Exceptional Women Share Their Role in Nation Building at The Manila Times Women’s Circle Forum
Beautypreneur PH | Exceptional Women Share Their Role in Nation Building at The Manila Times Women’s Circle Forum | Manila Times – As the world marked women’s contributions across spheres, The Manila Times convened its annual Women’s Circle Forum, bringing together female leaders to share their experiences with young girls and aspiring professionals.
The forum centered on issues of gender equality, inclusivity and women’s empowerment — areas seen as essential to building environments where women can participate and lead. Discussions also underscored the importance of economic self-reliance, access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and efforts to address violence against women, framing these as key to fostering accountability and equitable opportunities across sectors.
The event highlighted women making an impact in business, government and diplomacy — fields long perceived as male-dominated — offering perspectives on leadership shaped by their experiences in these areas.
Building on these themes, the program was organized into three segments — business, government and diplomacy — each featuring a distinct set of distinguished speakers.
‘Women in Business’
“Women in Business” delved into the challenges women face in the field and how these obstacles shape their business acumen.
Leading these talks were Chief Legal and Compliance Officer (CLCO) of Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. Maricor Alvarez-Adriano; Megaworld Corp. President and CEO Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso; Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCOM) President and Filipina CEO Circle President Patricia May Siy; Dmark Beauty and DermAsia Corp. CEO Nikki Tang; Accenture Philippine Country Managing Director, Ambe Tierro; and Anchor Land Holdings Inc. President Elizabeth Ventura.
As CLCO, Alvarez-Adriano supervises and initiates all legal matters, concerns, interests, and issues of the company. She also ensures the company’s compliance with financial regulations and internal policies.
Siy has spent most of her professional career in banking. Under her leadership, PBCOM obtained its universal bank license in 2023 and was awarded Forbes Asia’s Best Under a Billion for 2024 and 2025.
Gutierrez-Alfonso has extensive experience in real estate and a strong background in finance and marketing. Before her current role, she served as senior executive vice president for Finance and Administration in the same company.
Tang is known for her innovative concepts. As a leader, she collaborates effectively with her team and adapts to the fast-paced world to successfully launch brands for a community of doctors, clinics, aesthetic centers, and wellness institutions.
As country managing director, Tierro is responsible for the growth and sustainability of Accenture’s business. She also leads Accenture Advanced Technology Centers, overseeing its operations and strategy.
Ventura brings 30 years of experience in the residential, commercial, and mixed-use development spheres. As president, she has been instrumental in shaping the company’s rapid rise as a top real estate developer.
The speakers agreed that being a woman in business requires balancing subtlety and strength. Women do not need to be loud or pretentious; instead, they can lead in ways distinct from their male counterparts. This, they said, has contributed to the growing number of women taking on C-suite roles.
“It’s not so much about proving ourselves as women, but more about being authentic [and consistent],” Alvarez-Adriano said. “You show that you have sound judgment, that you don’t need to have the loudest voice in the room, but the voice that makes sense.”
“Respect comes from [how] women carry ourselves in a very charming way,” Ventura echoed.
Part of that progress, Siy noted, is making sure the right person gets the job. As she put it, “It’s not so much about the numbers, but about getting the right person for the position. If the better person is a woman, then definitely we will give that person the opportunity.”
Tang added to this sentiment by pointing to the growing importance of intersectionality in business. For her, this framework matters because it encourages collaboration, which in turn creates shared goals and makes work more meaningful.
“It’s not just about gender anymore, nor your demographic or profile. It’s really about merit. When intersectionality was discussed during my recent committee meeting, I remember thinking that this is exactly my background, my foundation, where my mother already instilled in me that it’s not about who you are, but about what you can contribute to the table,” she said.
Another key point raised by the panel was the importance of becoming a source of influence. The discussion emphasized that leadership means having the ability to create change for other people. Yet some women remain hesitant, while others feel pressured to choose between family and career. The panelists said leadership and mentorship can help restore that confidence.
“Mentors will tell you what you’re doing wrong and what you’re doing right, but a sponsor will advocate for you, for promotion and other roles. I think we need both as women. [We should] recognize that women need a little extra help because there’s something in our brains, the voice in our heads saying, ‘Can’t, can’t, can’t,’ when, in fact, you’re more ready than you think,” Tierro said.
“In my company, I make sure that women don’t have to keep proving themselves too much. Women are always asked to prove themselves, and the standards for women are very different from those for men. We need to create a little bit of a better life for women. [So we put] women in a better place in the organization where they can really use their core competence,” Ventura added.
Still, the panelists stressed that women also need environments where real opportunities are made available to them.
“Personally, that’s my wish,” Tierro said. “That more Filipinas will excel globally, not just in the Philippines. When I was younger, being the only woman at work — and the only Asian woman — sometimes made me feel small. I was very intimidated, but over time, I taught myself to be memorable. Our motto in Accenture — where our global CEO is also a woman — is ‘fearless, but prepared.’ Fearless means you’re willing to take calculated risks, but you’re also prepared.”
‘Women in Government’
Speakers under “Women in Government” shed light on how accountability, transparency and leadership intersect with gender equality policies, all while ensuring that they exert a positive influence on the public and on the young women looking up to them.
Among the speakers were Nograles Ilagan Cayco Lizada & Dabi Law founding partner and CEO Margarita Ignacia Nograles-Almario; Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe; Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Department of Budget and Management Assistant Secretary for Communications and Public Relations, Diana Camacho-Mercado, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor for the Regional Operations and Advocacy Sector Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
Nograles-Almario is also a former lawmaker who authored and championed more than 100 bills on social equity, legal reform and innovation. She also served as deputy majority leader in the House of Representatives during the 19th Congress. A proud Juris Doctor–Master of Business Administration (JD-MBA) valedictorian, she continues to pursue excellence in the legal field through her Master of Laws and public leadership credentials.
Berberabe is the first female Philosophy instructor at the University of the Philippines. She also served as chief executive officer of the Pag-IBIG Fund and as the third female dean of the UP College of Law.
With four decades of experience, Lazaro has been an instrumental figure in shaping Philippine foreign policy. She previously served as undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs, where she played a key role in navigating complex regional dynamics.
Camacho-Mercado also leads the DBM’s Women, Peace, and Security initiatives and advances the Gender and Development agenda through stronger coordination across the Official Development Assistance-GAD Network.
Romulo-Puyat brings expertise across the agriculture, tourism and financial sectors. She was instrumental in improving the lives of farmers and in fostering sustainable tourism. At the BSP, she plays a key role in financial consumer protection and digital finance.
During the forum, the panel emphasized the importance of integrity. As incumbent government leaders, they serve as role models to younger female peers on what it means to be a public servant.
“What you say, what you do, how you present yourself, and the work that you do will reflect on the people who voted for you and the people who hold you accountable,” Nograles-Almario said, underscoring its importance as a cornerstone of public service.
“Do not go near the line,” Berberabe warned, encouraging public servants to remain consistent in their actions and values while echoing the rest of the panel’s thoughts on building a strong foundation of integrity. “Go far from the line. All of us know what is right and wrong. You just listen to your gut. Try to be more discerning and wise.”
But while personal integrity is of utmost importance, the panel noted that it is not enough for only one person to uphold it. There must also be a collaborative effort among stakeholders and government agencies that share a collective goal. This was the point Lazaro raised.
“Foreign affairs is not foreign affairs without the other agencies, so it’s very important that we also deal with the same amount of integrity with other agencies. There is nothing to discuss if you have no good relations with defense, with trade, and so on and so forth,” she said.
The speakers also reiterated their views on women’s capabilities and why they should take up space, never allowing traditional expectations to keep them from doing what they are meant to do.
“I think women everywhere are very good in the home, at the workplace, in public service and in the communities. We belong everywhere, not just in places that will allow us to be there. We just have to remember that we are enough, and we belong,” Diana Camacho-Mercado said.
The panelists also emphasized the importance of having female mentors and uplifting fellow women. Not only does this serve as inspiration for the next generation of girls, it also shows how traits often mislabeled as weaknesses — such as vanity, emotional sensitivity and assertiveness — can, in fact, become defining strengths in a woman’s career and shape a strong sense of self.
‘Women in Diplomacy’
Finally, the speakers under “Women in Diplomacy” tackled how they navigate unique challenges such as gender bias and stereotypes, all while upholding transparency, accountability and integrity in their work.
The ambassadors who shared their insights were Marie Fontanel of the Embassy of France, Marielle Geraedts of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Emma Hickey of the Embassy of Ireland, Dana Kursh of the Embassy of Israel, Raduta Dana Matache of the Embassy of Romania, and Titanilla Tóth of the Embassy of Hungary.
With two decades of experience, Fontanel has contributed to policy, management and leadership. She is best known for her expertise in team management, coaching, public and European law, and social and health policies.
Geraedts brings experience from postings in different countries such as Peru, Uganda, Kenya and Iraq. As a diplomat, she has long valued women’s empowerment and deeply recognizes the importance of having good role models for younger women.
Before her current posting, Hickey served as deputy head of mission at Ireland’s embassy in Cairo. She also held key roles in Dublin, including deputy humanitarian director and deputy human rights director at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Kursh has served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel since 2001, holding senior diplomatic and managerial positions both abroad and at the ministry’s headquarters in Jerusalem. Among her notable achievements was leading Israel’s mission to South India as consul general in Bangalore.
Matache brings 30 years of diplomatic experience from Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 1992, she has served in various roles, including director of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Division, secretary of state for European Affairs, and director for analysis and strategic coordination, among others.
Tóth began her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2011. She served as chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Hungary in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2015. She has been serving as Hungary’s ambassador since 2020.
The six ambassadors to Manila shared how they navigated these hurdles with support from their respective governments and even from their male colleagues.
French Ambassador Fontanel stated that the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been “trying its best” to make the Foreign Service “more accessible for young, talented women to become diplomats.”
“It has a lot to do, I have to say, with the possibilities that are given to combine professional life and personal life, which is very difficult. But one can prove that it’s possible to have a husband and three kids and [be] an ambassador,” she said.
Ambassador Geraedts of the Netherlands said it is important for women interested in the field to show that they possess traits such as honesty, truthfulness and consistency.
“That is also important for male colleagues, that you give that message, and then they start trusting you, because I think diplomacy is about building trust,” she said.
Geraedts added that combining personal and professional life is difficult. She explained, “We have to move countries every four years. Your husband has to find another job, and your kids have to change schools. So, that’s the challenge. But it also gives great opportunities.”
Ambassador Hickey of Ireland highlighted that 53 percent of Ireland’s heads of mission are women. “So, we’ve broken that barrier. But I mean, I do think there are still challenges [for women diplomats].”
The envoy recounted an incident at a male-dominated event where she faced a sexist remark from a local official. “So, these things still do happen. [But] a male colleague would not have that. I think the need to call out these things when they happen [will] make sure that young women see that it’s not acceptable, that you can’t be treated like this,” she added.
Israeli Ambassador Kursh said, “I had the privilege of [spending] almost seven years in charge of recruiting and training new diplomats. And I faced very challenging questions from the next generation of female diplomats, asking, ‘Hey, but my spouse wants to continue his job, and I want to flourish in my job. How do we do it?’”
Romanian Ambassador Matache expressed her sadness about an experience she had while hosting an event at her residence. “At the end of this beautiful occasion, someone suggested, ‘Let’s take a picture together. And they said, well, the ambassador should be in the middle because she’s a woman. But you know, I should have been in the middle because I was the host, not because I was the only woman,” she pointed out.
“[During] such things [like these], you know, you close your eyes, you go on. You don’t need to react. But what I mean is that we’ll never be spared this. We have to toughen ourselves and believe in ourselves,” Matache stressed.
Hungarian Ambassador Titanilla Tóth said she was 33 years old when she was posted to Manila five years ago.
“When I arrived and introduced myself to everyone, the first thing they said was, ‘Oh, what? A young lady? What? A young woman was sent to be an ambassador here?’” she narrated.
“That’s the message: If you accept the challenge, you can build yourself. Let’s move forward with that. Just accept the challenge, ladies. And don’t be afraid,” Tóth added.
Across business, government and diplomacy, the forum showed that women are not only taking their place in leadership but also redefining it through integrity, competence and purpose. More than a celebration of achievement, the discussions underscored how representation matters most when it opens doors for others, sets higher standards for public and professional life and encourages the next generation of women to step forward with confidence.
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