You don’t have to play masculine to become a strong woman—Mary Elizabeth Winstead, actor.
Time and time again, women proved that they can significantly and positively impact the world when given the right opportunities and platforms. To honor these women who go beyond the call of duty in service to the Filipino nation, Security Bank, in partnership with Zonta Club of Makati & Environs Foundation, Inc., pays tribute to eight Filipinas through the 5th Bravo Empowered Women Awards, held at Security Bank Centre in Makati City last July 27, 2023.
The Bravo Empowered Women Awards is founded to honor female trailblazers who have achieved success in their careers and personal advocacies and made a meaningful impact on their communities. The distinctions are given to Filipinas who drive social change in the country and actively work to uplift the lives of those in need. They all came from different roots and beginnings but shared the same commitment to service, paving the path toward economic and social progress.
“We’ve always been proud to support the Bravo Empowered Women Awards as we honor fearless Filipinas who work hard to improve the quality of life in their communities. These women are so inspiring, given their passion to promote good, render service, demonstrate leadership, and contribute to nation building and recovery,” said Tanya Ansaldo-Deakin, First Vice President and Corporate Communications and Brand Division Head of Security Bank. “As Zonta’s ally, we’re happy to extend financial grants to these women and organizations that align with our mission to enrich lives, empower businesses, and build communities sustainably.”
The Bravo 2023 winners are (from left): Jennie Jocson for Education, Lourdes Landayan delos Reyes for Business/Entrepreneurship, Celia Alicia Baltazar Elumba for Arts, Culture & Heritage, Dr. Rose Marie Mendoza for STEM, Myrna Dizon Segismundo for Tourism and Hospitality, Dr. Cheryll Ruth Soriano for Media & Public Affairs, Rebecca Angeles for Social Services, and Atty. Mariana Lopa for Sports.
The awardees for the 5th Bravo Empowered Women Awards are Celia Alicia Baltazar Elumba for Arts, Culture, and Heritage; Lourdes Landayan Delos Reyes for Business/Entrepreneurship; Jennie V. Jocson for Education; Dr. Cheryll Ruth R. Soriano for Media and Public Affairs; Rebecca R. Angeles for Social Services; Maria Caterina Cristina R. Lopa for Sports, Dr. Rose Marie O. Mendoza for STEM; and Mryna Dizon Segismundo for Tourism and Hospitality.
“I’m a product of the public school system, and I strongly believe I am a living testament that the public system works,” says teacher Jennie during the awards night. Jennie is a professor at the Philippine Normal University. Together with her team, they collaborated with the Department of Education to create the Philippine Professional Standards for teachers, school heads, supervisors, and their associated tools. “By believing in this transformative power of learning, I reservedly embraced teaching as a crusade of profession and believe that there are no immovable barriers to education even in the most difficult of circumstances.”
Meanwhile, Atty. Lopa is a full-time lawyer and a sports advocate. She’s the managing director of Girl’s Got Game. This non-profit organization empowers young women through sports by providing sports camps for underprivileged girls nationwide.
Security Bank leaders with winners of the 5th Bravo Empowered Women Awards (from left):, FVP/Corporate Communications and Brand Division Head Tanya Ansaldo-Deakin, SVP/Secured Lending Head Ma. Paz Victoria Gonzalez, SVP/Wealth Management Head Binky Mirabueno, Bravo winner for Education—Jennie Jocson, Bravo winner for Business/Entrepreneurship—Lourdes Landayan delos Reyes, Bravo winner for Arts, Culture & Heritage—Celia Alicia Baltazar Elumba, Bravo winner for STEM Dr. Rose Marie. Mendoza, Bravo winner for Tourism and Hospitality—Myrna Dizon Segismundo, Bravo winner for Media & Public Affairs—Dr. Cheryll Ruth Soriano, Bravo winner for Social Services—Rebecca Angeles, Bravo winner for Sports—Atty. Mariana Lopa, SVP/SB Finance President & CEO—Abbie Casanova, EVP/Human Capital Management Head—Nerissa Berba, and SVP/Corporate Banking Group Head Yvonne Marcelo.
“The numbers don’t lie. Statistics revealed that one in every 10 women ages 15 to 19 in the lowest or poorest quintile in the Philippines has been pregnant. A 1998 study released by the women’s sports foundation found that the likelihood of early teen pregnancy is half for young women who participate in organized athletics,” she says. “So in our eight years…. Girls Got Game has not just been about sports, as Justice RBG said, we are about repairing the tears in our community."
These are just some beautiful stories of women who were given prestigious awards. These wonderful and inspiring women truly deserves recognition based on their backgrounds and achievements. The awardees’ contributions to society include rescuing women from the sex trade, empowering underprivileged girls through sports; advocating for just labor, gender awareness in education, and safe technology for children; driving innovation in textiles; providing livelihood and faith opportunities for women, promoting Filipino cuisine globally, and research in science and technology.
This year, the award-giving body also gave a special award to Filipinas, the Philippine Women's National Football Team, in recognition of their outstanding athleticism and inspiration to women in the world of sports. It can be recalled that Filipinas won a historic win for the Philippines in this year’s FIFA World’s Women Cup.
“The organizers of the 5th Bravo Empowered Women Awards embarked on an extensive nationwide search for women who are unsung heroes, great achievers, and advocates for change over a period of six months. The screening committee shortlisted and selected the top 27 from this pool of 87 highly qualified and accomplished nominees for interview by the panel of judges, said Olivia Ferry, chair of the 2023 Bravo Board of Judges. “Our panel wishes to express our profound congratulations to our awardees. They are deserving of this prestigious and well-respected award because of their professional accomplishments, their courage and advocacies for gender equity, and their pioneering work that helped spur societal transformations in various sectors of society.”