8 inspiring Filipinas you probably haven’t met until now

An editor, an author, a teacher, and a restauranteur, Myrna Dizon Segismundo is the rightful awardee of this year’s Bravo Woman for Tourism and Hospitality. Food is her passion and though she began her career in New York, she has found herself circling back to become an avid promoter of Filipino cuisine. In fact, she is the first-ever Filipino lecturer on Filipino cuisine at the prestigious Cordon Bleu in Paris. She is also among the few Filipino presenters at Madrid Fusion in Spain.

Among her many hats, Segismundo is perhaps best known for her culinary writing prowess. She is the founder of the Doreen Fernandez Food Writing Awards and was also the editor-in-chief of Foodie Magazine. Among her several cookbooks are The Party Cookbook and Kulinarya (A Guidebook to Philippine Cuisine). 

Read more: Embracing imperfections: Bianca Brandner’s vibrant lifestyle

It’s difficult to break the glass ceiling in a male-dominated industry, and no one understands this better than Bravo Woman for Business/Entrepreneurship, Lourdes Landayan delos Reyes. The CEO of Guill-Bern Corporation, delos Reyes is at the forefront of another male-dominated industry, STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). She helps to distribute necessary equipment for laboratories, hospitals, microbiologists, and industrial uses. 

During her speech at the awards ceremony last July 27, 2023, delos Reyes acknowledged both the difficulties of gender disparity and the triumph that women have achieved so far. “This moment is not just a recognition of my efforts,” she said. “It is also a testament to the countless remarkable women who make a lasting impact in their respective fields.” 

At the moment, delos Reyes is also immersed in her civic work, spearheading tree-planting initiatives at Sierra Madre, and building washrooms in Zambales for the benefit of Aeta students. 

Now more than ever, sustainable materials are a necessary area of research for many in STEM. Dr Rose Marie Mendoza, who has been recognised by the Bravo Awards this year, is managing the SMART Materials Development Program of the Design Center of the Philippines, particularly the bakong project, a kind of regenerative fabric, and the pinyapel, a treeless paper made from pineapples. Currently the Executive Director of the Green Party of the Philippines Women’s Network, Mendoza is an avid environmentalist and nationalist, someone who is proud to stay in the Philippines and render her service to the Filipino people. 

A teacher for teachers: this is what many call Jennie Jocson, this year’s Bravo Woman for Education. A professor at the Philippine Normal University (PNU), Jocson is also credited for creating the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers, School Heads, and Supervisors. Today, this is used by all teachers in basic education to serve as a guide for their careers. “By believing in the transformative power of learning, I unreservedly embrace teaching as a crusade of a profession and believe that there are no immovable barriers to education,” she said. “I am proof that the public school system works.” Jocson is also a believer that gender equality starts in the classroom, and has continuously pushed for the PNU curriculum to espouse these values. 

Read more: Building a sisterhood: The social changemakers reshaping the narrative around women’s issues

The transformative power of sports has always inspired Bravo Woman for Sports, Maria Caterina Cristina Lopa. The lawyer and sports advocate is currently the managing director of Girls Got Game (GGG), a non-profit organisation that empowers young Filipinas through sport. She enables these women to learn important life lessons such as discipline, hard work, and teamwork through various sports camps and events. 

The digital landscape can be intimidating for many; hence communications professor Dr Cheryll Ruth Soriano has dedicated her work to protecting Filipinos in the digital economy. Because of the nascent nature of this type of employment, gig workers are often faced with unfair practices and maltreatment. As the Principal Investigator of Fairwork Philippines, she explores and educates people on the ongoing effects of technological advancements on labourers. She also recommends policies on how labour rights can be upheld. “I think mank many women—pillars of our society, leaders of our institutions, even gig workers that are minorities in this area—perform incredible hard work and dedication every day without always accounting for their value,” Soriano noted in her speech, adding that the reason this award was so important for her was because it helped to inspire others to take their value into account. 

Though sex work is taboo in the Philippines, many young women and girls are unfortunately forced into the trade. Rebecca Angeles, the operations director for Wipe Every Tear Philippines, runs the organisation to cater to sex trafficking victims, providing them shelter, education, and livelihood opportunities. She empowers former victims through counselling services and spiritual direction, inspiring them to dream bigger. Under her leadership, the organisation has proudly produced 56 college graduates, all now professionals thriving in the workforce. 

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