We ask these strong, powerful females who they look up to
Which woman do I look up to in admiration? On the personal side there is Blessed Mary, mother of Lord Jesus, the embodiment of a mother’s devotion to her child. There is my mother Evangelina, with her old-school but timeless family values. On the political side, there are many dating back to Queen Elizabeth I, or Golda Meir, or Margaret Thatcher, or even her contemporary Queen Elizabeth II who is now into her seventh decade of leading the British Commonwealth in its transition from colonial times to digital times. But to be more objective and relevant to contemporary Filipino women, I would go for a Nobel Peace Prize winner from our part of the world, Aung San Suu Kyi. I walked a political tightrope throughout my Presidency. She is doing so even today, with dignity and grace. I was unjustly persecuted and detained by the ruling powers. So too in her case, perhaps even to a graver degree. Aung San Suu Kyi gets my thumbs up!
—Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
***
I have so much respect and admiration for mothers who are frontliners. The pandemic has really thrown into relief the great sacrifices they make in their line of duty. These women work long, grueling shifts caring for sick strangers, finding only small pockets of time to eat or catch some sleep. They may not get to go home, and so rely on phone calls or video chats to guide and reassure their children, who are also in need of their mother’s care and presence. When they do go home, their interactions with family are still screened through distancing, barriers, and layers of PPE, because a hug or a kiss can transmit the virus. I salute all the women nurses, doctors, attendants, hospital workers, and other frontliners who have borne the brunt of this pandemic and risked their lives for the safety of others. You show the world how love is expressed in many different ways.
—Department of Tourism Sec. Berna Romulo Puyat
***
I have always admired Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani advocate for female education, and by far the youngest multi-awarded Peace Prize laureate. I can relate to her story in the sense that we both value learning and education, and will do everything to attain this goal despite obstacles. My family is not financially well-off. When I was young, I had to struggle, to do my best to learn, which I firmly believe would open more opportunities for myself. Indeed, the discipline, the belief, and the determination to learn have molded me into what I am today. It was a long and difficult journey yet I know that so far, I have been achieving my goals. Though this may be so, I do not allow myself to stagnate, to wither. Every day, I try to learn new things. With technology, information gathering, dissemination, and sharing became faster. Thus, learning, whether through formal education or through more creative channels, is essential if you want to keep up with the world's pace. My advice to women: Keep on learning for it will empower you, and no one can take it away from you.
—Department of Transportation Asec. Goddes Hope Libiran
***
The two most powerful women whom I look up to are my mother Lydia and my paternal grandmother, Manuela. They were not rich, but they worked hard to provide for their family. They've been my inspiration and role models. My lola (who did not go to school at all) raised all her children including my father (the late Dr. Filemon Aguilar, congressman and mayor of Las Piñas) by selling betel leaves or ikmo, which she planted in her backyard, at the sidewalk of Divisoria market. My mother was a public school teacher and later on put up a small business (rice mill and poultry farm), so she can stay at home and take care of me and my siblings. For me, they exemplify the values of sipag at tiyaga (hard work and perseverance) that I have also passed on to my own children. Most of the time, we do not need to look outside of our own families for inspiration and positive influences in life.
—Senator Cynthia Villar
***
In the course of my life, I have been positively blessed and influenced by countless beautéful, strong, powerful, and compassionate women who have empowered me to relentlessly and passionately pursue my purpose to change lives for the better through my company Beautéderm Corporation. These women came to me in different seasons of my life—a college classmate who inspired me how to dream; a co-worker who motivated me about integrity; and a Beautéderm brand ambassador who reminds me of the great value of humility for sustained, long-term success—and I’m thankful beyond imagination for what these amazing women contributed for me to become the woman that I am today. But one particular woman stands out from the rest of them in molding me and guiding me and that’s my dearest mother, Pacita Anicoche—a woman who dedicated her life as an educator and who raised me and my sister to be God-fearing, prayerful, loving, and honest women. I don’t know how to begin in describing what a spectacular wonder woman my mother is as all that is good in me, I got from her. But allow me to share three things that she instilled me in that I strive to apply to myself everyday: she taught me to be forgiving; she taught me kindness and compassion; and she taught me not to harm, cheat, step on anyone in my life’s journey as a woman, as a wife, as a mother, as a sister, as a friend, and as president and CEO of my company. I celebrate my mother—my rock and my foundation here on earth that God is using to lead me towards the right path. And I am eternally grateful for my mother.
—Rei Anicoche Tan, founder, Beautederm
***
I look up to the Virgin Mary because of her willingness to sacrifice and submit herself to her faith. And her noble belief that there are things far greater than her personal desires. I also look up to my mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman Duterte, because I remember that she alone cooked and cleaned our house and I was never asked to do household chores. And on top of these, I never had a nanny so she was taking care of me and my older brother. I grew up believing that mothers do everything inside the house and that children should just play.
—Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte
***
I look up to my mother because she is the strongest person I know. She is the foundation that gives our family more love and support than we could ever imagine. I still turn to her for advice and there is nothing more comforting than a mother’s embrace. My mother exudes grace and elegance in everything she does in the way she carries herself and treats others. She is always her authentic self and this inspires me to live my life the same way. I owe everything I am to my mother.
—Marion Branellec-de Guzman, marketing manager, Jewelmer
***
There is an eclectic mix of women I admire who have influenced me. Some of them are even fictitious characters whose tenacity, strong sense of honor and integrity, intelligence, grace and elegance, compassion, and pure trailblazing spirits have inspired me. To name a few, there are Joan of Arc, Claire Philips, Trinidad Tecson, Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, Connie Chung, Marie Colvin, our first Filipina female military generals, the Philippine Military Academy’s “Magnificent Seven,” my kindergarten teacher Mrs. Aurora Puerto, and my aunts Vicky and Mely. But I look up to Marina Chavez the most. Nanay Marina, or MAC to me, has the most influence on who and how I have become and how I will continue to evolve as a woman, wife, and mother. She sacrificed so much and worked so hard together with my Dad to secure the family financially. I remember she quit her professorial job at UPLB when she overheard me tell a friend in high school that I hardly saw her anymore because she was juggling her office work while growing the business. She gave up her Fullbright Phd scholarship at the University of Florida because she was worried about leaving my Dad alone with three young kids. For all that she’s done and sacrificed for us, I will forever be deeply grateful and in awe of what she’s accomplished.
—LTC Jan Chavez Arceo, MNSA (GSC) PA (RES) commander, 403rd Ready Reserve KAAGAPAY Battalion
***
I look up to Michelle Obama because of her strength, wisdom, and grace under pressure. Her raw candor, honesty, and authenticity is what makes her alluring to many. Whenever she delivers a speech, I am always left inspired and filled with hope for the future. Having read the book, her memoir “Becoming” gave me a deep understanding of her personal experiences and the challenges she faced being a woman of color. She has a successfully and effortlessly managed to balance her career, strong marriage, and the role of a doting mother to her two daughters. She found her voice and purpose as an advocate for poverty awareness, education, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy eating.
—Chris Yam Daez, proprietor, Fully Booked
***
Without a doubt, the most inspiring woman to me is, my motherRose Marie J. Arenas, our representative from the third District of Pangasinan and deputy speaker since the 17th up to the 18th Congress, at present. Dubbed by many, who have not met her in person yet, as a philanthropist, patroness of the arts, or a socialite, she is really so much more than the above. It takes less than five minutes of a personal encounter with her to realize this. Her philanthropy is only a small speck of the benevolence of her heart. She is forgiving, compassionate, understanding, and filled with empathy. While she has great appreciation for the arts, she is a staunch advocate of the people behind the creative and performing arts, usually supporting scholars and giving them a platform. Many consider her a socialite but more than being one, her records bear out the fact that she is more of an advocate that champions the cause of the marginalized.
—Rachel Arenas, chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB)
***
I choose Dulce (Dulce Amor Cruzata). She is a very strong singer that matches her colorful and amazing life story. She might have had some difficulty growing up because of her family’s economic situation but she was able to rise above it and maintained a steady career. Her personal life can be considered challenging, more so her fight against the norms in show business. Now, she is an accomplished performer and has given much honor to her country. She has earned respect and accolade from her fans and colleagues. She was a spiritual adviser. She was with me while I was sick. We were doing a musical play produced by Spotlight Artists Center in 2013. She was my anchor. She inspired me to perform to the best of my ability despite my illness.
—Isay Alvarez Seña, actress
***
I look up to my mother. Paulita Fernandez Garcia was a charming, multi-faceted woman, perhaps ahead of her time. That she married at 18, and at 25 had us five children born a year apart only made her a determined woman out to do her best for her family. Practically raising us singlehandedly as our father was occupied with publishing and editing his weekly newspaper and involved in many civic activities, she constantly imparted in us values of integrity while being the total nurturer—cook, tutor, nurse, playmate, coach, etc. In Dagupan, she was among the first women drivers, as she drove us to and from school. She was a much-admired singer, always the guest performer at Rotary Club events; a champion in bowling and badminton who brought home trophies. At 37 she bore the pain of losing our youngest sister Karina who at 12 years, drowned off the beach in Dagupan, and to yet another tragedy three years after. At 40 she became widowed with the death of our father Ermin, hailed a hero in the newsrooms. In the ensuing years, her culinary skills had become exemplary, as did her interest in sewing. Until she passed at 79, she continued to be our rock of wisdom, our power of strength, our cheerleader, inspiring us to find our respective niches. As she breathed her last, I told her that she would always be our hero, who gave up her dreams so we her children could attain ours.
—Charisse Garcia-Chuidian, VP for Public Relations, City of dreams
***
This sounds like a cliché but without a doubt, I look up to my mom, Carmen VF Seriña. Most of the life skills I have, I learned from her. She’s the epitome of a selfless parent. I can’t believe she gave birth to all four of us naturally without anesthesia and she breastfed all of us even as she went back to work. I grew up with memories of her cooking our meals and baon as well as baking our favorite cookies and our yearly birthday cakes. She’s the symbol of strength and unconditional love that became evident when my dad had cancer. Then she singlehandedly raised us when he passed away. She also possesses the ultimate girl power, still driving for us and her grandchildren in her mid-sixties and building a successful business, a finance corporation at that. She was my inspiration when I wrote my books on personal finance, mainly sharing what she taught us to my readers. And the books were built on values of education and money as a means of stewardship, values again that I saw in her as early as I can remember. I definitely learned the best parenting technique from her, to lead by example. So now I consciously work to be the best version of myself knowing that there are two little human beings watching my every move.
—Clarissa de la Paz, author, ‘Money Grows on Trees’
***
I look up the most to my Mom because she raised me so well even when we lost our Dad at a really young age. The most common reaction of moms is usually to be strict to their kids but my mom took it very differently because she gave us the key to our freedom to decide for ourselves. She was there all along to listen and do her part as a parent but she never overstepped or contradicted or forced me to do anything I never wanted for myself. I wish to do the same parenting to my kids someday, to let them be themselves and follow their hearts (with brain).
—Angely Dub, founder, Access Travel
***
I look up to my mom Mary Ann Montemayor the most. She has worked for the love of Davao, Mindanao, me, and my dad for as long as I could remember. It is never really about her but always about something bigger, always about making something better. She has quietly taught me that the sole meaning of life is to serve humanity. I see that in her every day and I make sure I share her energy with my children too.
—Marga Nograles, founder, Kaayo
***
I am one strong believer of how women contribute greatly to creating balance in many aspects of the society. Women are innately nurturing and caring thus a lot of challenges are survived with a woman’s touch and the motherly ways of resolving things. People see me as a strong independent woman, but I draw my strength from the inspiration that my mother has shared to me throughout her lifetime. Mama Fe was our prayer warrior. She was always on her knees to venerate to God and offer our every activity, even during meetings and presentations at work and even when we must take assessments. She passed away in 2018 but memories of her are still fresh in my mind and in my heart. She was a very simple woman whose desires were very basic, yet she was the most resilient person I know. When my sisters and I are faced with struggles, we help ourselves by recalling how our mother survived and raised us to where we are now despite very limited resources.
—Cleofe Albiso, group general manager, Megaworld Hotels
***
My mother, Pastor Norma Miranda-Dalusag, who died of the Big C in 2006, was and will always be my superwoman. She taught me everything I know. She was a careerwoman, a single mom, daughter, sister, an active PTA member, church, and choir officer and a community leader. I thought she had superpowers. But no, she didn’t. She just exercised her maximum potential as a woman with all her heart, all her might. As a financial comptroller turned general manager for a multinational company, she made me understand the value of integrity and openness in communication while remaining diplomatic and empowering. She was tough and driven. She believed that nothing was impossible and that anyone could make things happen and so everyone in her team did. Outside the workplace, she volunteered in fund-raising drives, fed the homeless, sponsored kids from World Vision year after year, purchased our annual Christmas cards painted by artists without hands, and sang at the church’s Christmas Choir, wrapped gifts and giveaways for my teachers, our neighbors and church mates. She would read me bedtime stories while compelling me to finish my glass of milk and walk round and round the bed until the glass was empty. She lived a full life, touched and blessed everyone she came across in her life, even prayed for her visitors on her deathbed. A combination of toughie and softie, she embraced humanity and the corporate world, played multiple roles, and excelled in each hat she wore.
—Danelle Ruth, director of marketing and communications, Dusit Thani Dubai
***
The person I look up to the most is my mother. Aside from raising four children well, she is a force to reckon with. She was the driving force in building the family business from the ground up. My father was business savvy yet more of a visionary but mom was the person who would take that vision and make it happen. She is one of the strongest women I know. Mom is very generous. She would always put her children’s needs above hers. She has paved the way for us her children while instilling values of hard work and discipline. I plan to do the same for my kids. I consider my mom as my role model, not just as a mother but in all aspects of life. She is able to manage her time well. She enjoys preparing special meals for the family on weekends, oversees the family business, goes on trips with her friends, and pursues her passions, which at the moment are planting fruit-bearing trees and farming. She is the mother of all plantitas even before the term plantita was coined! She also does philanthropy work by creating housing and jobs for our employees, and would even cook the daily lunch for all employees. Through all her success, she remains simple, matipid, and real.
—Jen Gerodias Diaz, founder, Snoe Beauty
***
If there’s a woman in my life who has exuded so much strength, boldness, and smarts, it’s my mom. Getting pregnant at 15 and giving birth to identical twins back in the early ’90s is an adversity not for the weak. The stigma, the condemnation, the challenges… it was just a totally different time back then. But my mom had grit. She had dreams. She had goals, despite the odds. I saw her fight for the life she envisioned for our small family of three. She is a force to be reckoned with, and while she started from the bottom, she is now one of the most sought after marketing directors in the telecommunications and telecommute industry. Having a teenage, single parent has its up and downs and we have all gone through both the good and the bad; but I know in the cathedral of my heart, my mom did her best given everything she has experienced. She is well-loved by her peers, her colleagues, and has worn so many hats parenting me and my twin sister—dad, provider, disciplinarian, confidante, adviser. If there’s a woman I’d like to celebrate this month, it would be my mother, Angela. She has taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and enjoying life to the full, all while rocking falsies and mauve lipstick, in Hello Kitty designer shoes no less.
—Danah Gutierrez, body positivity advocate
