARIA AFRICA BEEBE,
Ph.D. (USA)
12. MARIA ROSA ‘BING’ NIEVA
CARRION, Ph.D. (Philippines)
13. MARILY MONDEJAR (USA)
14. MYRNA P. YOUNG, MSN,
RN, CNOR (USA)
15. ROWENA ROMULO (Unit-
ed Kingdom)
16. SUSIE QUESADA (USA)
17. HON. THELMA B. BOAC
(USA)
Authors are Global FWN100™
awardees who contributed
chapters about the following
leadership themes:
• Building Leadership Legacy
• Developing Leadership
• Entrepreneurship
• Leading for Impact
• Being First and Foremost in
their fields of expertise
Maria A. Beebe, Ph.D.
Editor
FWN Board Member

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM –
Learning Journey #3: Palace of
Westminster: VIEW the “Voice
and Vote: Women’s Place in
Parliament” Exhibition @ Palace
of Westminster
After the DISRUPT 3.0 Book
Reading, we will walk over to
the Voice & Vote Exhibition.
• 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - 50
Tickets available to view the
Exhibition
• 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM -
Suffragette Talks (you may leave
the V&V exhibition to join the
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
Talks and return to the V&V
after)
• 12:00 AM - 1:00 PM - 30
Tickets available to view the
Exhibition
• 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Lunch
on your own. Try the Jubilee
Cafe or the Peers Dining Room.
Visit the Parliament Shop for
souvenirs!
Suffragette Talks when
Parliament is sitting
During this talk our Visitor
Assistants highlight the
militant campaign conducted
by members of the Women’s
Social and Political Union
(WSPU - motto ‘Deeds not
words’) and the Women’s
Freedom League (WFL), and
how their actions impacted
Parliame Westminster
exhibition charts 100 years of
women’s suffrage. Curators
spent four years collecting items
to trace history of equality fight.
This exhibition is so fitting as
FWN celebrates its 15th year
of empowering Filipina women
worldwide.
Maria Miller, the chair of
the women and equalities
committee, said: “This
exhibition is not just about
equality, and the anniversary of
some women gaining the right
to vote, it’s about women’s right
to stand for election, to sit in
the House of Lords … It’s about
what still needs to be done.”
Fewer women have been
elected to parliament than there
are MPs in any one parliament
(650). And in the thousand
years of its history, there were
always more male MPs in the
House of Commons at any
one time than the number of
women MPs who had ever
been elected, until Caroline
Johnson won a by-election on 8
December 2016, 98 years after
the first female MP.
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM –
Learning Journey #4: London’s
startup ecosystem: The
Innovation Experience
@ Central London
See London’s new world of
entrepreneurs, tech startups
and innovation, in a truly eye-
opening, mind-shifting way.
The Innovation Experience is
a workshop that draws on the
learning from working with
more than 500 entrepreneurs,
across 12 startup programmes,
spanning 21 cities, to take you
through a unique, eye-opening
and mind-shifting, interactive
process, designed to launch
new ventures and innovate
existing ventures.
You’ll learn how do you discover
your ‘why’. How to identify
new opportunities and the
right market. What makes great
products and business models.
What investors look for. How
to create a better pitch and the
fundamentals of building your
own community around your
idea.
And we’ll do it at one of
London’s best entrepreneurial
spaces aimed at developing
world-class ventures.
Come ready to learn and leave
with a new perspective that
will remain with you for life, a
game plan and next steps for
your entrepreneurial journey,
whether it’s in London or
anywhere else in the world.
Get answers to questions,
discover how to make your
next steps and foster genuine
connections in this mind-
shifting, learning experience.
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM –
A Very British Welcome Soirée
by the Remarkable Filipina-
British Influentials AND the
Search for the 2018 Face of
Global Pinay Power
Welcome to London, the home
of Megan Markle and Prince
Harry!
Be ready to leave your heart in
London!
We’ve asked your fellow Global
FWN100™ Awardees / Filipina
sisters to help FWN provide
a warm welcome only Filipina
British locals can provide to
weary out-of-towners from
10 countries [Canada, Czech
Republic, Italy, Netherlands,
Norway, Singapore, Sweden,
Switzerland, United Arab
Emirates, the United States, and
of course, the Philippines].
They will share with us the Top
10 Amazing Secrets Only Locals
Know About Cebu: what to
eat. why you should live.work
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018
here. how and when to invest.
And why wearing a “Spice
Girl” outfit is still the coolest
thing to wear even if they have
disbanded a long time ago.
1. Adelina Duenas
2. Angela Katrina Adams
3. Crystal Dias
4. Cynthia Barker
5. Elena Francisco Samson
6. Maria Trinidad Manalo
Maramba
7. Novabel Teves Fossgard
8. Rowena Romulo
9. Zenaida Del Mundo
Then we salo salo. And soireé.
And choose the 2018 Face of
Global Pinay Power!
Dress Code:
Filipina “Spice Girls” Party!
Prizes! Best costume contest!
• Who do you want to be?
“Scary”
• “Sporty”
• “Baby”
• “Ginger”
• “Posh”?
• Form a Filipina Spice Girl
group and WIN prizes
• Then we SEARCH for the
2018 Face of Global Pinay
Power! Finalists selected.
Winner announced on Saturday,
16 September before we end
the summit sessions.
Be ready to Rock & Roll for a
photo shoot; postings on FB,
Twitter and Instagram
9:30 PM – Awards Ceremony
Rehearsal for 2018 Global
FWN100™ and FWN Board
Members
New this year! Previous
awardees attending the Filipina
Summit will now be included in
the ceremonial procession with
the 2018 Awardees. Attend the
rehearsal and welcome the new
cohort of fellow awardees. Do
NOT miss this rehearsal. We
will review the awards process,
guidelines for your acceptance
speech, awards presenters,
and what to do during the Gala
Awards Ceremony.
45B
DAY THREE:
FRIDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
SUCCESS. SIGNIFICANCE.
RELEVANCE. Future Think-
ing: the urgency of using our
success collectively for social,
economic, and political change
Summit Weavers: HON Marily
Mondejar, Susie Quesada, Carol
Enriquez, Francine Maigue,
Rowena Romulo
Awardees (2007-2018) will
sit together in their award
categories for discussion and 1
Action Outcome:
Provocative Conversations:
SUCCESS. SIGNIFICANCE.
RELEVANCE. in Future
Thinking. The urgency of using
our success collectively for
social, economic, and political
change
CO-MODERATORS:
* Hon. Marily Mondejar USA
* Hon. Susan Pineda Mercado
MD, MPH PHILIPPINES
SPEAKER PANEL:
* Cristina Manahan Liamzon
PhD USA
* Elena Francisco Samson UK
* Joyce Rivera Javier USA
* Mary Cheryl Bravo Gloner
MPH, MBA USA
* Michelle Dela Cruz Marquez
CZECH REPUBLIC
* Pamela Gotangco
SWITZERLAND
9:45 – 10:10 AM – KEYNOTE:
State of the Philippines
Economy
HON Gwen Fiel Garcia,
Deputy Speaker, House of
Representatives, Republic of
the Philippines
10:30 – 11:15 AM – Make
Me A Filipina Millionaire: The
Globalization and Politics of
Entrepreneurship - Biggest
Trends and Disruptions for
Social Impact
Moderator:
Christine Amour-Levar
Speakers:
• Angie Katrina Adams
• Emma Marcha Imperial
• Janette Nellie Go Chiu,
• Josephine Tañada Yam
• Joy Murao
46B FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM –
Smart.Young.Unintimidated.
Next Generation Leaders. Yes.
We. Are. | Our future. Our
footprint. Our social good.
NOW.
Moderator:
Raissa Alvero
Speakers:
• Ann Michelle Mondragon
• Dr. Catherine Sy Luib
• Christen-Leonor Montero
• Danabelle Gutierrez
• Trisha Marie Edar Marco
12:00 – 1:00 PM – Fellowship
Lunch – sit with your award
category sisters
5:30 – 6:30 PM - Green Room
for Global FWN100™ Awardees
ONLY
| www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
7:30 PM – 12:00 AM – Global
FWN100™ 2017 Gala Awards
Ceremony, Dinner and Dancing
Dress Code: Formal: Filip-
iniana/ Long Gown; Barong
Tagalog/ Black Tie
DAY FOUR:
SATURDAY, 15
SEPTEMBER
9:00 – 9:30 AM – Summit
Weavers: Our Journey so far...
Summit Weavers: HON Marily
Mondejar, Susie Quesada, Carol
Enriquez, Francine Maigue,
Rowena Romulo
9:30 – 10:15 AM – Make Me
An Influential Pinay CEO: The
10 Biggest Challenges for
Filipina Women CEOs
Moderator:
Editha Tijamo Winterhalter
CEO PANEL:
• Angie Go Flaminiano
• Caroline Enriquez
• Gina Garcia Atienza
• Gizelle Covarrubias Robinson
• Ma. Victoria M. Acosta
• Susie Quesada
10:30 – 11:15 AM – Run Filipi-
na Run: Achieving the elusive
seat at the table
Filipina women in public office
is improving but we could do
more. How do we build our
talent pipeline? The quest for
policymakers from success to
significance to relevance.
Meet the Filipina women who
have run for office, as well as
those who support or train
women to run for office, and
get all the information you need
on why you should run.
Moderator:
Hon Marily Mondejar
Speakers:
• Hon. Cynthia Alcantara
Barker
6:30 – 7:30 PM – VIP Re-
• Hon. Juslyn Cabrera Manalo
ception with FWN Board
• Hon. Rachelle Sumagaysay
Members, VIP guests, spon-
Pastor Arizmendi
sors, 2018 Global FWN100™
• Hon. Thelma Boac
Awardees
• Hon. Wendy Lee Ho
Power networking with VIP
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM – Pinay
guests, sponsors, FWN Board
Talks #1: Extraordinary Voices
Members and 2018 Global
– The Filipina Woman in
FWN100™ Awardees
Diaspora

1:15 PM – 2:00 PM – Pinay
Talks #2: Extraordinary Voices
– The Filipina Woman in
Diaspora
The Filipina Diaspora -
the power of telling our
professional stories. Global
FWN100™ Awardees share
their passion for issues
important to women.
Speakers:
• HON. Gwen Fiel Garcia
• Catherine Sy Luib
• Christen-Leonor Montero
• Christine Amour-Levar
• Danabelle Gutierrez
• Elizabeth Jance von Atzigen
• Joyce Rivera Javier
• Myrna P. Young
• Myrna Tam Natividad
• Myrna Tang Yao
• Pamela Gotangco
• Rayla Melchor Santos
• Susan Pineda Mercado
2:00 – 3:00 PM – Pinay
Speed FEMtoring with Global
FWN100™ Awardees
FWN’s 8th year of building
the pipeline next-generation
of Pinay leaders. Pinay Speed
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
Pinay Speed Femtoring
Femtoring is a learning event 5:30 - 6:00 PM –– Summit information back to my home, DAY FIVE: SUNDAY
at which femtees / protégés Weaver: Our Journey workplace and community?
can ask the Global FWN100™ almost ends...
16 SEPTEMBER
Awardees (AKA Femtors) (Additional Fee)
Summit Weavers:
the “everything-you’ve- Post last thoughts as we almost 8:30 AM – 9:00 PM –
always-wanted-to-know-but- Genevieve Jopanda
end our time together. Post Broughton Castle, Oxford,
didn’t-know-whom-to-ask” Susie Quesada
thoughts about FWN’s Filipina Bicester Village Tour
questions. Femtees will have Carol Enriquez
Women Against Violence Register at www.fwn.org/
the opportunity to interact Francine Maigue
Campaign. How do I take this event-2720767
with Femtors during the course Rowena Romulo
of the session by moving to
different topic tables every 15
minutes.
4:00 – 5:30 PM – Filipina
Women Against Violence: The
Vagina Monologues
Since 2003, FWN has
collaborated with V-DAY,
empowering and celebrating
women and their sexuality
with a festival of theatre,
comedy, and the spoken
word, highlighted at benefit
performances in San Francisco,
New York, Las Vegas,
Washington DC, Toronto and
now, London.
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018 47B
FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org

Leonor S. Vintervoll
European Network of Filipinos in
Diaspora (ENFiD)
Oslo, Norway
Me s s a g e : #FWNSUMMIT2018 Global Chair
The 2018 FWN Filipina Leadership Global Summit
will bring together speakers, awardees, attendees
and delegates from the U.S., Europe, UAE, including
the U.K, Canada, Asia, and the Philippines. We will
engage in stimulating discussions to carry on FWN’s
mission and goals.
Sincere appreciation to all our speakers, nominators,
awardees and delegates from all over the world!
Our collective efforts make this Summit a success.
Enjoy the camaraderie of fellow members, the
exciting learning journeys, and let us make the
summit not only an arena to learn, but also to enjoy
and serve as an inspiration to look forward to
attending every year!
I must emphasize the key to the success of our FWN
summit could not happen without the unfailing
commitment and hard work of our Founder/CEO
Marily Mondejar, our President Susie Quesada, our
Board of Directors Chair and Disrupt 3.0 Editor,
Maria Beebe, Ph.D., our Global FWN100™ Most
Influential Filipina Women in the World Selection
Committee, chaired by Hon. Thelma Boac, and the
#FWNSUMMIT2018 Steering Committee Members
especially Myrna Yao. Special appreciation to our
administrative and technology support in the San
Francisco FWN Head Office, Franklin Ricarte, and all
our volunteers!
I appreciate my fellow Awardees from different
countries who were engaged in one way or another in
the nominations, memberships and sponsorships.
I want to thank the nominees who did not make it
this time, but still have the chance in becoming an
awardee in the coming years – work harder, improve
your track record, be a member now and/or renew
your membership, aim for the award, plan and
prepare for attending the next global summit in 2019,
ahead of time!
Our sincere gratitude to MEGAWORLD, our
Benefactor Partner, sponsors, and advertisers in the
FWN Magazine 2018 Issue.
I am deeply humbled and honored in being appointed
by the FWN Board as the Chair of the 2018 FWN
Leadership Global Summit! It is a tremendously
empowering and challenging role, and I thank the
Board for their trust and confidence in me.

Message: Chair, GLOBAL FWN100™ AWARDS

Congratulations and Mabuhay! I am highly honored
to welcome all of you to this year’s 15th Filipina
Women’s Network Leadership Global Summit,
honoring Filipina women who are influencers on
the world stage. This is, indeed, an historic event
celebrating and sharing the accomplishments of
outstanding women who will carry on the FWN
vision -- expanding the next-generation of Filipina
women leaders by 2020 in the public and private
sectors. These extraordinary women being honored
at the summit will continue the pathway and will
be the influencers, as they already are, to attain the
goals of the Filipina Women’s Network.
HON. Thelma Boac
Member, Governing Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “You gain strength,
Board of Trustees courage, and confidence by every experience when
Berryessa Union School District, you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do
San Jose, California USA the thing which you think you cannot do.” Having
had the rewarding honor of conversing with these
inspiring and empowering women from the United
States and many countries, I have seen first-hand
their amazing strength, courage, and confidence.
These Filipina women continue to influence their
communities -- collectively building positive images
of the Filipina woman around the world. They
include representatives of the corporate and
business world, government and policy, military,
legal services, consulting services, retail, financial
services, healthcare, non-profit organizations,
educational institutions, journalism, broadcast media,
entertainment, film, and culinary arts. They are
lawyers, judges, architects, artists, entrepreneurs, and
engineers -- all demonstrating exceptional courage in
leadership.
Visionaries, innovators and risk takers -- these
extraordinary women who have excelled in their
areas of expertise and continued to influence others
with their leadership skills, their spirit of humility,
their selfless energy of helping others, their deep
respect for family and humanity, and, most of all, their
devotion to women’s rights -- they are helping to
make a better world.
As Leymah Roberta Gbowee of Liberia said as she
accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, “You can never leave
footprints that last -- if you are always walking on
tiptoes.” These women of influence we are honoring
will never walk on tiptoes. They have their two feet
firmly on the ground -- fearless, gentle, compassionate
and disciplined!
My sincerest and heartfelt congratulations to all of
you!

15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK • 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018

3A
BEHI ND THE SCENES LEADERS

What is the Global

FWN100™ Award?
Keepers Sustaining Pinay Power 2020 is quite daunting. As the
excitement dies down and the reality of executing FWN’s 2020
game plan sets in, many will drop out and others will pick up

of the
Flame
The 100 Most Influential Filipina Women the torch. The Keepers of the Flame are the caretakers that
in the World Award™ (Global FWN100™) ensure that Pinay Power 2020 is kept alive:
is FWN’s game plan to execute FWN’s
Mission—a Filipina woman leader in every
sector of the global economy by 2020. A Filipina Woman Leader in every sector of the global
The award is a dream with a meaningful
purpose; a strategy to build FWN’s Filipina economy.
women community’s talent pipeline—
identify qualified leaders, to increase the
odds that some Filipina women will rise
to the “president” position in the private
and public sectors worldwide. It is a
campaign to inspire, inform, and advance
Filipina women leaders and position
Filipina women as economic and social
contributors to the global economy.

The award program was inaugurated in

2006 as a U.S. only program. In 2013, FWN
expanded the award selection globally.
To date Global FWN100™ awardees HON Marily Mondejar Susie Quesada Maria Beebe, Ph.D. Maria Santos Greaves
represent 31 countries. FWN Founder & CEO FWN President FWN Board Chair FWN Secretary
President, Commission on President President, Global of the Board
The award is the ultimate showcase of the Community Investment Ramar Foods International Networks Hawaii President, Surrey
global community’s most inspiring Filipina and Infrastructure Pittsburg, California Kona, Hawaii Hearing Care
women in the private and public sectors, San Francisco, California British Columbia, Canada
who exemplify innovation, mentorship,
professionalism, gender empowerment
and leadership.

The Global FWN100™ award is a

“working award” which provides a critical
pathway for successful women who care
about advancement, achievement, and
significance; influencing the Filipino world
community’s future by helping FWN build
its pipeline of next-generation Filipina
women leaders.

Every year, the Filipina Women’s Network Amar Bornkamp Caroline Marian Georgitta “Beng” Isabelita “Lita” Abele
conducts a WORLDWIDE search for FWN Treasurer Pimentel Puyat FWN Co-Chair,
Filipina women who are accomplishing Enriquez, M.D
Union Bank FWN Co-Chair, Chair, FWN Philippines Professional Development
great work leaving a lasting Filipino global Union City, California Professional Development Chairman President and CEO
imprint through their work in communities, President and CEO Philippine Orchard U.S. Lumber, Inc.
organizations and in their professional and Woodbury Heights,
industry sectors. FWN reserves the right Our Lady of Fatima University Corporation
Valenzuela City, Philippines Makati, Philippines New Jersey
to withdraw the Global FWN100™ Award
designation if awardee has been deemed
no longer in good standing with FWN and
the community.

Awards are given annually in 8 Award

Categories. A description of the award
categories can be found in the Nomination
and Award Categories pages of the FWN
summit website -www.FilipinaSummit.org

1. BEHIND THE SCENES LEADERS

2. BUILDERS
3. EMERGING LEADERS Leonor S. Vintervoll Nini M. Alvero HON Thelma Boac
4. FOUNDERS & PIONEERS FWN VP Member Senior Trade Commissioner Chair, Global FWN100™ Awards
5. INNOVATORS AND THOUGHT Recruitment Philippines Trade and Trustee, Berryessa School District
LEADERS Chair, 2018 Filipina Summit Investment Center San Jose, California
6. POLICYMAKERS & VISIONARIES European Network of Filipinos Toronto, Canada
7. “NICOLE” in Diaspora (ENFiD)
8. KEEPERS OF THE FLAME Oslo, Norway

4A FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org


ECONOMIC SECTORS
REPRESENTED BY THE 2018
FWN GLOBAL100™ AWARDEES
Primary Economic Sector =
includes industries that produce or
extract raw materials
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Farming,
Hunting, Mining, Extraction
Secondary Economic Sector =
includes the manufacturing of natural
resources
Construction, Processing, Auto
Production, Textiles, Engineering,
Energy Utilities
Tertiary Economic Sector =
service industry
Communication Services, Government
(military, law enforcement,
politics, public transit), Healthcare,
Finance, Food Services, Education,
Entertainment (special events,
publishing, motion picture, video &
TV, sound and music), Legal, Non-
profit/non-governmental, Restaurants,
Retail, Travel/Tourism, Transportation,
Wholesale
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
Quaternary Economic Sector =
knowledge-based and production
of information
Consulting Services (interior design,
architecture), Information Technology,
Financial Planning, Media (journalism),
Research & Development, Science
BEHI ND THE SCENES LEADERS
GLOBAL FWN100™ 2018
BEHIND THE SCENES LEADERS
The BEHIND THE SCENES LEADERS award If you could start over, what would you
category recognizes Filipina women who do?
may not have the big title or corner office, Flight attendant or journalist.
but is a driving force behind the success
of a social cause or life issue, a community If you could run the world, what one law
would you enact to benefit women and
organization’s project or initiative; or her
girls?
employer’s organizational business unit
I will bring in many more women as
or department. Someone who has gone members of the cabinet and advise them
beyond the call of duty to devote time, to pass a law that will safeguard our girls.
energy, and resources to advocate for This will impact the world as women will
those who need a voice, or support the be empowered.
organization she represents or works for.
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Don’t rush to marry. I married very
young.
Adelina Duenas
Active Filipino Community
Leader
London, United Kingdom
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
My participation in the regularisation of
the Domestic Workers in the UK. It was
a long year of rallies and conventions Elizabeth Jance von
until the former Prime Minister Tony
Blair granted us the concession. A
Atzigen
triumph to all the TNT’s who were all Mittelstufe-Oberstufe Lehrerin
separated from their families for 15 years KiTs Zweisprachige Tagesschule
and more. Switzerland
St. Gallen, Switzerland
How are you advocating for gender
What is the global imprint of your body
equality in your place of work?
of work?
Gender Equality. I have a help who does
As elected Chair of ENFiD-Europe,
the cleaning at my employer’s house. She
our Environment Team is pursuing
is a lesbian and I must see to it that she
an organizational project which
is accepted as she is paid the right
directly impacts the UN Sustainable
wages for her work.
Development Goals 2030. Our on-
going Bio-Gas Digester and Waste
ONE person who influenced you as a
Management program in Miagao Iloilo,
leader and advocate?
Philippines is creating affordable and
Sister Margaret of Kalayaan/ waling
clean energy and therefore aworthy
waling influence me as a leader and
alternative to fossil fuel.
advocate because in her capacity as a
servant of the Lord devotes her precious
How are you advocating for gender
time to us TNT’s (Tago ng Tago) who
equality in your place of work?
flocked in their shelter in Holland Park.
As Director of HR, Learning and
Development of a 5-star international
What was your very first paid job?
hotel, the ‘untouchable’ Boss was a
Kakanin (sweets) vendor when I was 10
chronic skirt-chaser which led to union
years old. My father died when I was
strikes and threats. Neophyte and alone
8 years. Our Mom left us in the care
but in-charge of personnel, I tabled
of our grandparents. I was responsible
the issue in one Executive Committee
for helping my grandmother earn extra
meeting and respectfully asked him to
money for our food. This impacted my
put an immediate stop to the sexual
life to dream big and to finish school.
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018
5A
BEHI ND THE SCENES LEADERS

harassment of women at work. He
stood in his 6-foot frame, and with a
thundering voice, showed me the door.
In turn, I stood up in my 5’2 foot frame,
and in a firm voice answered, that door
was for him. Shamed, he walked off.
He apologized, made amends, and ‘got
rid’ of me through an international
promotion.
What was your very first paid job?
My first paid job was Teacher in Charge
of 2 classes simultaneously and teaching
English, Literature and other subjects.
I received a handsome PHP 3,500
monthly salary in the mid 80’s.
What product or service should you
invest in the Philippines that could
impact society?
I would introduce country-wide micro-
social entrepreneurships strengthened
by robust vocational skills training to
alleviate poverty and make overseas
employment a matter of choice and no
longer a necessity.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
Optimistic as I am, I see the younger
generation of Filipina women standing
away from a subordinate posture and
getting themselves included rather than
excluded from policy making, economic
prosperity and technical savvy, as they
stand up to gender biases.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
Social Normal being overshadowed
with use of technology losing human
connection and importance of society.
Lolita Digap
Johansson
Qu ali t y Coac h
Ale r i s He alt h an d
Me di c al Grou p
Bromma, Swe den
What was your very first paid job?
I was a counter sales clerk at a travel
agency in Stockholm, first paid job
approx SEK 12000.
If you could run the world, what one law
would you enact to benefit women and
girls?
I would put more pressure on EQUALITY
for men and women.
Which living woman do you most
admire?
Michelle Obama
Which historical female figure would you
like to have coffee with? What would
you like to learn from her?
Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis, secret of
elegance.
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
Twice being successful in applying
for grants in a competitive grant
scheme managed by the Plymouth
Drake Foundation, winning over other
competing bids. The grant was used used
to stage two successful events named
Festival of Colours which showcased
the many cultures that make up the
Plymouth Community.
What is the global imprint of your body
of work?
Marie has been the lead driving force
behind the various activities of the
Filipino British Association in Plymouth
(FBAIP) since its inception in October
2011. She spearheaded the activities
of FBAIP raising the profile of Filipino
culture by participating in various
activities such as the Lord Mayors Day,
St Georges Day, Respect Festival and
Refugee Week to name a few.
What was your very first paid job?
18 years old, research data encoder and
analyst at the Department of Biostatistics
and Epidemiology in UP Manila; was paid
PHP 2,000 pesos per project.
The ONE thing that we would not guess
about you.
I was a varsity player in high school
volleyball and lawn tennis.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
Filipinas should earn that respect
and challenge themselves to excel in
whatever field they choose.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate?
A former Commercial Attaché in Milan,
she always encouraged me tomove
forward with my leadership because
according to her, I could make things
happen.
If you could start over, what would you
do?
I could start over, I will be a movie director
or an actress and influence the world to
change.
If you could run the world, what
one law would you enact to benefit
women and girls?
No Violence for Women and Children.
Which historical female figure would you
like to have coffee with?
Coco Chanel... her elegance, toughness
and at the same time sweet.
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Learn to love yourself. Never give up!!!
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
Equality in the workplace, getting good
revenues and roles in an organization.
Your LEGACY for the Filipina Women’s
Network.
My mission is to support, to claim and
deliver the message of the FWN to share
with the world 

Ellanie Villena
Office Manager
Pakistan Business Council Dubai UAE
Bur Dubai, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
What was your very first paid job?
Receptionist, 23yrs old Aed 3,000
progress to office Manager.
If you could run the world, what one law
would you enact to benefit women and
girls?
Free medical and health facilities for all
the women across the world.
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Take time before making life decision.
Take advice from trusted people.
Michelle Marquez
Procurement Associate
ExxonMobil
Prague, Czech Republic
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
Being able to represent Filipina women in
the Oil and Energy industry
Maria Trinidad
Manalo Maramba Marietta “Evelyn”
ONE person who influenced you as a
Manual Data Entry Keyer leader and advocate?
Royal Mail Group of Revilla My former Managers taught me three
Companies Plymouth, Devon things:
United Kingdom PR Rep Italtrans Racing Team 1. The will to change the unthinkable
Sodalis Association of Milan 2. Emotional detachment can be
“Positivity is greatness. Self-driven. Open to Women Federation for World Peace productive.
challenges . Resilient.” Città Alta Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy 3. Be soft on people but firm in business.

6A FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org


What is the most significant barrier to
female leadership from your experience?
The traditional expectations on women
to give up career and focus on family. I
learned to advocate for equal parental
rights. Parenting is not the sole domain
of women.
What was your very first paid job?
Training Specialist FSI/DFA at 20yrs
old, 15k pesos. I had 3 opportunities:
1.Design an Evaluation Unit, 2. Advocate
for Gender and Development, 3.Evaluate
the need for Social Welfare attaché
in foreign posts where there is a high
number of OFWs.
If you could run the world, what one law
would you enact to benefit women and
girls?
Parental rights equality - men should
have equal rights to stay home and take
care of the family.
What product or service should you
invest in the Philippines that could
impact society?
How to be successful in Startups
ONE Filipino custom you would like to
pass on to others that would make an
impactful impression in society.
Mano po (kissing hands of elders)
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Be you.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
Growing global competition in all
professions, constantly develop your
skills, innovation
Nova Teves Fossgard
Purley Language College &
Hazel Residences Ltd
London, Surrey, United
Kingdom
‘I was poor before, don’t lose hope’
I was born and grew up in Tukuran, near
Pagadian City, Mindanao with a lot of
conflict around me. Yet I loved playing in
the sea and feel my childhood was a happy
one, surrounded by 5 younger brothers and
lots of cousins and neighbours in a close
community. To this day however I cannot
watch films that contain guns and violence
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
because I saw so much in my childhood. I
experienced hunger quite often as a child, I
learned to cook at the age of 5 and helped
my mum sell snacks in the street. The
legacy of an insecure childhood has been
a lifelong anxiety, at times severe. On the
other hand my aunt was a very successful
fish wholesaler whose business success
was well known in Zamboanga del Sur and
beyond. She was a role model for me and I
learned a lot about business from her, just
by being around her. Unfortunately, she
died at 48 years old. Her death made a big
impression on me, as did the premature
death of my father who was only 52 when
he passed away. As I got older I realised
the importance of trying to live a healthy,
balanced life with good diet and regular
exercise. I now attend a ‘bootcamp’ exercise
club 3 times a week. When I’m in the
Philippines I try to go jogging and cut down
on white rice.
My husband and I built our educational
business together in the UK. We nurtured
a team who now manage our school well
without us. A business owner is full of
unexpected twists. Our business success
gave me the opportunity to visit the
Philippines more often, meet key decision-
makers there and try to understand the
situation we are now in as a nation. On my
last visit, in June, I went to Marawi and met
families whose homes were destroyed by
Philippine Air Force aerial bombing. I have
never seen a situation like that – three
families sharing a tent in a muddy place;
but the children were so happy. I was
extremely shocked by what I saw. I spoke
to the women, they told me they just want
to start a business, have a tricycle, but they
said ‘No-one accepts us because we are
Muslims’. I told them ‘I was poor before,
don’t lose hope’.
Rayla Melchor
Santos
President & CEO, Proactive Resources, Inc.
Country Representative- Philippines,
Renexus Group
Co-founder and President,
I Am SAM Foundation
Muntinlupa, Metro Manila Philippines
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
Women Empowerment Seminars
and Talks utilizing the IAMSAM PEP,
focusing on the development of self-
worth, in the private sector
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate?
Napoleon Hill ...”whatever the mind of man
can believe and conceive, it will achieve”.
It got me back on my feet in 2001 after 18
years with an abusive husband and learned
helplessness where I experienced physical,
emotional/psychological and financial
abuse.
What was your very first paid job?
Preschool teacher at the Family School
of Manhattan in New York City. 22 years
old. US$1000. Being right next to the
UN, it gave me a global exposure and
mindset. Upon my return to Manila, I set
up my several schools, wrote Beginning
Reader books, and now serve in the
public education sector.
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Get yourself financially strong. Value
yourself and value your time
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
A healthy self-worth because society can
be harsh and can define you according
to the three things society values most:
physical attractiveness, mental ability
and wealth. Otherwise, we have another
generation of walking wounded.
Ruby Langeveld
Cumba
United Filipino Dutch Association
Hoofddorp, Netherlands
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
Youth Exchange program organizer
between Cebu city youth and
Haarlemmermeer youth of the
Netherlands now on it’s 12th year.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate? How did it impact
your career or business?
Ms Domi Chua of the Ramon Aboitiz
Foundation Inc., a dedicated leader,
always ready to help, a woman of
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018
BEHI ND THE SCENES LEADERS
principle. She does not allow herself to
be influenced by corporate politics.
What is the most significant barrier to
female leadership from your experience?
Most significant barrier is family
obligations. As a woman you have
commitments to your children who needs
a lot of your time and effort and being
in a foreign country speaking a foreign
language makes it more difficult.
If you could start over, what would you
do?
I would devote more time to women
migrant problems.
If you could run the world, what one law
would you enact to benefit women and
girls?
Free education to all women and health
benefits to all families just like we have
in Europe
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Go with the times but don’t exaggerate.
Zenaida Del Mundo
Filipino Women’s Assocoation
What is the most significant barrier to
female leadership from your experience?
One of the significant barriers is the
attitude of being submissive. This
sometimes stops us from sharing what
we want to say.
What was your very first paid job?
Librarian, when I was about 15-16. I
learned how to manage my money
If you could run the world, what one law
would you enact to benefit women and
girls?
Safeguarding the children. If our
children are aware of their rights,
they will not be harassed.
The ONE thing that we would not guess
about you.
I can’t cook!
Which historical female figure would you
like to have coffee with?
Charo Santos-Cancio. She shared
inspiring storiesher program, “Maalaala
mo kaya”
7A
BUI LDERS
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Finish your studies and do not marry at a
young age.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
The advent of social media. We must
educate our younger generation to be
more vigilant and be very carfeful and
cautious in every decision they do.
GLOBAL
FWN100™ ‘18
BUILDERS
Builders have demonstrated exceptional
organizational impact at a large workplace
environment; displaying deep passion
for a cause or a business idea through
collaborative initiatives or alliances with
institutions, corporations or nonprofit
organizations on behalf of her own company;
demonstrates high potential and skill with
measurable results at a government agency,
higher education institution, nonprofit or
an organization in the public and private
sectors. “Buildership” is about building better
organizations, leading broken organizations
to adjust, repair, and re-align including
redefining traditional methods.
Agnes Pasaporte Miranda
Executive Vice Chairman
World Financial Group
Richmond Hill, Canada
How have you impacted your profession,
your organization, your community?
By setting a strong example of a
leadership with a heart, compassion and
a servant leader.
What is the most significant barrier to
female leadership from your experience?
Gender inequality and discrimination. It
made me work harder to prove them my
worth and a woman from the Philippines
and of Malayan descent.
8A FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
What was your very first paid job?
Junior Accounting Clerk, $66/week
Salary, 21 years old. Training ground
which made me pursue my dream to go
to Canada.
If you could start over, what would you
do?
Stay back in the Philippines as an
entrepreneur.
If you could run the world, what one law
would you enact to benefit women and
girls?
Absolute Equality in opportunity among
men and women. This will make the
world unaware of people’s strengths and
weaknesses.
What product or service should you
invest in the Philippines that could impact
society?
Financial Literacy
How have you taken your significance to
relevance in society?
By advocating the Financial Literacy
campaign and helping 1 Million Families
to become financially educated by 2020
Which living woman do you most
admire?
Hilary Clinton
Cristina M. Liamzon,
PhD
Program Coordinator, Ateneo Leadership
and Social Entrepreneurship Program
for Overseas FIlipinos
Ateneo University School of Government
Quezon City, Philippines
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
Having started the ALSE program
with my husband and other
colleagues in Italy in 2008 for Filipino
migrants to become empowered in
leadership, financial literacy and social
entrepreneurship which now has over
2,000 graduates in Asia, Europe and
the Middle East.
What is the global imprint of your
body of work?
| www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
The ALSE program brings together
a large number of graduates and
volunteers in 20 cities in 10 countries
in Europe, Asia and the Middle East
and its aim is to empower Filipino
migrants and their families in
leadership, financial literacy and social
entrepreneurship. I am coordinating
this initiative with other members
of a Consortium on Migration and
Development with the Ateneo
University School of Government
taking the lead.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
There are increasingly more Filipino
women working abroad than men
and the ALSE program is aimed at
empowering them by helping them to
see themselves, not as victims but as
having control over their lives.
What is the most significant barrier
to female leadership from your
experience?
Insecurities in taking on bigger
and stronger leadership roles. This
prevented me from taking leadership
initiatives earlier on in my career
but this reality also helped me to
appreciate the need to strengthen
my self-confidence, overcome my
insecurities and to take the steps to
learn to become a better and stronger
leader.
How have you taken your success
to significance in society?
Putting focus on reaching out to our
young women
Which living woman do you most
admire?
These days, I most admire VP Leni
Robredo for her courage and her
principles and values which she tries
to live out despite the tremendous
political pressures that she is subjected
to. She meets these challenges with
aplomb and with her integrity intact,
which maybe stems from her strong
sense of self and what I believe is her
deep spirituality.
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Not to take myself too seriously
and to be too self-conscious with
whoever I am with that I am unable to
appreciate and optimise interactions
and relationships
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next
generation of Filipina women?
The ability to combine an
empowered self that seeks to
empower others so that collectively,
there can be many more to help
Elena F. Samson
Maths/Science Teacher
Numeracy Coordinator
Featherstone High School
London, United Kingdom
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate? How did it impact
your career or business?
A colleague who has shown belief in
my capacity to make a difference in the
way I deliver my lessons and become a
role model at work in terms of work ethics
and integrity in dealing with students and
parents.
What is the most significant barrier to
female leadership from your experience?
One barrier to female leadership at work
is being married and having children
because the role may require longer
hours of work. I became an advocate
persuading the others that as long as
one can balance personal responsibility
with work functions, this barrier should
not prevent anybody from holding a
leadership position.
If you could run the world, what one law
would you enact to benefit women and
girls?
Access to free education for all (both
boys and girls) in every country in the
world.
ONE Filipino custom you would like to
pass on to others that would make an
impactful impression in society.
The resilience of the Filipino in facing
any challenge that comes his way.
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Take a chance and seize any opportunity
for self-development that comes his way.
Be kind to others and do not be afraid to
make mistakes.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
How to change the image of the Filipina
women in the world (they are more than
domestic workers, care givers, etc.)

Jorhie Alban
Director/Head of
Communications and
Corporate Social Responsibility
Sanofi Gulf Countries
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
What is the global imprint of your
body of work?
Leading and advocating: I am among the
first practitioners to pioneer healthcare
communication in the region. I created
and led PR and disease awareness
programs for over 20 pharmaceutical and
healthcare consumer products of leading
global pharmaceutical companies. My
experience spans the Emerging Markets,
including Africa and the Middle East.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
For several years, I led and/or sat the
Women Council at Pfizer and Sanofi,
and had advocated for the development
of women to assume leadership roles.
I collaborate with other members of
the group to create research-based
initiatives that empower women as well
as review policies that fosters equality
on various issues, including pay gap and
maternity, among others.
What is the most significant barrier to
female leadership from your experience?
Business acumen -- the business
language in leadership board, mostly
dominated by men. When I realized this,
I found where my weaknesses are and
tried to develop as well as learned how
to use my strengths as a unique value
addition to business discussions.
What was your very first paid job?
At 16, I worked as a service crew at
Jollibee, cashiering and bussing tables,
washing food trays and mopping the
floor during closing sessions. My first
paycheck was PHP 1,414, it was the first
time I’ve earned for myself. I stopped
studying after High School because
my parents had no money so I worked
instead. It was not a kind place to be
and learned very early on in my life how
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
important life choices are. I also learned
there that I could be an influence or be
influenced. I choose the former.
If you could run the world, what
one law would you enact to benefit
women and girls?
To enforce legal marriageable age to be
18. There are still countries and religious
practices in the world that marry girls
as young as nine. It will protect children
from abuse and send a strong message
to the world that there should not be
a double standard between men and
women. No woman (girl) should be
married until she is physiologically ready,
ONE Filipino custom you would like to
pass on to others that would make an
impactful impression in society.
“Mano” or showing respect to elders --
for me it’s a deep, meaningful gesture of
how we value the wisdom of our elders
and how we can learn from them.
Which living woman do you most
admire?
Ellen DeGeneres -- we need people like
her who makes everybody laugh without
hurting anybody’s feelings.
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Give people second chances, everyone
deserves one.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
To truly and meaningfully harness
the benefits of technology and
new media, in pursuing women’s
issues, which this generation of
Filipina women and the ones before
them continue to fight for. These
include, protection of women and
children against abuses, education
and healthcare, and gender pay gap,
among others.
Joy Murao
Practice Aligned
Resources LLC
Los Angeles, CA
United States
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
Education and empowerment of people
to learn new technology skills and legal
workflow to gain careers, not just jobs.
How have you impacted your profession,
your organization, your community?
I am one of the earlier pioneers in legal
technology, shaping the technology
innovation for lawyers and their clients.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
As CEO of my company, I hire a group
of diverse employees and provide a
structured, lock-step career and equal pay
path.
What is the most significant barrier to
female leadership from your experience?
Confidence is a significant barrier to
female leadership. While I believe
myself to be a confident person, I
continually seek mentoring from both
male and female mentors to help build
and reinforce my abilities in this area. I
am a better leader as I share my stories
and assist others to strengthen their
confidence levels.
What was your very first paid job?
How old were you?
At 14 years old, I was paid by Bell Labs
in NJ as a summer intern (I do not recall
the amount) but it has had a heavy
influence in my career as I learned how
to code in C programming language and
also worked in the R&D division.
If you could run the world, what one law
would you enact to benefit women and
girls?
I would require all women to learn how
to code. This will open their eyes to the
infinite possibilities and draw on their
creativity and logic.
Joyce Rivera Javier,
MD, MPH, MS, FAAP
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
I am proud of my ability to inspire
Filipino parents and grandparents
to participate in family-focused
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018
BUI LDERS
programs that have improved parent-
child bonding, attachment, and kapwa
(togetherness).
What is the global imprint of your
body of work?
I am a passionate physician and
researcher who is a voice for Filipino
immigrant families. Over the past 17
years, I have been on a mission to
bring evidence-based family-focused
programs to immigrant Filipino
parents to prevent the development
of behavioral health and conduct
problems in adolescence. These
programs have transformed Filipino
families by fostering better parent-
child relationships and destigmatizing
mental health in the community. The
success of my work underscores my
ability to build trust with Filipino
community organizations and
families and harness their strengths
to overcome barriers involved
in implementing a mental health
promotion program.
How have you impacted your profession,
your organization, your community?
I am recognized nationally for my
expertise on behavioral health
disparities among Filipino youth and the
use of evidence-based interventions
to prevent these disparities. I am the
first to publish research in this area. I
also have a long track record of peer-
reviewed publications in academic
journals and grant support related to
Filipino child health in the United States.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
I have femtored over 15 Filipina
femtees, many of whom have pursued
careers in health and become advocates
and health providers in the Filipino
community. I have also taught a course
for public
The ONE thing that we would not guess
about you.
I like to crochet.
Which historical female figure would
you like to have coffee with?
Patsy Mink was the first minority woman
and the first Asian American woman
elected to Congress. She also ran for
the U.S. presidency. I would like to learn
about her courage and resilience.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
Suicidal behavior, depression, and
anxiety are major challenges facing all of
our youth, including Filipina youth.
9A
BUI LDERS
Ma. Victoria M.
Acosta
Senior Vice President and Managing
Director
Megaworld Corporation
Mandaluyong, National Capital
Region
Philippines
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
Under my leadership, Megaworld
International has opened offices
establishing its presence in over 60
territories. More importantly, it has
countless satisfied clients, which
helped its sales networks to earn extra
income and has created employment
opportunities for nearly a hundred
backroom support employees in the
Philippines.
What is the global imprint of your
body of work?
Megaworld International aspires to
make every Filipino working/residing
overseas own quality, affordable homes
in the Philippines. It hopes to improve
the lives of the Filipino families and
relatives back home by providing a
lifestyle of convenience through its live-
work-play-learn township concept.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
I value equality at work, no matter what
is your gender or preference as long
as you apply the 3Cs at work which
are CHARACTER, COMPETENCE, and
COMMITMENT.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate? How did it impact
your career or business?
Ms. Acosta entered corporate life with
a challenge to take on—one given by
Megaworld Corporation’s chairman and
CEO himself, Dr. Andrew L. Tan. She
went on to spearhead the marketing
of Megaworld to the global market. Dr.
Tan guided her to be the leader and
advocate that she is right now.
If you could run the world, what one law
would you enact to benefit women and
girls?
I believe the perfect law that would
benefit us, women and girls, would be
10A FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
the MAGNA CARTA for WOMEN which
are the laws and policies to empower
and protect women and ensure equal
rights and opportunities for men and
women.
The ONE thing that we would not guess
about you.
I am a musician by heart. I also play
some musical instruments like the
piano, upright bass, guitar and all the
rondalla instruments.
Which living woman do you most
admire?
My mother, Mrs. Emeteria D.
Madlansacay.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
Sense of Entitlement
Maria Martina
Geraldine
Quisumbing
Dimalibot, PhD,
RN.
Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing
Officer
St. Luke Medical Center Global City and
Quezon City
Pasig, PHILIPPINES
Mary Cheryl Bravo
Gloner
Executive Director
Project Safety Net, City of Palo Alto
San Jose, CA United States
How have you impacted your profession,
your organization, your community?
In both my professional and volunteer
work, I enjoyed cultivating relationships
with diverse stakeholders, especially
bringing individuals or groups together
that have unique and sometimes
| www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
competing agendas while facilitating
them towards a mutually beneficial
goal. I helped to position our work as a
gateway to northern Santa Clara County
and to reframe the narrative so not seen
as a victim, but help lead on the issue of
teen suicide prevention.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
I add my voice to group discussions
(both large and small break-outs).
Most recently, I attended a community
meeting with Silicon Valley Community
Foundation. In light of the harassment
issues they are confronted, I asked
publicly in the room how they will use
this opportunity to not only strengthen
their foundation, but how it will shape
technical assistance, capacity building,
and funding initiatives so nonprofits can
learn from their challenges.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate? How did it impact
your career or business?
Michele Lew, CEO of The Health
Trust. As a fellow Asian Pacific Islander
American woman, she has served as
my sounding board for not only my
career decisions, but in helping navigate
challenging political and social issues.
What was your very first paid job?
Tape Clerk. 14 years old. $3-4/hour. I
was eager to earn money on my own
and as soon as I could legally work with
a permit. I was determined to seek
an office job instead of retail or food
industry like many of my older cousins
or peers.
What product or service should you
invest in the Philippines that could impact
society?
How to build sustainable economic
infrastructure so that Filipinos are not
outsourced (e.g. work abroad) to earn
livable wage/income. Industries that
keep families together, strengthen
communities, and allow Philippines to
compete in global market.
ONE Filipino custom you would like to
pass on to others that would make an
impactful impression in society.
The practice of “utang na loob.” The
healthier and positive practice of
honoring and recognizing those who
came before me to help me get to where
I am at.
The ONE thing that we would not guess
about you.
I’m an only child
Which living woman do you most
admire?
Senator Kamala Harris
Rowena “Owen” SP
Sanchez
Vice President - HR and Administration
DSO
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
Implementation of the HR deliverables
and stratagems that I managed to
conceptualize that led into successful
achievements of our company goals and
targets.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
I have been an advocate of women’s
rights, even at an early age. I’ve always
expressed myself freely and had proven
to the community that being a WOMAN
is not a disadvantage when it comes to
activities, profession, accomplishments,
tasks or skills.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate? How did it impact
your career or business?
Francois Viljoen, my former HR Director
who had passed away at the same
time of my birthday. During my stint at
Abbott, he saw my potential in HR, which
I did.
What is the most significant barrier to
female leadership from your experience?
The double standard of morality; the
perception that men can do more
than women.
What was your very first paid job?
Flight Attendant with Philippine Airlines.
I was 20 yrs. old and my first pay was
P10,000 monthly.
The ONE thing that we would not guess
about you.
That I cry a lot when I fail to do a task
expected of me.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next
generation of Filipina women?
Women leaders shy away from speaking
about their accomplishments for fear

of being boastful or conceited. It’s not
enough to be in a role or to sit at the
table. One must also speak confidently,
regardless of odds faced. Women leaders
fear of being ostracized or rejected;
however, respect comes when one’s
voice is heard.
Ruby C. Pacis
Founding President/CEO
Faith in GOD RPM Professional
and Technical Services Corporation
Calaca, Batangas, Philippines
What is the global imprint of your body
of work? Are you leading, advocating,
impacting your constituency?
I create maximum impact in the lives
of people who see my actions, feel my
presence and hear the words that my
mouth speaks as I deal with them.
How have you impacted your
profession, your organization, your
community?
I am currently the Vice-Chairperson
for Clark Contracting Industry
Tripartite Council and a permanent
Management Representative for
Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace
Council which was established to
institutionalize the establishment and
creation of Tripartite Industrial Peace
Councils in the regional, provincial,
city, municipality and industry-based
levels as part of the country’s
commitment to International Labor
Organization (ILO) Convention
No. 144, Tripartite Consultation
(International Labour Standards)
Convention, 1976.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
We make sure that our female workers
are protected by strictly adhering
to Republic Act 7877 “Anti-Sexual
Harassment Act of 1995”, Section
14 of Article XIII of the Philippine
Constitution which mandates the
protection of working women through
provisions for opportunities that
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
would enable them to reach their full
potential; Section 13 of Republic Act
No. 7910, otherwise known as the
Magna Carta of Women that prohibits
the expulsion and non-readmission
of women due to pregnancy outside
of marriage and all other laws that
ensures the safety and protection of
women in the workplace.
What is the most significant barrier
to female leadership from your
experience?
I regularly face being seen as the
“token woman”. At times, my clients
appreciate my presence and see me
as a potential asset in our client-
supplier business partnership.
If you could run the world, what
one law would you enact to benefit
women and girls?
If I could run the world, I will enact
a law that will support the “WOW”
(Women of Worth) association which
will focus on godly mothering and
integrated female leadership
ONE Filipino custom you would
like to pass on to others that would
make an impactful impression inv
society.
“Mano Po’ because it connotes
and promotes respect as well as
opportunity for the elders to give or
share blessings
GLOBAL
FWN100™
2018
EMERGING
LEADERS
This award category recognizes Filipina
women below age 35 who are making
their mark in a leadership role, are on the
pathway to principalship and building
capacity across an organizational system
in the public and private sectors. Emerging
Leaders have powerful mindsets and
skill sets that drive achievement for their
organizations.
Ann Michelle
Mondragon
Global Communications Specialist
Givaudan
Zurich, Switzerland
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
Leading a global campaign to encourage
people to engage their voice and share
their feedback through a company-
wide survey of 10,000 employees. In
the campaign, we set up a fund raising
so that every survey completed was a
donation of 10 Swiss Francs to a charity
foundation. We had an 80% response
rate (increase of 10% from the previous
survey) which raised 86,700 Swiss
Francs. It was a challenging project as I
needed to collaborate with people across
the globe, working in different time
zones and different cultural styles.
What is the global imprint of your body
of work?
As a young Filipina involved in global
initiatives, across cultures and regions,
I pursue to empower and represent
Filipina women in the upper echelons of
society.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work
I am involved in my company’s diversity
initiative to support better balance in
terms gender and nationality. My role is
to raise awareness in the company about
the benefits of diversity and to further
embed it in our culture.
The ONE thing that we would not guess
about you.
I love hiking - mountains, forest or city
even
Which historical female figure would you
like to have coffee with? What would
you like to learn from her?
Coco Channel and learn how she
discovered her inspiration and ambition.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
The challenge is to remain relevant
and forward looking without losing our
values and culture. (Also a big challenge
is for us to fix the traffic in Manila!)
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018
EMERGI NG LEADERS
Dr. Catherine Sy Luib
Chiropractor, Acupuncturist,
Nutritionist, Herbalist
Luib Health Center
Vista, CA United States
One influential action that makes
you very proud from your body of
work.
Having the power of influence over
holistic health and healing services
for the communities around me
How have you impacted your
profession, your organization, your
community?
Elevating the Chiropractic
profession through national
and political advocacies
Filipina women face workplace
challenges everyday.
ONE person who influenced you as
a leader and advocate? How did it
impact your career or business?
Dr. Billy Demoss has helped me to
be brave as a chiropractor, to not
be afraid to speak about the truth
regarding health care and sick care
and to make sure that
every parent knows about the
benefits of chiropractic.
What is the most significant barrier
to female leadership from your
experience?
Access to resource is one of
the biggest barriers to female
leadership. It impacted my business
in that everything came from my
own personal funds. It helped me
to be fierce with marketing and
promoting my business better
What was your very first paid job?
Burger King, 18 years old. It taught
me time management and savings.
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EMERGI NG LEADERS
If you could run the world, what
one law would you enact to benefit
women and girls?
For girls and women to be invited into
the tech, sciences and math industries.
The ONE thing that we would not guess
about you.
That I have a twin
Which living woman do you most
admire?
Shirley Maya Tan, Dragon Woman
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
Support of their families and
communities
 
Christen-Leonor
Montero
Chief Marketing Officer
Blue
Riverside, CA United States
What is the global imprint of your body
of work?
Increasing awareness of blood diamonds
in Sierra Leon, Africa and raising funds
to provide prosthetic limbs to amputee
victims. Additionally, helping to
preserve authentic social interactions
in today’s society through innovation
intechnology.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
As a minority woman CMO of a Tech
startup, I am challenging the status quo
of a white male dominated industry. I
also impressed on the startup company
the importance and need to be inclusive
in hiring diversity.
12A FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
What is the most significant barrier to
female leadership from your experience?
My most significant barrier to becoming
a female leader was constantly fighting
the initial stereotype of “beauty but no
brains”. I remember applying to jobs
as a teenager but nobody wanted to
hire me and at a young age with no
experience, the opportunities were short
coming. Instead of waiting to be given
opportunities I learned how to take them,
to create them and adjust. Persistence
leads to success and it is the reason why I
am now a huge advocate for investing in
youth and giving opportunities.
What was your very first paid job? How
old were you?
My first paid job was a French Fry Maker
at McDonald’s at 16 for $8 an hour. I
learned how opportunities come from
those that know you and to ask for
promotions.
If you could run the world, what one law
would you enact to benefit women and
girls?
I would make it mandatory for all high
schools to implement a parenting
and motherhood program that is also
required to be eligible to graduate. I
believe this will not only raise awareness
of all the different factors of motherhood,
but it would raise global awareness of
different parenting styles within cultures
encouraging healthy families around the
globe.
How have you taken your significance to
relevance in society?
I am currently helping to create the
world’s first peer-to-peer ambient
Bluetooth social network. My goal
is to help preserve authentic social
interactions in physical spaces and help
build a world of closer communities.
ONE Filipino custom you would like to
pass on to others that would make an
impactful impression in society.
Hospitality when it comes to having
strangers in a household. Treating
someone like family by offering them
food not only nourishes the body but
nourishes the soul.
The ONE thing that we would not guess
about you.
I ride a motorcycle
Which historical female figure would you
like to have coffee with? What would you
like to learn from her?
Michelle Obama, I’d like to learn how she
dealt with the political world and
balanced family life.
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
| www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
If someone doesn’t see your worth,
don’t waste your time trying to convince
someone you’re worthy.
Danabelle Gutierrez
Freelance Writer
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
What is the global imprint of your
body of work?
With any type of writing, and most
especially poetry, the act is comparable
to sending out messages in bottles
hoping not only that it will be received,
but that it will be read and understood,
getting a message back is a bonus.
I’ve been blessed enough to receive
messages back saying that what I’ve
written spoke to them.
How have you impacted your profession,
your organization, your community?
I, along with 2 other women from
different backgrounds, have established
a writer’s group called DXB SpeakEasy,
which is a safe space for writers to
connect, perform, and perfect their
artform.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
As a writer, the advocacy as a female,
Filipino or otherwise, is to simply exist
and to persist with letting your voice be
heard, because there are not a lot of
visible representation. There are very
few female authors, and even
fewer Filipino female authors.
ONE Filipino custom you would like to
pass on to others that would make an
impactful impression in society.
“Mano” or to bless. The act of it signifies
respect not only to the elder, but to
the ancestors and I think it’s a beautiful
reminder, that you are who you are
because of those who have come before
you and you are asking them to bless you
in your own life journey.
Which living woman do you most
admire?
Every woman who has tried to prevail
through her circumstance is admirable,
even if it is by merely existing and being
present.
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
I would tell her that it’s not as bad as it
looks. The world is large and life goes on.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
The challenge for the Filipina in the
western world is representation, but I
think we, as the members of FWN, are
all doing our part to fix this, it’s going
to take a lot of work, but we are doing
it and will continue to let our voice be
heard and faces be seen.
Your LEGACY for the Filipina Women’s
Network.
I am going to exist so that other Filipina
women realize that it is possible --
whatever their dreams may be. If I can,
then they, definitely, can too!
Trisha Marie Edar Marco
Marketing Coordinator
Mark Thomas
Antioch, CA United States
Trisha Marco was born and raised in the
Philippines and migrated to the United
States after completing her BS Business
Management degree in De La Salle
University Manila. She has been working in

the architecture/engineering/constructiont
industry providing project coordination and
marketing services for the past 9 years. She
has been involved with notable projects
in San Francisco Bay Area. She is also
active in the Filipina Women’s network,
and was the production manager for The
Vagina Monologues in 2016. She is also
part of the annual Filipino American Arts
Exposition Pistahan Parade and Festival in
San Francisco.
GLOBAL
FWN100™ 2018
FOUNDERS &
PIONEERS
This award honors Filipina women in
their capacities as the chief executive,
president, executive director or founder
of a company, community organization,
non-profit, or business venture that they
helped start, build or significantly grow.
This award category is for the trailblazers
who have marshaled resources and applied
innovative practices, processes and/or
technologies in a new and groundbreaking
way to address significant business or
organizational opportunity.
Angie Katrina Adams
Founder/ Director/ Designer
QUESTION EVERYTHING LTD.
London, United Kingdom
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
I am very proud that we are a fashion
brand with a face and a story and that
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
we aim to support local communities
wherever possible. I am also proud
that our clothing is made in the
Philippines and we can showcase to
the world the superior craftsmanship
that comes out of the Philippines
What is the most significant barrier
to female leadership from your
experience?
The most significant barrier to female
leadership is juggling motherhood
and work. Although difficult, it
only made me more determined
to succeed. Firstly, to set a good
example to my children that if you
work hard you will succeed and to
break through those barriers and
show other women and mothers
that everything is possible if you are
determined! I would therefore say
the barriers helped me become a
leader.
What was your very first paid job?
My very first job was as a drummer
in an all-girl rock band signed to
virgin records. I was 19 years old. We
received a lump sum from our record
company but sensibly paid ourselves
a weekly wage. We toured the world
for 2 years and this was an amazing
eye opener. I learned how to work
hard and at a young age experience
many different cultures.
If you could start over, what would
you do?
Everything I have experienced in
my life has brought me to the place
I am in now. Every wrong decision
and struggle is a lesson learnt and
has helped me to become a stronger
person.
ONE Filipino custom you would like
to pass on to others that would make
an impactful impression in society.
Respect for your elders
The ONE thing that we would not
guess about you.
I love cats
Which living woman do you most
admire?
Marianne Williamson
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
To meet brilliant Filipina vwomen
from around the world, share stories
and experiences and gain knowledge
and good advice from those I will
meet.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next
generation of Filipina women?
Although the Philippines has come
a long way with gender equality,
ranking among the top 10 countries
in the World Economic Forum’s
global gender gap report which
recognises gender equality in labour
force participation, education, health
and political empowerment; I feel
that in the current political climate
growth in this area has faced many
obstacles. The next generation of
Filipina women need to ensure that
all the gains made over the years are
not undone and moreover to work
towards surpassing the growth made
to date.
Carolina Ocampo
Mercado
CEO/President
Mercado Builders & Development
Corporation
Pasig, Philippines
Conchita Labao
Manabat, Ph.D
President
Development Center for Finance
Makati, Metro Manila
Philippines
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
I founded and chaired the Deloitte
firm in the country. I was the first
woman to found an accounting firm
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018
FOUNDERS & PI ONEERS
and got the representation of one
of the Big 4 accounting firms in the
world. While other women became
CEOs or Chairpersons of other Big 4
accounting firms in the country, I was
the only one so far, who founded and
managed to get the representation
of Deloitte in the country. Prior
to my getting it, Deloitte was
represented by another established
accounting firm for 18 years. From
a base of about 12 manpower
complement, I grew the firm to about
300 professionals in less than 10
years becoming one of the major
accounting firms in the country.
What is the global imprint of your
body of work? Are you leading,
advocating, impacting your
constituency?
The accounting firm that I founded
and led became the Philippine
member firm of maybe now, the
largest accounting firm in the world
with more than 263,900 professionals
at member firms delivering services
in audit & assurance, tax, consulting,
financial advisory, risk advisory, and
related services in more than 150
countries and territories. Revenues
for fiscal year 2017 were US$38.8
billion.
What is the most significant barrier
to female leadership from your
experience?
From my experience, I learned that
a woman professional has always a
choice – just to go with the flow of
tide (maybe be with the majority or
just get by) or ride/navigate the tide
and be ahead. To ride/navigate the
ride, one should have courage and
confidence without alienating others.
Be qualified and do your best.
If you could run the world, what
one law would you enact to benefit
women and girls?
I do not believe in mandating things.
For women to become achievers,
they should have their tool kit
(knowledge and qualifications) and
they should know how and when
to use the contents of their kit
efficiently and effectively. A good
attitude is a must.
Which historical female figure would
you like to have coffee with?
Joan of Arc. Her tragic story is one
of the most inspiring one in medieval
history. It will be good to understand
how she dealt with her fears, kept
her faith and drew such bravery that
has made her lead the army at a very
young age and brought unity within
France despite of complexities..
13A
FOUNDERS & PI ONEERS
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Be happy and do not be in a hurry.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next
generation of Filipina women?
Women empowerment in the face
of impunity. Women in power lately
have been the target of impunity,
especially in government positions.
Empowering women to rise over this
adversity and fighting stereotypes on
what roles women aresupposed to
play in society without qualm is a big
challenge.
Crystal Dias LLB
Partner
Dias Solicitors
Rochester, Kent, United Kingdom
How have you impacted your
profession, your organization, your
community?
I have a segment on web radio
Pinoy Radio UK for the past 8 years
discussing immigration and family law
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
As I am the Principal of Dias
Solicitors, I recently disciplined
a male business manager who
committed sexual harassment against
a female intern. He was found guilty
of the offence and was dismissed. My
firm adopts zero tolerance against
sexual harassment to women.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate?
Cherie Blair, QC (Queens Counsel)-
When I was a young lawyer, she
inspired me to strive for success.
Although she was married to the
Prime Minister Tony Blair, she has
worked hard and achieved success in
14A FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
her own right, proving that powerful
women do not need to sacrifice their
career for their husband’s - you can
both achieve your ambition equally,
and indeed she shows that you can
have it all - marriage, children, career,
advocacy, leadership and mentorship.
What is the most significant barrier
to female leadership from your
experience?
Work life balance: as a young lawyer,
I had many contemporary female
lawyers starting their careers but as
the years have progressed and we
naturally move on to have families I
have found the ranks have thinned so
that fewer females reach leadership
positions as they feel that they must
sacrifice their careers or at least delay
their careers for the sake of their
family. I believe that this should not
be a bar to female leadership and I
advocate within the legal industry
for a more flexible work life balance
to allow female lawyers to not have
to make a choice between work and
family. I believe it is the responsibility
of the legal industry to support
women and encourage them to work
with women to plan a career path
that works around her family life
so that she can achieve the same
heights in her career as her male
counterparts.
If yo u co ul d r un th e wo r l d , wh at
o n e l aw wo ul d yo u e n a ct to
b e n efi t wo me n a n d gi r l s?
Compulsory free education to all
young girls worldwide. There are
still parts of the world that women
are given little or no education and
this makes it hard for them to have
independent and empowered lives
without reliance on men
How have you taken your success to
significance in society?
I have given a voice to undocumented
migrants by taking their case to the
Courts and the media
How have you taken your significance
to relevance in society?
In the current political climate, I have
highlighted the relevance of women
migrants in the UK by pointing out
their positive contributions to society
Your LEGACY for the Filipina
Women’s Network.
A mentor to young Filipino women
who wish to pursue a career in law.
| www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
Dr. Evelyn Tang Uy
Managing Director
Top Plaza Hotel
Dipolog, Zamboanga Del Norte
Philippines
One influential action that makes
you very proud from your body of
work.
The Ayuda Medical Program that
I established which promotes
healthcare and financial services for
indigent families of the Philippines
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
I organized a women’s union to help
raise awareness and promote gender
equality through the various
institutions in the city. It also
gives these women a voice for
the problems they face in their
respective workplace
ONE person who influenced you as
a leader and advocate?
Myrna Yao has always been an
inspiration to me and my family as
a leading gender equality advocate
in the Philippines as well as a
successful entrepreneur
What is the most significant barrier
to female leadership from your
experience?
Money. The limited amount of
financial resources prevents me
from extending the necessary help
to every woman in the city.
If you could run the world, what
one law would you enact to
benefit women and girls?
Male and Female employees should
and must receive the same amount
of money from their work given that
their positions are similar
The ONE thing that we would not
guess about you.
I have 7 children and 14
grandchildren
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next
generation of Filipina women?
The ignorance that comes with
social media
Josephine Tañada Yam
LLM
CEO & Co-Founder
Building Breakthrough Boards (B3)
Canada (b3canada.ca)
Toronto, Canada
What is the global imprint of your
body of work?
My body of work to start B3
Canada came to me while I was
at Stanford University’s Graduate
School of Business. My Stanford
stint was a transformational,
life-changing experience. At one
point, a well-renowned Stanford
professor remarked in my class:
“If you aren’t changing the world,
don’t bother.” My ground-breaking
vision to address that mission is
to build leadership capacity by
strengthening non-profit boards
through diversity and inclusion.
I co-founded B3 Canada, which
acts as a matchmaker between
corporations and non-profits.
B3’s Board Matching Programs
are completely free of charge to
nonprofits. We assist nonprofit
boards in recruiting new board
directors that bring diversity
in skills, age, gender, ethnicity,
perspectives, and networks of
influence.

ONE person who influenced you as
a leader and advocate? How did it
impact your career or business?
Lorenzo M. Tanada, the Grand Old
Man of Philippine Politics and a
national hero in the Philippines,
has been my lifelong inspiration.
He has inspired me to become a
lawyer and human rights advocate.
He has inspired me to be clear
about my “why”, my purpose in
life.
What is the most significant
barrier to female leadership from
your experience?
The lack of female role models.
This barrier has made me become
more resilient and courageous to
blaze a trail on my own to achieve
success. It is now my turn to
advocate for more gender diversity
in leadership roles across all
sectors.
If you could start over, what would
you do?
I would have developed strong
negotiation and communication
skills to become a strong advocate
for myself.
If you could run the world, what
one law would you enact to
benefit women and girls?
Enact a quota to require gender
balance in senior leadership roles
in all sectors of society.
What product or service should
you invest in the Philippines that
could impact society?
Invest in high-quality education
for females that is focused on
science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM).
The ONE thing that we would not
guess about you.
I am a certified scuba diver.
Which living woman do you most
admire?
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
What is one piece of advice that
you would give to your 20-year old
self?
“You must do the thing you think
you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next
generation of Filipina women?
The biggest challenge is shattering
stereotypes that Filipinas abroad
are all caregivers and nurses.
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
Majella Tumangan-
Villaroman
Founder and President
my-CORD Corporation
Quezon City, Philippines
One influential action that makes
you very proud from your body of
work?
I joined a highly distinguished
review panel composed of only
10 selected from all around the
world to represent the field of
global mental health and wellbeing
at work for the World Health
Organization’s task force for the
redefinition of Health. Currently,
Health is defined as a “State
of complete physical, mental,
and social well being and not
merely the absence of disease or
infirmity.”
How have you impacted your
profession, your organization, your
community?
As Board Member of the leading
EAP association in Asia, I was
able to bring to the Philippines
the leading experts and service
delivery models to address mental
and social wellbeing programs
in the Philippines, first of its
kind. This creates a more holistic
approach to achieving healthy lives
for individuals
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
With my personal encounter
on sexual discrimination or
harassment, I came up with a “tag
line” that I could say each time,
“This behavior is unacceptable”.
This way, I don’t have to be
FOUNDERS & PI ONEERS
flustered or afraid when faced with
this challenge. I encourage other
business women to do the same as
I do.
What is the most significant barrier
to female leadership from your
experience?
Lack of government policies that
support advancement of women
in all fields. These government
policies could influence business
policies or advocacy to take
importance of the role of women,
especially women’s role in
families, business and economic
development of countries.
What was your very first paid job?
2-year internship in one of the
leading advertising agencies
in the Philippines required by
my University to graduate with Mildred Christine
a degree of Bachelor of Arts “Mitzi” Flores Piad,
in Communication Arts. This
experience continues to impact Ph.D.
my life as it remains important for
me to align with excellence and
President & Chairman of the Board
innovation. F.F.Flores Enterprises, Inc.
Lucena, Quezon, Philippines
If you could run the world, what Dr. Mitzi Flores Piad graduated AB
one law would you enact to benefit Economics at Maryknoll College,
women and girls? How would this Masters of Science in Economics
law impact the world? at UST and Ph.D in Organization
An international law that supports Development at SAIDI with her
equal opportunity for all women second PhD on Public Administration
worldwide.
major in Good Governance and Social
Responsibility. She taught Economics
How have you taken your
and Statistics, ran the family business
significance to relevance in society?
of subdivisions, economic, low cost
The promotion of mental health
and socialized housing projects
for individuals worldwide is
and helped develop Lucena City’s
an important issue that I have
St. Ferdinand Memorial Park, the
advocated for many years. Finally,
the Philippines recently passed the country’s first and oldest park. Mitzi
built a 3-storey building for Girl Scouts
Philippine Mental Health Act into
and authored “Vanguards of Youth
law.
Against Illegal Drug Abuse” when she
was Quezon Council President. Her
The ONE thing that we would not
quiet intensity and fortitude gave her
guess about you.
I enjoy time in solitude. responsible positions in Zonta Int’l and
authored another Coffee Table Book
Which living woman do you most entitled “The Legacy”. She is currently
admire? Public Awareness Regional Pillar for
My mother, Teresita Tumangan. Soroptimist Intl of Philippine Region
and represents all Civic Clubs in
How do you take care of yourself? Lucena City’s Advisory Council for the
What does self-care mean to you? Philippine National Police.
I surround myself with positive
people that lift me higher. For me,
self care means loving oneself by
taking care of body, mind and soul.
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018
15A

Myrna L. Tam-
Natividad
Founder and Chief Executive
Officer
Grow Your Business Pinoy, Inc.
Zamboanga City, Zamboanga
Philippines
What is the global imprint of your body
of work?
I will harness the power of the Internet
to spread my message to all Pinoys
worldwide to come home, help our
country by being entrepreneurs and
create jobs for other Pinoys.
How have you impacted your
profession, your organization, your
community?
A former illiterate cook, after hearing
me talk about entrepreneurship,
opened her own carenderia instead
of staying employed after she had her
own family.
What was your very first paid job? How
old were you?
College Instructor, 21 years old PHP
600 per month. Being in charge of
classes showed me that I am a capable
leader and provided me the skills to
grow my businesses
If you could run the world, what one
law would you enact to benefit women
and girls?
Mandatory K-12 and tech-voc/ tertiary
education for all women. This will give
the women career choices for financial
independence.
What product or service should you
invest in the Philippines that could
impact society?
Entrepreneurship training
How have you taken your significance
to relevance in society?
I have distilled all my 40 some years of
learning from 20 failed businesses
and 5 successful businesses to develop
16A FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
a roadmap for entrepreneur wannabes.
I have written a book to get the word
out and I am working on an online
course to reach as many Pinoys as
possible.
The ONE thing that we would not
guess about you.
I am not a pet person.
Which historical female figure would
you like to have coffee with?
Mother of Jose Rizal: How was it like to
have so many kids and how was it like
to raise Jose Rizal.
How do you take care of yourself?
What does self-care mean to you?
Meditation and massage. Self-care
is having time to myself to grow and
learn.
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Chill. Everything happens for a reason.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next
generation of Filipina women?
Culture of Consumerism.
GLOBAL
FWN100™ 2018
INNOVATORS &
THOUGHT
LEADERS
This award recognizes women who
have broken new ground in the global
workplace, have delivered new and
unique applications of emerging
technology transforming the way people
think, in the fields of sports, literature,
the arts and pop culture; or have
improved the lives of others by helping
develop a product or service in the fields
of science, technology, engineering,
sports, arts, or mathematics. This
award category is also for someone who
has either launched a new enterprise,
a learning function, or completely
overhauled an existing process, a
development of new procedures or a
community initiative that has sparked a
following.
| www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
Alexandra Cuerdo
Director
Kidlat Entertainment
Brooklyn, New York
United States
What is the global imprint of your body
of work?
I made the first and only Filipino food
documentary, which has been featured
in the New York Times, Los Angeles
Times, Vogue, BuzzFeed and many other
publications. It’s impacting how Filipinos
are viewed in the US, and in the rest of
the world. And thankfully, I’ve secured
global distribution for the film, so it will
soon be seen around the world.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
I’m a female director of color. By even
existing and doing my job, I am battling
for my ability to do my job, and to have
a voice. I’m fighting to get paid at all.
I try to set a good example, and be
responsible with the power of running
every set and film I’m on.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate?
The director Todd Haynes has influenced
me tremendously, from a young age. In
college, I met him after a screening of his
first film. He inspires me to constantly
make films from the heart. He’s not
afraid to take risks with storytelling and
tell non-commercial stories.
What is the most significant barrier to
female leadership from your experience?
Because there are few female leaders,
there are few mentors or examples.
I’ve experienced this, and it forced me
to try a lot of things and fail at a lot of
things. It eventually led me to believe in
myself, even when no one else would.
What was your very first paid job? How
old were you?
Copy editor for The Guardian newspaper
at UC San Diego. I was 18 years old. I
don’t remember how much I was paid,
but it gave me pride in my work.
How have you taken your significance to
relevance in society?
Because there is so little mainstream
coverage of Filipino-Americans, I’ve
contributed to Filipino culture by making
a mainstream documentary. Simply by
existing, ULAM will be a relevant piece
of Filipino-American culture forever.
ONE Filipino custom you would like to
pass on to others that would make an
impactful impression in society.
Filipinos like to celebrate holidays with
the people they love. I’ve experienced
this with my family, it’s had a positive
impact on me, and I think it would on
others as well.
Which historical female figure would you
like to have coffee with? What would
you like to learn from her?
Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923),
the incredible French actress and
businesswoman. She lived her life
exactly how she wanted, traveled the
world, changed history with her art. how
to live off of making art.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
That people forget history if they haven’t
lived it. They’ll be raised in a world where
political leaders are using nationalism to
divide and conquer — it’s happening all
over the world right now.
Your LEGACY for the Filipina Women’s
Network.
To increase the visibility of Filipino-
American women in media.

Angie Go Flaminiano
President and Chief Operating Officer
NutriAsia Inc.
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Philippines
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
On the 25th anniversary of NutriAsia, I
led the company in partnering with The
Mind Museum (the country’s pioneering
world-class science museum) in building
the world’s first catsup museum,
featuring in particular the quintessential
Filipino sauce our banana catsup. I
believe that NutriAsia, being at the
forefront of the Filipino foodscape,
should make it its responsibility to
honor and immortalize a product
that all Filipinos grow up with. The
story of banana catsup has much to
teach the future generation about
enduring Filipino virtues --- ingenuity,
resourcefulness, and hard work ---
the same values that have propelled
NutriAsia’s success. The Catsup
Museum is our way of giving back.
My vision is that young Filipinos
who visit the museum will walk away
with a deeper understanding and
appreciation of the place of banana
catsup in Philippine history and culture.
Importantly too, the Museum aims to
be relevant and provoke its audience’s
young and curious minds by marrying
history with science. It features the
science and ever-improving technology
behind banana catsup specifically, and
hopes to awaken Filipinos, especially
children, to the science of food
manufacturing in general.
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
Under my leadership, NutriAsia was
awarded Best Employer for Commitment
to Women in the Philippines (2017).
This award was presented by Aon
Hewitt to NutriAsia, the first winner
in the Philippines, unsolicited and
purely based on what Aon saw as
exceptionally high engagement scores of
women in NutriAsia relative to all Best
Employer nominees in the Philippines.
I am a proud woman leader, and I
am joined by brilliant women in my
organization. I mentor strong women
in my Management Committee (44%
of ManCom), serve as role model for
women in Management (48%), and
energize women supervisors (53%). I am
the first female president of NutriAsia
and I would like to believe that my work
ethics and career story inspire everyone,
women especially, in the organization to
be driven to excellence. I am considered
a homegrown talent in this Filipino-
owned company, and I always use and
cite myself as an example that age,
gender, and background are never to be
limiting factors for one’s career growth
in NutriAsia. I have effectively thrown
away any self-imposed glass ceiling for
women in NutriAasia where we strongly
promote and practice a culture of
meritocracy and gender equality.
If you could run the world, what one law
would you enact to benefit women and
girls? How would this law impact the
world?
There should be a stricter law that not
only protects but totally eliminates all
forms of violence and abuse on women
and children on a global scale.
What product or service should you
invest in the Philippines that could
impact society?
I have always believed in the great
quality and craftsmanship of the
Filipinos.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
In the advent of technology, internet,
and social media, I believe the biggest
challenge of the next generation
Filipinas would be about dealing
with borderless and limitless flow
of information--- opinion, fashion,
trends, lifestyle, etc. This information
may influence a Filipina’s outlook,
perspective, and choices, which may
impact in preserving the overall distinct
Filipina character --- “mahinhin”, loving,
caring, hospitable, and resilient.
I NNOVATORS AND THOUGHT LEADERS
What product or service should you
invest in the Philippines that could
impact society?
Education
The ONE thing that we would not
guess about you.
I collect a 1932 Philippine design error
stamp and vintage Parker fountain
pens.
Which living woman do you most
admire?
Aung San Suu Kyi
What is one piece of advice that you
would give to your 20-year old self?
Do not marry yet. Go to the USA and
take your masters. Work for the best
companies. Put love aside for 10 years.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next
generation of Filipina women?
I believe it will be the inability to focus
amidst so many distractions.
Maria Lydia “Marily”
Ysip Orosa
Founder/President/CEO
Studio 5 Designs Inc
Taguig City, Metro Manila
Philippines
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
No work on Saturday (used to be held
day of work) so employees especially
the women can catch up on house
chores, errands and family activities.
What was your very first paid job?
Miss Esso Sparkle (title) for a public
relations campaign to select the best
service stations in Manila. Salary was
5,000 pesos at a time my friends were
earning 800 pesos a month. This was
in 1969
If you could start over, what would
you do?
I would have gotten my masters in
communication arts.
Marissa Estiva-
Magsino, FAAFRM
If you could run the world, what
one law would you enact to benefit Integrative Functional Medical doctor/
women and girls? How would this law Health ambassador
impact the world? Marissa Magsino MDPA / Modern
A law that would require high schools Widow’s Club USA
and colleges the compulsory study Orlando, Florida
of the family code and the rights of United States
women and children.
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018
17A
INNOVATORS AND THOUGHT LEA DERS
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
I have generated a new paradigm shift in
practicing medicine using body, mind
and spirit approach and enabling each
patient to transition to become a better
and healthier version of themselves.
Patient in my practice are optimized with
their hormonal age and are able to enjoy
life with less or no medication, healthier
lifestyle, mindful spirit and well balance
nutrition.
What is the global imprint of your body
of work?
I am leading the field of medicine in
incorporating optimized bioidentical
hormone therapy through pellet implant
for menopause and transgender
therapy shifting from female to male or
vice versa, use of regenerative medicine
using platelerich plasma for facial, scalp,
joints, vaginal and penile rejuvenation in
combination with radio frequency
devices non-surgically as treatment for
sexual dysfunction.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate? How did it impact
your career or business?
I was inspired to become a thought
leader after I became a widow in 2014
and met Carolyn Moor who founded the
Modern Widow’s Club with 22 chapters
across the USA. As optimized and
balanced as my hormones are being a
specialist that handles hormone therapy,
nothing prepared me for sudden death
of a loved one. I found the inspiration
to lead and mentor other widow sisters
and assist them in their new journey.
The average age of a widow in the USA
is 55, the same age where impact of
menopause is prevalent. As a specialist
I have been inspired by the work of
Carolyn who mentors widows as they
journey through grief, assisting them
in loss and enlightening widows on
their re-entry to life. As a health care
provider, I have now been inspired to
mentor as a health ambassador for the
Modern Widow’s Club by balancing
their hormones. My widow sisters have
more strength and stamina and resiliency
physically to deal with the impact of loss
and menopause.
If you could run the world, what one law
would you enact to benefit women and
girls? How would this law impact the
world?
I would enact law to allow time off for
girls and women during their heavy
menstrual period, during pregnancy
or when menopausal issues arise as
hormonal disarray can cause so much
havoc and stress from monthly cycles to
pregnancy and menopause. The impact
18A FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
would be a less stressful world where
women would continue to be Aphrodite
and not have to behave and compete
with the masculine energy all the time.
The ONE thing that we would not guess
about you.
I have an “anting-anting”
Which living woman do you most
admire?
Jane Fonda
Pamela Gotangco
Visual Artist, Short Film
Producer and Motivational Speaker
Gotangco Art
Arni Aargau
Switzerland
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work?
As Filipina woman living outside the
Philippines, I have taken it as my
responsibility and advocacy to present
a good image of Filipina women,
protect women’s interest in general
and promote the Filipino culture. As a
visual artist, motivational speaker and
short film producer, I believe that it is
my social responsibility to create, take
in projects and be an instrument for
change. I showcased my artwork in
the 7th World Peace Forum in Ticino
Switzerland in 2017 and in Mariastein
Abbey`s exhibit entitle “Bilder zun
Frieden” (Pictures of Peace). I was
the only Filipino on the group show.
Recently I showcased my work in North
Vancouver Arts Council for a group
show called “Essence”. A show that talks
about roles, triumphs and struggles of
women.
ONE person who influenced you as a
leader and advocate?
I met Rachel Harrison in 2016 while
attending an exhibit she organized for
| www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
Autism Awareness in the Philippines. If you could connect with an amazing
Her dedication as a mother and to Filipina woman at the summit - what
her advocacy in Austism awareness is traits should she have?
beyond admirable. She is also the owner Someone who values relationship,
of Zambawood. societal impact and perseverance.
Someone who goes by the definition of
What was your very first paid job? success as beyond the two metrics of
Sales agent for Worldbook money and power.
International’s Encyclopedia. I sold
books to my family and relatives. I was What do you think is the biggest
paid an allowance and sales commission. challenge that faces the next generation
But my intention was to get huge of Filipina women?
discount and free children’s books for Loss of identity. The world has gone
my daughter. I was a single mother at 19 smaller primarily because of the
years old. advancement of technology and
. migration. It is indeed a colossal amount
If you could run the world, what one law of challenge for the next generation
would you enact to benefit women and of Filipina women to retain Filipino
girls? traditions and values.
Proper global educational opportunities
for all women and girls. Education raises
literacy thus a woman who can read,
write and has fundamental skills are less
likely to be victims of human trafficking.
Education will provide women chances
to properly and wisely vote and have
political representations. Women who
are educated tend to raise their children
and family to be better law-abiding
individuals.
ONE Filipino custom you would like to
pass on to others that would make an
impactful impression in society.
„Harana“ may have been too old
fashioned but i truly find it charming.
My artwork series on „Tinder Prince“
talks about how social media killed
romance. As an artist, i create artworks
inspired by Harana to encourage
young viewers to respect the values of
courtship. Happy marriage creates a Sherill Ramos
functional, harmonious and respectful
family. Individuals raised from non-
Quintana
dysfunctional families tend to contribute Founding President/Chief Executive
better to the society. Officer
Oryspa Spa Solutions Inc.
The ONE thing that we would not guess Los Baños, Laguna
about you. Philippines
I enjoy SCUBA diving in waters full of
friendly sharks but i panic when i see an What is the global imprint of your
earthworm. body of work?
I started my advocacy “ Yes, the
Which living woman do you most Filipino Brand Can” to encourage
admire? Filipino entrepreneurs to scale
Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist and up their brands and export their
advocate for female education and brands not just the products. I
the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.
believe that since the doors have
Her advocacy has grown into an
opened trades freely for ASEAN,
international movement, and according
not only foreign brands can come
to Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid
in but local brands can come out
Khaqan Abbasi, she has become “the
too and optimize this change rather
most prominent citizen” of the country.
than sulking with much bigger
foreign brands populating the
What is one piece of advice that you
market.
would give to your 20-year old self?
You got this :)
How have you impacted your
profession, your organization,
your community?
Being part of the organizing
committee of Franchise Asia
Philippines in 2014, the biggest
Franchise event in the country,
which used to be populated only
by strong mainstream brands. We
started a project that allowed
participation of micro to small
entrepreneurs. On its 4th year,
more than 50 brands have been
able to scale up either part of the
supply value chain of mainstream
brands or franchising their own
brands.
H o w a re y o u a d v o c a t i n g f o r
gender equality in your place of
work?
In our own company which is
composed of 90% women, we
provide a dignified workplace for
the staff and gender sensitive
policies and remunerations. In
my industry, as the first director
of the committee on Women and
Social Entrepreneurship of the
Philippine Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, we are cascading
programs to different regions by
starting with a gender audit.
What is the most significant
barrier to female leadership from
your experience?
The truth that women still do
not realize the power of women
helping women can do so much.
ONE Filipino custom you
would like to pass on to others
that would make an impactful
impression in society.
Expectant prayer. The positivity
we have as a people expecting
our prayers to be answered made
us surpass terrible disasters.
The ONE thing that we would not
guess about you.
I used to be a licensed water
diver and has shaved my head as a
student activist during my college
years.
What is one piece of advice that
you would give to your 20-year
old self?
Take it slowly, don’t move too fast
and savor each experience that
will nurture your mind and body.
15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK
HON. Susan Pineda
Mercado M.D.
Special Envoy to the President for Global
Health Initiatives
Office of the President, Republic of the
Philippines
Makati, Metro Manila
Philippines
How have you impacted your
profession, your organization, your
community?
I have initiated and supported
development of autonomous health
promotion bodies in multiple
countries funded through tobacco
taxes, national budgets and donor
partnerships
What is the most significant barrier
to female leadership from your
experience?
Because there are few female leaders,
there are few mentors or examples.
I’ve experienced this, and it forced me
to try a lot of things and fail at a lot of
things. It eventually led me to believe in
myself, even when no one else would.
What was your very first paid job?
I was a kindergarten teacher’s aide at
age 16. I earned P2000 pesos. I learned
that I could be financially independent
if I work hard. I learned that I could
study, work and have fun all at the
same time. I continue to study work
and have fun.
If you could start over, what would you
do?
I would take my piano lessons seriously.
ONE Filipino custom you would like to
pass on to others that would make an
impactful impression in society.
Preserving each family’s version of
adobo. I believe culinary traditions
define identity.
The ONE thing that we would not
guess about you.
I am a martial artist.
Which living woman do you most
admire?
Hillary Clinton
Janice Crisostomo
Villanueva
Founder and CEO
Mommy Mundo
Pasig, Philippines
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
Being founder and head of a
community of young mothers and
mothers-to-be puts me in a position to
provide positive messages and venues
for empowerment that will not only
help and support moms, but also help
and support her children, her family,
her community. I feel fortunate and
proud to have been able to not only
successfully create platforms through
events, web and social media, and
even publishing, for these messages
to be communicated. What is even
more important is that the moms
access us and use us for the purpose
we set for ourselves, and even see us
as a reliable and credible source of
information, support and community.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
I believe that inspiring a mom to set
up a business, whether it be small
or big, home-based or out of home,
online or brick and mortar, that
this alone is a step towards gender
equality. For a wife to have her own
income from business, apart from her
husband, or for a mom to be able to
earn from her hobbies, even if she
• 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018
needs to stay home to care for her
newborn. This is also why we advocate
mompreneurship through our work at
Mommy Mundo.
What is the most significant barrier
to female leadership from your
experience?
In my experience, the desire to do well
as a wife, mom, and businesswoman,
was the greatest challenge, and I can
also probably say also the significant
barrier that probably all moms face.
The pressure, whether internal or
external, to “have it all” creates a lot
of stress, expectations and also the
veritable “mom guilt”.
What was your very first paid job?
After graduating from University, I
took the first job offered to me in an
attempt to escape having to work for
the family business so I ended up doing
sales of advertising placements for the
local phone directory. Work was done
via telemarketing and this was perfect
for me as I was, back then, very shy
and reserved.
If you could run the world, what one
law would you enact to benefit women
and girls?
Even just here in the Philippines,
I would push for longer maternity
and paternity leave, to give parents
and babies the best start in the
family relationships, specially in the
crucial weeks of newborn care and
breastfeeding.
What product or service should you
invest in the Philippines that could
impact society?
I have always advocated the mom-
invented products that are sold and
marketed in our very own Expo Mom
events. World-class products for
pregnant women, babies, kids and
families, mostly Philippine made,
all providing solutions for actual
challenges that parents face in child-
rearing. These are products that make
motherhood easier, more convenient,
and meaningful, and the fact that these
are mom-made or mom-marketed
means that purchases support the
purpose and livelihood of passionate
mompreneurs.
Which living woman do you most
admire?
I admire Oprah Winfrey, for her
life journey, for what she has
accomplished, and most specially
for her using her person, platform
and resources to transform ways of
thinking, inspire action and spark
change.
19A
POLIC Y MA KERS AND VISIONA RI ES
GLOBAL
FWN100™ 2018
“NICOLE”
This award honors Filipina women whose
words, actions, and activism, inspire others
to act and revolutionize society’s way of
understanding traditional beliefs and customs
thus leaving behind a Filipino global imprint.
“Nicole,” who sparked an international
dialogue about women’s rights, national
sovereignty, and international law, as she
steadfastly pursued justice against her rapists,
inspires this category.
HON. Gwendolyn
Fiel Garcia
Congresswoman
Deputy Speaker, 17th Congress of the
Philippines
House of Representatives
Cebu, Philippines
The first woman Governor in the history of
the Province of Cebu. As local chief executive,
was responsible for overseeing a multitude
of functions, including budgeting, fiscal
management, administration of various
activities, projects and programs; and
appointment and management of officials and
employees of the provincial government.
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work, what
would that be?
When I was elected as Deputy Speaker
for the Visayas in the House of
Representatives on August 2016. As one
holding such position, I am able to sit
in all the committees in the House of
Representatives and, thus, participate in
the deliberation of nationally relevant
issues and laws to be enacted.
What is the global imprint of your body
of work?
As a legislator, the work I do does not
only impact the people I represent. Bills
and laws that I propose and co-sponsor
have national relevance as they are
implemented throughout the country.
Among the more notable are on poverty
alleviation, gender equality and women
empowerment.
ONE person who influenced you as a
20A FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
leader and advocate? How did it impact
your career or business? (Please do
NOT include your parents, siblings,
other relatives)
A leader I admire is Britain’s First Woman
Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.
Nicknamed the “Iron Lady,” she was
known for her strong resolve; and she is
now credited for changing Britain during
her term. Being a politician and a public
servant sometimes requires difficult
and unpopular decisions to be made.
Whenever such challenges arrive, I think
of a strong leader like Margaret Thatcher.
What is the most significant barrier
to female leadership from your
experience? How did it impact your
career or business? Did it help you
become a leader or advocate?
Like most women leaders, I have the
tendency to be a perfectionist when it
comes to accomplishing work. This
is because I exact high standards on
myself and expect the same from others.
While such high expectations can be
demoralizing for others when things
do not go according to plan, it usually
serves as a strong motivation for staff to
improve and deliver quality results.
Which historical female figure would
you like to have coffee with? What
would you like to learn from her?
Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller’s teacher. I
would ask her how she acquired such
faith and optimism to be able to teach a
blind and deaf Helen Keller.
What do you think is the biggest
challenge that faces the next generation
of Filipina women?
In a Filipino family, the man is generally
perceived as the breadwinner but it is
the woman who bears the brunt of family
responsibility. Thus, many women are not
able to develop themselves professionally.
GLOBAL
FWN100™ 2018
POLICYMAKERS
& VISIONARIES
This award recognizes Filipina women
leaders who have demonstrated
exceptional acumen combined with a
forward-looking vision in the development
or influencing of policies, campaigns or laws
that impact business, industry, and society.
Leaders who enrich the lives, careers and
businesses of others; someone who shares
the benefits of their wealth, experience,
and knowledge; actions that significantly
change how we think and live.
| www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
Rachelle S. Pastor
Arizmendi
City Council Member, City of Sierra
Madre
Vice President and COO, PACE
Sierra Madre, California
United States
In 2014, Rachelle Arizmendi was the first
woman of color to be elected to the City of
Sierra Madre City Council. She was selected by
her colleagues to serve as Mayor in 2017 and
wasrecently re-elected to the City Council.
What was your very first paid job?
Sales Associate. $3.35/Hour. The job did
not turn into a leadership role. It did offer
me however, a certain level of responsibil-
ity, discipline, and good work ethic.
If you could start over, what would you do?
I truly believe everything happens for a
reason, and I was meant to be on this path
that I’m on. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Wendy L. Ho.
Trustee, San Jose-Evergreen Community
College District
Senior Policy Director, Silicon Valley
Council of Nonprofits
San Jose, CA
United States
One influential action that makes you
very proud from your body of work.
In 2012, I played a role in increasing the
City of San Jose’s minimum wage from
$8 to $10/hour by ballot measure. San
Jose catalyzed a movement to increase
the minimum wage across the US, which
has positively impacted the lives of low-
income workers and generated significant
economic activity.
What is the global imprint of your
body of work?
Being a school board member, I am
actively shaping the educational
experiences of thousands of students
annually. These students will be the
leaders of tomorrow.
How are you advocating for gender
equality in your place of work?
In my capacity as a Trustee for the San
Jose-Evergreen Community College District,
I helped revamp the district’s outreach
program to maximize opportunities for
businesses owned by women, veterans, LGBT,
communities of color.
What is the most significant barrier to
female leadership from your experience?
Women doubt themselves and their
abilities to lead all too often. Women need
to be asked 3-4 times to run for elected
office before they even consider the idea.
In contrast, men just need to be asked once
(if at all) to run for elected office. For me, I
had to get comfortable with transitioning
from a behind-the-scenes role to being a
decisionmaker. It has not been easy but
I am grateful that I found my way as I am
paving the way for others to join me at
decision making tables.
If you could run the world, what one
law would you enact to benefit women
and girls?
Pay equity for women. It is a disgrace
that women are paid 77 cents for
every dollar a man earns in the U.S.
This change alone could markedly
improve the lives of women and girls
everywhere while also stimulating the
global economy.
What product or service should you
invest in the Philippines that could
impact society?
Internet access and computers to
connect rural children to educational
opportunities
Hon. Ranibai Dacula
Dilangalen, Esq.
Undersecretary of Department of
Agriculture
Republic of the Philippines,
PHILIPPINES
 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL FILIPINA WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES

2009 Berkeley, CA @ the Claremont Hotel

2007 Washington DC @ the Grand Hyatt

2011 San Francisco, CA @ the Stanford Court Hotel

2012 San Francisco, CA @ the Stanford Court Hotel

2013 San Francisco, CA @ the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental 2015 San Francisco, CA @ the Marines Memorial Club

2017 Toronto, Canada @ the Intercontinental Toronto Centre

15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK • 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018

21A
Gutsy
Brilliant
LEONOR S.
Upstanding VINTERVOLL
F I L I P I N A W O M A N I N N O R W AY R I S I N G
TO GLOBAL HEIGHTS
It was a poignant moment in
San Francisco when Leonor was
presented the Global FWN100™
Most Influential Filipina Woman in
the World Award in 2015 by Filipina
Women’s Network. Leonor who is a
brilliant behind-the-scenes advocate
for causes that resolves social issues in
the Filipino Norwegian community
or a frontline fundraiser to educate
children in the Philippines, or help
disaster stricken villages struck by the
many typhoons in Asia, the award was
a culmination of her quiet work that
has changed countless people’s lives.
Two years later, she was inducted to
the Keeper of the Flame Award Circle
and given a seat on the FWN Board of
Directors.
These awards inspire her to
continue her advocacies. “Being
around these amazing board of
directors and fellow awardees
challenges me to peak performance.
They inspire and galvanize actions that
you can almost hear the ripple effect,”
Leonor muses.
Her year-long chairship of the
2018 Filipina Leadership Global
Summit can truly be described a
Filipina Woman Rising adventure.
Praises for her gentle leadership and
persistent efforts in persuading fellow
awardees engage in the advocacies of
FWN, has been rewarding.
Leonor owns a travel agency and
is manager of NCF – Norwegian
CIO Forum A/S. Yet she found the
time to grow the FilCom Norway
Council for five years, and with
colleagues, pioneered the annual
FIESTA FILIPINO in Oslo, now a
most-attended event. Consider these
significant influential activities: Board
Director, NFID – European Network
22A FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
of Filipino Diaspora; Founder/Leader
of PWO - the Philippine Women’s
Organization in Norway Resource
Center, a community organization
focused on equal rights for women,
youth and children; Lay Judge
(1998-2016) at the Oslo Tingrett and
Borgarting Lagmansrett (City Court
and Court of Appeal); primary contact
person in the Filipino Norwegian
community during the tours of duty of
three Ambassadors of the Philippines
based in Sweden (HEs Cagampan,
Manalo, & Basilio).
WHEN LEONOR TALKS,
PEOPLE LISTEN
Leonor is most proud of the
impact of the position paper she wrote,
in collaboration with the former
Philippine Ambassador to Norway,
HE Elizabeth Buensuceso, which
successfully lifted the ban on the
deployment of au pairs in Norway;
other European countries followed
suit, benefitting thousands of Filipino
youth.
It is not always easy to find
civically-minded people on a
continuing basis as they have other
priorities. Unless you tap the causes
that engages them, the initial ‘no’
becomes a ‘yes.’
From local to global leadership,
she recently received a Certificate
of Recognition for her role as
Ambassador for Peace, from the Office
of the President of the Republic of the
Philippines, Presidential Peace Adviser,
Mr. Jesus G. Dureza.
Leonor is now more focused on
her board role in the FWN. To read
further about her leadership story,
refer to her chapter in DISRUPT 3.0.
Filipina Women: Rising, the third book
of the FWN Filipina Leadership Book
Series available at www.amazon.com.

BUSINESS-COMMUNITY
SERVICE – BECAME A
LIFESTYLE
Thirty years of the continuous
community service has become a part
of her everyday life, her LIFESTYLE!
A way of giving back for her many
blessings, to the community, friends
and PWO women who supported
her throughout her journey, and most
importantly her family - husband,
children and grandchildren, who are
her inspirations and loyal supporters
all the way. She lives her life with ASEAN Community (ASEAN Ambassadors Community Leaders)
purpose, and in making a change/
difference in other people’s lives.
sense of community service and by taking on a job and earned a
respect for the law. She inherited Bachelor of Science in Business
HARD WORK AND the entrepreneurship side from Administration at the University
PERSEVERANCE her late mother who was a hard- of the East. When she worked for
Hard work and perseverance worker small-business owner selling the Armed Forces of the Philippines
brought her to Norway by the everything she can get hold of, Supply Center in Camp Aguinaldo,
consulting firm, Norconsult A.S. fruits, vegetables, clothes, and other she received first award as a Model
which she had worked for seven commodities. Employee for her performance as
years in the Philippines. Leonor was Being the youngest girl in the Supply Expediter! She fell in love,
granted a work assignment at the family, she was the least priority in got married which lasted four years.
head office of Norconsult A.S. She is the line-up of four children going “No regrets, said Leonor, “I have two
destined to live in Norway by having to the university at the same time! lovely daughters and they gave me
met her husband of thirty-five years, She turned her fate by taking the three brilliant grandchildren, Jasper
Aage Vintervoll, who respects and initiative in starting school at age (19) studying at the University of
supports her advocacies. Gifted with six! Although “saling pusa,” she the Philippines, Layla (17) at Don
an adorable son Rayner, married to ended up garnering First Honors Bosco College, Aaliyah Kyla (11) at
Cathrine and she had gifted her a and graduated Valedictorian! At St. Scholastica Academy.”
cute one-year-old granddaughter, age 17, she supported her education
Victoria, potentially, a future FWN
member!

F I L I P I N O H E R I TA G E
Leonor comes from Filipino
farmers with ten siblings from
Umingan, Pangasinan. Her late
father has been a disciplinarian
Barrio Captain for many, many
years, a distinguished gentleman in
his well-kept handcrafted hat from
Bohol. People call him Attorney
for he defended and won a case
for someone even though he was ENFID - European Network of Filipino Diaspora Pioneered the FIESTA FILIPINO - the most attended
not a lawyer. Leonor inherited his Conference graced by the President of Malta community event

15th FILIPINA LEADERSHIP GLOBAL SUMMIT: LONDON, UK • 12-17 SEPTEMBER 2018

23A
 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL FILIPINA WOMEN IN THE WORLD

2014 Manila, Philippines @ the Makati Shangri-La

2016 Cebu, Philippines @ the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa

24A FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org