PDI fetes achievers, advocates in 2024 ‘Women of Power’

The Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) is once again honoring exceptional women from diverse sectors for their remarkable achievements in their profession, business, civic mission or creative endeavors, through which they have become a source of inspiration and made a positive impact on the community.

Now in its second year, the Inquirer “Women of Power” (WOP) Awards celebrated trailblazers who broke barriers and built bridges through their work. A total of 38 honorees (with a trio counted as one recipient) were recognized during a special program held on March 11 at Seda Hotel in Bonifacio Global City.

The number was in keeping with the newspaper’s recent celebration of its 38th founding anniversary. Compared to the first edition last year, the 2024 selection of WOP nominees went beyond Metro Manila and sought out honorees in the regions across the country.

READ: Making an impact—her way

“When we talk about inspiring, nothing truly inspires us more than to see and meet an exceptional batch of women who have made remarkable achievements in their chosen fields,” said Inquirer associate publisher Julie Labog-Javellana as she opened the awards ceremony. “Our awardees were chosen from nominations by the Inquirer senior editors who head our different sections,” Javellana said. “They have come to know these outstanding women through their stories and their impact on different communities and sectors.”

Empowering actions

The awardees were chosen from a list submitted by the heads of the paper’s News, Regions, Business, Lifestyle, Sports, Entertainment, Property and Motoring sections. The evaluation was based on the following criteria: professional achievements in the private or public sector; contributions to innovation and creativity; effective mentorship or empowerment through education; community impact as champion of the environment and sustainability; promotion of inclusivity and diversity; change management or crisis resolution; and pioneering work in tech or digital spaces.

“By ‘Women of Power,’ we’re not only talking about positions of authority or clout in society. It is a broad measure of your empowering actions and influence in organizations, niches or sectors,” said Volt Contreras, executive editor.

“It is not in the titles or ranks you possess, the company targets you meet or the projects you launch, but in the lives you actually change, the risks you take and the conditions you improve,” he said in a congratulatory message to the awardees.

Architects of change

In her inspirational speech, Inquirer Group of Companies president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez recalled: “A lot of women come up to me and say, ‘I’ve admired the Philippines because we have had two women presidents, so women must have it good.’ And I tell them immediately that this is because of the collective effort of all the women who share and have broken these barriers.”

“It is a great honor and privilege to have met tonight, in this one room, women who have been the architects of change, the nurturers of dreams and the driving force behind progress in everything,” lawyer Rudyard Arbolado, Inquirer president and CEO, said in the closing remarks.

“Today, we have woven together stories of excellence, resilience, triumph and solidarity, showcasing your incredible and transformative power in our society. We extend our deepest gratitude to each and every one of our awardees today for joining us and for being part of this celebration,” he added. “We extend our best wishes for your continued success, growth and empowerment in the journey ahead.”

Arbolado also thanked this year’s Inquirer partners for the WOP Awards, namely McDonalds, GCash, Wilcon Depot, Gallery Genesis (which donated a painting that was raffled off during the program), Seda and Globaltronics.

Leverage for change

Vicky Tauli-Corpuz, a development consultant and international activist, found her life’s work and pride rooted in her Kankana-ey Igorot ethnicity. From 2014 to 2020, she served as the third United Nations special rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (IP).

Tauli-Corpuz also founded the Tebtebba Foundation, which focuses on IP policy research and advocacy. Her decades of impactful work earned her a place on the shortlist for the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize, where she was cited for her “nonviolent struggle to protect and strengthen the rights of indigenous peoples.”

During the Duterte administration, she was “Red-tagged” and branded a terrorist by the military, but the accusations that were uttered without any serious formal basis left her undeterred.

For her, the WOP Award “validates the importance of the work that I have been doing since I was young in terms of empowering indigenous peoples and particularly indigenous women. It also inspires younger indigenous, the youth, to follow that kind of track because we need more and more people to really do much more.”

“The example that I have shown to help indigenous women to be empowered has also challenged the men not to belittle what indigenous women can contribute,” Tauli-Corpuz said. “Women, in general, and indigenous women in particular, have a lot to contribute. They are the ones who go through the worst kinds of challenges within the family, within society, and they overcome this. A lot of women overcome these kinds of challenges.”

“So that’s something that, for me, is very important. It sort of gives indigenous women a leverage to challenge the patriarchy in our own customary laws as well as in the modern laws. Something that needs to be done in a more sustained manner.”

Paying forward as core tenet

Nena Bichara, Teresa Buenaflor and Maricar Manjon make up a trio whose passion for good food brought Biggs Diner to life and later turned it into a popular restaurant chain in the Bicol region.

“We never thought we’d reach these heights when we started our business 41 years ago as a hole in the wall,” Bichara said, recalling the venture’s humble beginnings in 1983 as a small burger-and-fries stand (then called Mang Donald’s) in Naga City.

Biggs’ founders, she said, shared a philosophy that had since guided their growth: “Start small—that’s what we did—and then just slowly build up. We always have something big in mind.”

But from the outset, paying forward was no small part of that core tenet. “We always had in mind helping others. Yeah, that’s why we had our company that way first, helping others,” Buenaflor added.

Now also known as a homegrown catering brand, Biggs has expanded to 23 branches —and Nena, Teresa and Maricar are exploring the setup of one more, this time in Metro Manila.

Seizing ‘an advantage’

Among the honorees was Lorraine Belo-Cincochan, president and CEO of home improvement retailer Wilcon Depot Inc. She started out in 2000 as a trainee in the family business started by her father William Belo, before taking the helm in 2016.On her watch, Wilcon’s systems were digitally upgraded and its stores transitioned into big-box or large-scale retailing operations. As a female leader, she said, she had come to appreciate the value of parent-child mentorship.

“I train (my daughter) in leadership lessons. I also have a son and I need to also train him up to be someone who supports this kind of environment where merit is rewarded not because of gender.”

She acknowledged the challenges faced by working mothers, drawing insights from her own experience. “It is much more difficult when you become a mother … have young children, because you need to give focus and attention to them. They’re only little for a little while. It’s difficult. You really have to choose your priorities.”

“But at the same time, what I feel is an advantage; it’s given me empathy towards our employees (and shows) my nurturing side, nurturing the business, and of course, especially the people whom I’m there to understand,’’ Belo-Cincochan added.

“As women, we have our own strengths and weaknesses. You need to focus on what you’re really good at and strive to improve in those areas,” said Belo-Cincochan. “For your weaknesses, aim to complement them by working with teammates who complements your weaknesses.”

Welcome diversity

Julienne Dadivas, an artist known online as Hulyen, is the creator of the popular “UGH” comic series.

“I’m very grateful that the Inquirer recognized me and included a cartoonist and artist among their list of influential and powerful women,” she said.

Dadivas draws inspiration from personal experiences as a woman. “Most of my stories come from things that happened to me as a child, growing up, and currently. When I started making comics, I wanted to add a new perspective as a female cartoonist, tackling topics about women and femininity that weren’t common before. I felt I could offer a unique voice,” she said.

Reflecting on the local comics scene, Dadivas noted how “it has greatly improved in terms of diversity. Before, it was mostly male geeks but now there are more younger people, queer and LGBTQ+ individuals. It’s nice to see that improvement.”

Initially, she said, Dadivas had apprehensions about entering a male-dominated field. “There was this fear that I might not belong because it was always guys around. I hesitated, thinking people might not read my work since it wasn’t typical comic fare. But as I made more comics, joined conventions and shared my work online, I gained followers and readers. It helped me feel that people appreciated my stories and encouraged me to continue.”

Her advice to aspiring artists: “Don’t be afraid to join the comic or art scene. Share your work with the world and don’t be afraid to show what you’ve got. I’m sure people will follow and appreciate your work.”

Fight for bay continues

As an environmental lawyer, Esther Gertrude Biliran actively opposed—and succeeded in stopping—a city government plan to reclaim parts of Tagbilaran Bay in Bohol province in 1998.

Twenty-five years later, she’s back in the same fight against a reclamation plan that would cover 153 hectares of the bay under the current local administration.

For the group Tagbilaran Baywatch, she used her media background in crafting statements against the project, turning it from a mere parochial matter into a concern deserving national attention.

When the city mayor eventually canceled the project, Biliran still went to the provincial council to press for a declaration that the project was already “dead,” since it was the council that authorized the mayor to negotiate with the private proponents.

Organize, speak up

“The fight continues as there are still no policies and legislation in place (to prevent another attempt at reclamation),” she said.

With her on the front line, Tagbilaran Baywatch has committed to help the city government review the local environmental management code and land use plan, which she said still allow reclamation, while pushing for an ordinance prohibiting such projects not only in the city but the entire Bohol province.

“We will be gone someday, but the issue will still remain. We are encouraging young people to join us in our advocacy, so that eventually we could pass them the torch,” Biliran said.

In a message to the youth, she said: “Be brave. Be aware of your surroundings. Be educated. Learn to connect with like-minded people. Do not be a lone voice in the wilderness. There might be others who share your advocacy but do not know if there are such kindred spirits. Organize and speak up. That is what I truly want them to learn and develop as they grow.” INQ

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