Since 2019, the InLife Sheroes Advocacy and Movement has championed women’s empowerment, transforming their voices into a powerful call to action through four key pillars: financial literacy, health and wellness, women-specific solutions, and access to social and business networks.
On March 12, InLife Sheroes celebrated its 6th anniversary with the “Life, Camera, Action: Sheroes in Motion” event at the Insular Life Corporate Centre in Muntinlupa City, honoring the inaugural InLife Sheroes Awards recipients for their courage, commitment, and advocacy.
Atty Nelisa Guevara-Garcia: The Defender of the Voiceless
Atty. Nelisa Guevara-Garcia has spent two decades in the legal profession, dedicating 15 years to rescuing children from online sexual exploitation. As the Director of National Prosecution Development for International Justice Mission (IJM) Philippines, she leads efforts to develop sustainable prosecution strategies, ensuring justice for the most vulnerable.
“Children are my primary clients,” Guevara-Garcia said. “Awareness is the first step. You can’t just choose an advocacy at random—it has to be something you can commit to. For me, there was a tipping point where I knew I could no longer stand by. I had to act.”
Her work has led to numerous convictions, even reaching the Supreme Court. However, she measures success not just by legal victories, but by the transformation of survivors. “All the women I’ve helped in my cases are my Sheroes,” she said. “I’ve seen them grow and change their lives after traumatic experiences. I share this award with the women and children I represented in court who were victims and now survivors. I thank all of them for their courage.”
Marge Aviso: Empowering Communities Through Digital Innovation
Leaving a high-pressure job in the call center industry to spend more time with her son, Marge Aviso found her calling in digital entrepreneurship. She founded TeleworkPH, a business process outsourcing company bringing employment opportunities to rural communities, particularly Bulacan and Bohol; co-founded Salig AI, a business management platform supporting local freelancers and businesses; and serves as president of Global Impact Productions, a film and music production company.
“When I first started working from home, it became a turning point for me,” Aviso recalled. “I said, why not start training people in the barangays to learn about online work?
Her journey has been riddled with doubts and setbacks. “People questioned why I was teaching digital work in barangays. They assumed I was a scammer,” she said. “But I kept pushing forward. If there’s a dream implanted in you, it’s there for a reason. Sometimes it’s scary, but you just have to take the leap of faith. If your faith is very strong, you won’t be easily destroyed.”
Beyond business, Aviso is driven by a deeper mission: breaking stereotypes. “Even now, in international conferences, people assume Filipinas are mere laborers rather than business owners,” she said. “We need more women in tech—AI, metaverse, blockchain. All these technologies are here, and we need more people, women and youth, to understand these things so we can truly embrace and leverage them for our own good.”
Antoinette Taus: Champion of the Environment and the Underserved
A household name as an actress and singer, Antoinette Taus has used her platform to advocate for sustainability and social impact. She founded CORA (Communities Organized for Resource Allocation) and The Sustainable Planet, championing environmental conservation and livelihood programs for women and vulnerable communities.
“One of my dreams is to be able to keep placing the spotlight on local sheroes and heroes, people we should know and hear about, and recognize for dedicating their lives to things that benefit their countrymen and the rest of the world,” Taus said. “One small action can have a ripple effect and truly make a difference for years and decades to come without you even realizing it. Just start where you are.”
Through CORA, she supports grassroots environmental warriors: “…local communities, women, youth, fisherfolk, farmers, women grove warriors restoring mangroves in Leyte, women champions at the forefront of solid waste management and the circular economy, volunteers and everyone at team CORA.” This is an advocacy close to her late mother Cora’s heart.
She encourages all to be sheroes and heroes in their own right. “Through your gifts, skills and experience and the amazing and painful things you’ve experienced in life, you serve that purpose to be a shero and a hero to many others around you.”
The Power of a Voice, The Strength of a Movement
At the heart of this celebration was InLife Executive Chair Nina D. Aguas, who reflected on how the Sheroes Movement has grown from a bold ambition—reaching one million women in three years—to an unstoppable force that has impacted over ten million lives after six years.
“For too long, women were unheard—not because they had nothing to say, but because no one was listening,” Aguas said. “InLife Sheroes has changed that. When a woman finds her voice, she finds her power. The InLife Sheroes is about everyday actions that create change, amplifying the voices of women, ensuring they are heard in boardrooms, businesses and communities. It is about breaking barriers and creating a future where every woman has the opportunity to thrive, not just survive. When one woman speaks, she inspires another to rise. When millions speak, the world listens.”
With InLife Sheroes surpassing its goal, Aguas takes her dreams further. “Our collective dream is to touch the lives of a million men, supporting women if this is what it takes for the world to truly listen.”
The Next Chapter: InLife Sheroes Awards 2026
Aside from a plaque, winners will receive a life insurance policy for one year, and donation to their chosen advocacy or charitable institution.
During the event, InLife Sheroes announced the launch of the 2026 InLife Sheroes Awards, calling for nominations of exceptional Filipino women. The awards recognize champions in four categories:
- Financial Literacy Advocates
- Health and Wellness Champions
- Women Empowerment Leaders
- Business Innovators Addressing Women’s Needs
Aside from a plaque, winners will receive a life insurance policy for one year, and donation to their chosen advocacy or charitable institution.
Interested parties should email inlifesheroes@insular.com.ph for a nomination form. The entry deadline is Nov. 25, 2025.
As this year’s InLife Sheroes Awardees have shown, life is not about waiting. It’s about taking the stage, owning the moment, and moving forward no matter what stands in the way. Before the celebration ended, InLife Sheroes made a powerful pledge: to “hold space for ourselves and for our fellow Sheroes—a safe and brave space to own our roles, turn inspiration into action, and create the change we envision.”
The 6th anniversary celebration featured performances by singer and actress Bituin Escalante, New York-based singer Dominique Aguas Alvarez, and the Philippine Educational Theater Association, which performed a theater play featuring women empowered by InLife Sheroes.
