Emmeline Aglipay Villar

A lawyer who served as undersecretary at the Department of Justice. Emmeline Villar’s political career also includes serving as a representative for the DIWA Party list in the Philippine House of Representatives. She was appointed undersecretary of the Department of Justice before transitioning to her current role as undersecretary at the Department of Social Welfare and Development in October 2023. In her current capacity, she focuses on vulnerable sectors, including children, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, and addresses issues such as violence against women and children and human trafficking.

After undergoing struggles with lupus, she co-founded the Hope for Lupus Foundation and led the Project Inclusion Network, which focuses on empowering people with disabilities.

An avid supporter of local weaves and textiles, Aglipay-Villar has found ways to celebrate Filipino culture and heritage by incorporating traditional Filipino elements into her wardrobe. Often spotted wearing familiar silhouettes such as butterfly sleeves or the exaggerated puffs of the traje de mestiza, Aglipay-Villar’s sense of patriotism is evident whenever she speaks of her style.

As someone constantly in the public eye, Aglipay-Villar’s fashion always invites public scrutiny. “But I have learned that we should just wear what makes us happy,” she says. “We look the most stylish when we are confident, comfortable and happy in what we wear.”