MANILA March 28 – A Ladies’ Night, Malaya Business Insight’s Women’s Month celebration, shines a spotlight on the extraordinary contributions and achievements of women across diverse fields. This special event celebrates those who exemplify excellence in leadership, environmental stewardship, healthcare, social justice, innovation, trailblazing efforts, and championing diversity and inclusion. By recognizing these remarkable individuals, we honor their inspiring journeys and unwavering commitment to creating positive change in their communities and beyond. A Ladies’ Night is not just a celebration—it is a tribute to the power, resilience, and transformative impact of women in shaping a better future.
The Awardees
Trailblazing Spirit: Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman
Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman, affectionately known as “Honey,” is a dynamic force for peace and interfaith understanding in the Philippines. Growing up amidst diverse cultural influences and witnessing the impact of conflict firsthand, she developed a passion for building bridges between communities. As the founder of the “Teach Peace, Build Peace Movement,” Honey has dedicated herself to nurturing a culture of peace among Filipino children and youth, empowering them to become peacebuilders in their own right.
Honey’s innovative approach extends beyond traditional peace advocacy. Recognizing the power of fashion, she launched “Rohaniza’s Hijab and Muslimah Style,” a clothing line designed to bridge religious and cultural divides. Through her designs and fashion shows, she challenges stereotypes and promotes a positive image of Islam. Honey has also served in various leadership roles, including as the Outreach Convener of the Young Moro Professionals Network and as a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Multi-Sector Governance Council. Her voice is sought after in discussions on peace and social justice.
A consistent valedictorian and award-winning leader, Honey embodies the spirit of a trailblazer. From her work with youth to her ventures in fashion, she consistently seeks innovative ways to promote peace, understanding, and empowerment. Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman’s unwavering commitment to creating a more inclusive and peaceful society makes her a deserving awardee in the trailblazer category.
Lifetime Achievement in Healthcare:
Maria Fatima Garcia-Lorenzo
Maria Fatima “Girlie” Garcia-Lorenzo revolutionized pediatric healthcare in the Philippines by introducing and championing Child Life services—a specialized approach to supporting children during medical treatment. As founder of the Kythe Foundation, she has transformed the experience of hospitalized children with cancer and chronic illnesses through psychosocial support programs that recognize their emotional and developmental needs. Since establishing Kythe in 1992, Girlie has led efforts that have provided critical psychosocial support to over 18,000 children and their families, creating an essential bridge between clinical treatment and holistic healing that has become a model for healthcare institutions across the country.
Girlie’s pioneering work began when, as a psychology graduate student, she encountered the concept of Child Life services and became the first certified Child Life Specialist in the Philippines. Her innovative PETALS approach—Play with children, Educate them about medical conditions, Tend to families’ emotional needs, Assist during procedures, Lend financial support, and Support parental involvement—has been adopted by eight partner hospitals and directly improves medical outcomes by reducing anxiety and increasing cooperation during treatments. Her advocacy culminated in the National Integrated Cancer Control Act of 2019, which now requires hospitals to provide psychosocial services to pediatric cancer patients.
Celebrating thirty years of transformative impact, Girlie has created a sustainable model for compassionate pediatric care that continues to expand its reach. She skillfully balances the business acumen needed to run a successful foundation with the heart required for meaningful healthcare intervention. Through her extensive volunteer network and training programs for medical professionals, Girlie has institutionalized the understanding that emotional wellbeing is essential to physical recovery, creating spaces where children can still be children even in the most challenging medical circumstances. Her vision has made the Philippines a leader in integrating psychosocial support into pediatric healthcare across Southeast Asia.
Social Justice:
Amina Evangelista Swanepoel
Amina Evangelista Swanepoel is a staunch advocate for social justice, dedicating her career to empowering women and addressing systemic inequalities in reproductive health. As the Executive Director of Roots of Health, As the Executive Director of Roots of Health, Amina has transformed access to sexual and reproductive health services in Palawan, Philippines, providing education and resources to underserved communities. Under her leadership, the organization has reached tens of thousands of women and girls – nearly 66,000 – equipping them with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures. Her innovative programs have significantly reduced teenage pregnancies in Puerto Princesa, showcasing her commitment to breaking cycles of poverty and inequality.
Before founding Roots of Health, Amina worked with Human Rights Watch, where she documented human rights abuses in Asia, and held roles with the Guttmacher Institute and UNHCR. These experiences deepened her understanding of the intersection between health, human rights, and social justice. Amina’s work extends beyond service delivery—she actively collaborates with local councils and policymakers to advocate for systemic change, ensuring that reproductive health remains a priority in public policy.
Amina’s unwavering dedication to advancing gender equality and reproductive rights exemplifies the essence of social justice. By addressing deeply rooted stigmas and empowering marginalized communities, she has become a catalyst for change, inspiring others to join the fight for a more equitable society. As an awardee for her contributions to social justice, Amina Evangelista Swanepoel stands as a powerful force for progress and empowerment.
Leadership: Anna Oposa
Anna Oposa, the Executive Director and ‘Chief Mermaid’ of Save Philippine Seas, embodies visionary leadership in environmental conservation. Born and raised in the Philippines, Anna’s journey into environmental advocacy was inspired by her father, a pioneering environmental lawyer. She co-founded Save Philippine Seas (SPS) in 2011, transforming it from a social media campaign into a full-fledged non-profit organization by 2013. With an MSc in Conservation Science from Imperial College, London, and experience as a Marine Conservation Fellow at Duke University, Anna has led impactful projects on waste management, shark conservation, and environmental education.
Anna’s leadership style is characterized by her ability to engage diverse stakeholders—government, businesses, teachers, and youth—in marine conservation efforts. Her philosophy of “building the choir” rather than preaching to it has allowed her to create waves of change across the region. By using unconventional methods such as partnering with malls and breweries, Anna empowers individuals to become active participants in environmental stewardship. Her innovative approach to conservation involves integrating ocean health into various industries, fostering a culture of collective responsibility and action.
As a leader, Anna is driven by her passion for empowering others to create change in their own spheres of influence. She inspires people to take small yet significant steps towards reducing plastic use and promoting ocean health. Anna’s leadership not only addresses pressing environmental challenges but also fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility.
Environmental Champion: Ann Dumaliang
Ann Dumaliang is a fearless defender of the Philippines’ dwindling natural landscapes, dedicating her life to safeguarding the Masungi Georeserve—a critical limestone formation and biodiversity hotspot near Manila. As Managing Trustee and Co-Founder of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, Ann transformed barren, commercially logged land into a thriving conservation area that now protects over 400 species of flora and fauna. Named among TIME’s Next Generation Leaders in 2024, her innovative approach balances environmental protection with sustainable tourism, creating a model that generates funding for conservation while educating visitors about the critical importance of watershed protection.
Ann’s conservation strategy is three-pronged and remarkably effective: developing low-impact geotourism that monitors the landscape while generating awareness, utilizing storytelling and technology to create data-driven narratives that resonate with the public, and building a youth and citizen-led movement that smartly resources protection efforts. Despite facing violent threats from illegal loggers, land-grabbers, and quarrying operations—including a shooting incident that nearly killed two rangers—Ann remains steadfast in her mission, rallying a coalition of over 60 organizations to protect the watershed that sustains more than 20 million Filipinos.
Ann’s work extends beyond physical conservation to address the spiritual connection between humans and nature. Her efforts have led to significant restoration of a critical watershed, inspiring similar movements across the Philippines and demonstrating that economic development and environmental protection need not be at odds. “Make sure that your love does not turn into apathy, but turns into action,” she urges, embodying the perseverance that has made her an exemplary environmental champion and a powerful voice for future generations of conservationists in the Philippines and beyond.
Diversity & Inclusion Advocate: Maya Tamayo
Maya Tamayo is a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion, championing transformative feminist leadership in political and civic spaces across the Philippines. As Co-Executive Director and Co-Founder of Bayi, Inc., she has developed groundbreaking initiatives like the Angat Bayi Women’s Political Empowerment Fellowship Program, which has capacitated nearly 100 women elected officials and over 50 young women nationwide in transformative feminist leadership. Through this work, she has created a vibrant network of women political leaders committed to promoting inclusive governance and challenging the dynastic pattern of Philippine politics.
Maya’s journey in the women’s movement began in her youth, providing a strong foundation for her later work in addressing systemic barriers to women’s political participation. Her innovative approach extends beyond training elected officials to developing an ecosystem of transformative feminist leaders across various sectors including business, academia, and media. This strategic vision has led to significant partnerships with organizations like COMELEC and the British Council, resulting in training programs that have reached 1,500 potential barangay election candidates and 80 civil servants from 17 government departments.
The impact of Maya’s work is evident in her ability to connect transformative governance with creative development. Her co-authored CREATE Local Roadmap, funded by the British Council, guides local government units toward inclusive arts, culture, and creative economies through feminist intersectionality principles. By focusing on collective action and strategic partnerships, Maya has built a movement that dismantles traditional perspectives that limit women’s potential while providing support systems for those who take on leadership challenges. Her unwavering commitment to building feminist leadership and creating inclusive spaces makes Maya Tamayo a true champion of diversity and inclusion.
Innovation: Ayesha Vera-Yu
Ayesha Vera-Yu is a catalyst for rural transformation through innovative, community-led solutions to food insecurity and poverty. As CEO and Co-Founder of Advancement for Rural Kids (ARK), she has pioneered the Feed Back program, a groundbreaking 16-week vegetable exchange that empowers communities to achieve sustainable food security, improve health outcomes, and generate new income streams. This market-driven initiative has secured food security for 19,000 families across the Philippines, impacting more than 138,000 lives and creating a replicable model that puts communities at the center of their own development.
When the pandemic threatened to deepen rural hunger, Ayesha’s innovative approach pivoted quickly to address immediate needs while maintaining community agency. The Feed Back program’s design—requiring co-investment from local governments and families, establishing village markets, and creating celebration through sharing—represents a paradigm shift in addressing food insecurity. By eliminating traditional aid dependencies, Feed Back has demonstrated remarkable sustainability, with partner communities continuing the program independently beyond the initial implementation period. This success led to national recognition when ARK’s model was incorporated into the Philippines’ national food security initiative.
Ayesha’s vision extends beyond the Philippines, with Feed Back’s community-led design already being replicated in Pakistan, Sierra Leone, and Burma. The program’s innovative approach has attracted support from global organizations and inspired local iterations like Fiesta Feed Back, which reduced family investment costs from $55 to $5-1. By transforming how communities relate to food production and empowering families to generate surplus for neighboring villages and towns, Ayesha Vera-Yu has created a powerful model for sustainable rural development that puts communities in control of their own food security and economic future.
Infrastructure Innovation: Cosette Canilao
Cosette Canilao is a trailblazing force in Philippine infrastructure development, breaking barriers as the first female President and CEO of Aboitiz InfraCapital. With over two decades of leadership experience in public-private partnerships (PPP), investment banking, and crisis management, she has fundamentally transformed how infrastructure projects are conceived and delivered in the Philippines. During her tenure as Executive Director of the PPP Center under the Aquino administration, she built a robust project pipeline and successfully navigated 12 major projects to completion, establishing a new paradigm for collaboration between government and private sectors.
Educated at the University of the Philippines Visayas and having completed executive programs at Harvard Business School, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and Oxford’s Said Business School, Cosette brings exceptional expertise to complex infrastructure challenges. Her innovative approach at Aboitiz InfraCapital encompasses industrial estates, water facilities, digital infrastructure, and transportation projects—all designed with sustainability at their core. By reimagining traditional infrastructure models, she has created frameworks that better serve communities while delivering economic growth and environmental responsibility.
Beyond her corporate achievements, Cosette champions women’s empowerment in the workplace through her involvement with the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment. Her advocacy extends to public health workers and primary school teachers, recognizing their essential contributions to national development. As an innovative leader who consistently challenges the status quo, Cosette Canilao exemplifies how visionary leadership can transform infrastructure development into a catalyst for inclusive progress and sustainable growth in the Philippines.
