She has embedded her dedication to causes such as health, nutrition and education in her life. As a Trustee of the Enrique Zobel Foundation (EZOBEL), Dedes Zobel continues her family’s work in the public education system, particularly for marginalised members of society. The foundation’s main beneficiaries are the physically disabled, school dropouts and ethnic minorities in the Philippines. Besides building schools and providing scholarships, it has also supported various hospitals across the country.

This generosity extends to the arts, with her recent (though definitely not infrequent) patronage of Ballet Philippines. Over the pandemic, she granted full scholarships to the dancers, facilitated the acquisition of a foreign artistic director and supported the transition to ballet.ph. The show must go on, indeed.

As Emeritus Trustee for Women International UK Board Trustees, she is deeply involved in war-torn areas for the security and relief of mothers and their children. This takes her well beyond the Philippines, extending her philanthropy to Afghanistan and Rwanda. Her work with the organisation involves support for their arts and crafts programmes which, while providing livelihood to these women through the production of indigenous goods, also promotes the therapeutic benefits of creativity and expression.