Women who make us proud to be Filipino - An Independence Day 2015 Tribute

In celebration of Independence Day, theAsianparent celebrates exceptional women who are known for their ingenuity, resilience, creativity and bravery - all of which are Filipino traits that make us the proud people that we are.

Women who make us proud to be Filipino

From politicians to social entrepreneurs, the contributions that these exceptional women have made to their respective industries have not only helped place the Philippines on the map, but have also contributed to the well-being of society.

Click "Next" to see the women who make us proud to be Filipino.

Amina Aranaz-Alunan

Having propelled handbags crafted from traditional Filipino materials into the international spotlight under her family's label, Aranaz, mother of three and socially-concious designer Amina Aranaz-Alunan is highly-regarded in the fashion industry due to her passion for using fashion to empower individuals.

She has collaborated with social enterprises such as Rags2Riches in an effort to teach impoverished women how to make handbags and home decor out of scrap materials. Amina also co-founded School of Fashion and the Arts Manila (SoFa Manila) so that students could be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to start their own businesses.

Amina's use of fashion to help individuals elevate their quality of life while presenting beautifully-crafted Filipino fashion accessories onto the global stage are two of the main reasons why she deserves a spot on our list.

Photo source: Amina Aranaz-Alunan

Senator Pia Cayetano

Senator Pia Cayetano is a woman of all trades. She is a mother of three, a lawyer, a businesswoman, a triathlete, and one of the most respected women in Philippine government.

Through her role as a public servant, Senator Pia has worked towards the well-being of women, children, and the elderly, and well as the improvement of public health and social services.

Women empowerment is the primary advocacy of this senator, who, through her tireless work to address issues faced by Filipinas and their children, makes us truly proud to be Filipino.

Image source: Senator Pia Cayetano's Instagram

Gaita Fores

Margarita "Gaita" Fores is the name behind some of Manila’s most popular restaurants, including Cibo, Casa Artusi, Lusso and Grace Park. Born into the Araneta family, this mom of one is no stranger to good taste. On her website, it says that her mission is "To make life and living more beautiful and delicious for others.”

She never went to culinary school, and instead learned good Italian homecooking from three señoras when she lived in Italy. Her love for food and her desire to serve up quality meals has allowed Gaita to remain strong in the food industry.

One of Gaita’s advocacies as a restaurant owner is the focus on good, clean eating using fair-trade ingredients. She is also excited about discovering more and more local farmers to work with, showing customers and fellow restaurateurs that it is possible to serve up delicious dishes from local, organic, proudly Pinoy produce.

Image source: Gaita Fores' Facebook

Nikki Luna

Nikki Luna is an artist and a human rights and social advocate. She is married to sportscaster Mikee Carrion and is mommy to beautiful baby girl Alandra. With a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts in Painting coupled with a Master’s Degree in Women and Development Studies, she is the perfect mix of artistry and advocacy.

Her art tells stories of everyday life and issues that we face in today’s society, asking questions and seeking to spark change. Not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, Nikki uses her socially conscious art installations as her voice in exhibits both here and abroad.

A strong woman who stands up for women, children, and the oppressed, Nikki doesn’t just make us proud to be Filipino, she also gets us to think about what we, too, can do to take action.

Image Source: Mikee Carrion’s Instagram

Socorro Ramos

It took guts for Socorro Ramos and her husband to open a bookstore in Manila during World War II, but they did just that. Decades later, what started as a small stall is now the largest stationery and book chain in the country.

Fondly referred to as Nanay Coring, Socorro says that their reason for putting up the store was to help people learn. She was eager to learn but came from a humble background, and so she hoped to make reading and learning accessible to anyone who aspired to be educated.

She says that going to work every day is her secret to longevity. The hard work and dedication that she put in over the years have truly paid off for Nanay Coring. Now at over 90 years old, she still takes on an active role in running the business but is also slowly handing over the reins to her granddaughter, Xandra Ramos-Padilla.

Image source: Xandra Ramos-Padilla's Instagram

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago

Known for being brutally honest and for cracking witty jokes at even the most serious of times, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago's penchant for serving the country with honesty and integrity offers the public a reprieve from government officials who reportedly do otherwise.

With a vocabulary that rivals that of Merriam-Webster and a fiery personality to boot, Miriam fearlessly pursues political players she deems corrupt, asks hard-hitting questions that others would most likely shy away from and fights for and passes bills that she knows would be of great service to society such as the Cybercrime Law, the Kasambahay Law and the Anti-Bullying Law.

Miriam Santiago is a woman who many look up to because, despite having battled stage IV lung cancer and being sent death threats, she continues to fearlessly pursue the truth and to serve the Philippines, all the while delivering one punch line after another, bringing color and humor into the dark world of politics.

Photo source: Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago's Facebook Page - Photo by Menchit Ongpin

Lily Monteverde

As a student, Lily Monteverde was often referred to as "the girl least likely to succeed." Over 50 years later though, Lily sits at the helm of one of the country's top filmmaking and entertainment firms - a feat she would have never accomplished had she given up on her love for film and had she allowed other people to crush her belief in herself.

Fondly referred to as "Mother Lily," she started out in the popcorn business and earned enough money to "buy the rights to re-issue the Hollywood movie 'All Mine to Give.'" The movie was a hit and became the start of her filmmaking career. She then produced, "Kayod sa Aray, Kayod sa Gabi" which not only earned a cool P4 million, but was said to be the film that sparked the birth of Regal Films.

With a "prolific sense of creativity coupled with a hands-on approach to the business that she heads," Mother Lily single-handedly built an entertainment empire that has produced over 600 films and that has launched the careers of several of the country's biggest actors - not bad for someone who was considered "least likely to succeed."

Photo source: Lily Monteverde Instagram

Laura Verallo de Bertotto

As the CEO of Philippine-based skin-care line VMV Hypoallergenics, Laura Verallo de Bertotto has managed to propel the local skin line onto the global stage with product features in international publications such as Elle, Self, Men’s Vogue, Teen Vogue and on US TV shows such as Fox News and NBC’s Today Show.

Having grown up with the company - her mother, Dr. Dr. Vermen Verallo-Rowell founded the company in the 1970s - Laura shares that she earned the position of CEO by putting in the most hours, taking on the most projects, dressing the most professionally and conducting herself in such a manner that made her irreproachable in her professionalism.

Laura's work ethic and professionalism are the reasons why she is such a respected individual in the skincare industry and are why we consider her a woman who makes us proud to be Filipino.

Photo source: Laura Verallo de Bertotto Instagram

Lala Flores

IIn 1990, then 20-year-old Lala Flores clinched the Supermodel of the World Philippines competition. The win sent Lala around the world as she participated in several fashion shows in Singapore, Bali, the U.S., and France. Nowadays, Lala stays busy as a celebrity make-up artist working with the likes of Angel Locsin, Kathryn Bernardo and Jennylyn Mercado.

What's most striking about Lala though is her ability to make the most out of situations when things don't go according to plan. Shortly after winning the 1990 Supermodel title, Lala was being groomed to join Binibining Pilipinas, but her hopes of winning the crown fell through when she became pregnant with her eldest daughter, Danielle, and again with her youngest daughter, Danica - who, 20 years after Lala's win, was also named Ford's Supermodel of the World in New York City.

Despite being unable to join the beauty pageant, Lala pursued her modelling career and continued to model internationally for four more years before hanging up her coat. It is a feat that she has accomplished with the support of a loving husband, and through hard work, grit, and determination.

Photo source: Lala Flores Instagram

Monique Lhuillier

Cebuana Monique Lhuillier has a self-named brand of bridal couture, ready-to-wear gowns, furniture, and stationery based in the United States. She is also a part of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, a prestigious group that includes other fashion moguls such as Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Carolina Herrera, and Very Wang. She is married to business man Tom Bugbee and has two kids, Jack and Sophia. She lives in Los Angeles.

With over 140 stores globally, her self-named brand has premium locations at Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Harvey Nichols. Monique Lhuillier gowns have been worn by big names such as Angelina Jolie, Tyra Banks, Blake Lively, and even US First Lady Michelle Obama! She says, "My mother was my greatest fashion inspiration growing up; she was very elegant and had fabulous personal style."

Monique is the inspiration for every Filipina at home with a sewing machine and an idea for a fabulous outfit. This hands-on mom shows us that Filipinas who have the passion, the creativity and love for hard work can make it anywhere--even Hollywood's red carpet and celebrity weddings!

Image source: Monique Lhuillier's Instagram

Mel Tiangco

Carmela Tiangco-Cornejo, better known as veteran broadcaster Mel Tiangco, currently anchors 24 Oras with Mike Enriquez and is the host of GMA 7's drama series, Magpakailanman. She is also the Executive Vice President of GMA Network's Kapuso Foundation. She has three other children, one of whom is After Image band member Wency Cornejo.

The 59-year-old broadcaster says that public service is her calling. Mel has the clout with the network and the foundation to get anything done, saying, "Dito, pag sinabi ko, go agad." Under her leadership, the GMA Kapuso Foundation regularly provides aid to disaster-stricken areas, medical missions, school rehabilitation, tree-planting, bloodletting, free chemotherapy, feeding programs and other services.

Mel's calm, empathetic voice on the television and radio tell the poor and marginalized in our country that someone cares. This Philippine Independence Day, let's take a leaf out of Mel's book and give something back to our countrymen, especially the ones who need it the most.

Image source: Mel Tiangco's Facebook

Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng

Approachable and down-to-earth, Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng is the president of Summit Media and is on the board of directors for Robinsons Bank and Robinsons Retail. As the third out of six of John Gokongwei's children, Lisa broke free from the expectations of having to work for the family business so she could build her own company.

In 1995, Lisa laid down the foundation of the country's first digital publisher in a simple office with a computer that she shared with her 4 employees. This 2015, Summit Media celebrates its 20th anniversary and is the country's leading consumer glossy magazine publisher with 22 publications and numerous books tucked under its belt.

Lisa may be from one of the wealthiest clans in the country but she is no stranger to hard work and inspires us to dream big and to never give up.

Lea Salonga

As a Tony Award-winning actress and icon in both the local and international entertainment industry, it is no surprise that Lea Salonga is a part of this list. Her achievements as a theatre actress and as a singer have helped place the Philippines on the map and paved the way for several other local artists to break into the international scene.

Lea is the first Filipina to win a Laurence Olivier, a Tony, a Drama Desk and a Theatre World award for her performance in Miss Saigon and has lent her voice to Eponine of the London production of Les Misérables and to Disney princesses Jasmine and Mulan.

She currently mentors young singers as a judge on The Voice PH and is set to star in another Broadway play, Allegiance, which is about the horrors of American internment camps. As such, Lea continues to prove that Filipinos are world-class performers and continues to serve as an inspiration to performers in the Philippines and across the globe.

Caterina Fake

If you're a netizen or work online, then Caterina Fake (pronounced 'Feick') has essentially let you download photos for free on the internet. She is one of the founders and board members of Creative Commons and Flickr, Web 2.0 services for participatory media. Her father is American and her mother hails from Angeles, Pampanga. She has four children and is based in San Francisco.

This risk-taking and fearless founder of Etsy and Findery also homeschooled all her four children and even set up a school. In 2008, her exit strategy for Flickr paid off since the company was acquired by Yahoo for a reported $35 million. Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang says Caterina is "very good at figuring out how to create communities.”

Caterina's success in Silicon Valley and the highly-volatile startup world shows that women can be entrepreneurs and hands-on moms. She is not afraid to take risks and go against tradition as long as she believes in her ideas. Besides, if she wasn't successful, where would WAHMS get all their photos?

Image source: Caterina Fake's Twitter

Jeannie Javelosa, Chit Juan, and Reena Francisco

Collectively known as the Echotrio, Jeannie Javelosa, Chit Juan, and Reena Francisco are the three business partners behind Echostore. This specialty store offers local organic and artisanal products and promotes sustainable living.

Echostore is a venture that aims to serve the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profits. The founders share they do business with a heart, which means looking beyond solely making money and focusing on helping local communities and small entrepreneurs.

Jeannie, Chit, and Reena are three moms who make us proud to be Filipino through their work in empowering women in business. Together with the national and local government, women’s groups, and private organizations, the trio made the Great Women Program come to life.

GREAT Women is short for Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women. This program aims to help female entrepreneurs by pushing for the improvement of local business policies, projects, and services for businesses owned and run by women.

Image source: Echostore Website

Women who make us proud to be Filipino

Do you know an exceptional woman who makes you proud to be Filipno? Let us know in the comments section.

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