PeopleAsia unveils Women of Style & Substance

MANILA, Philippines — PeopleAsia pulls off a tour de force for women empowerment as it unveils its much-awaited list of “Women of Style & Substance” awardees for 2018. Leading this year’s lineup is Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, who graces the cover of the magazine’s August-September issue.

Berna, who was named as one of the magazine’s awardees last year, returns on the list as the newly minted Secretary of the Department of Tourism. In her interview, Berna reveals that she aims to promote sustainable and responsible tourism, wherein the income doesn’t come at the expense of the country’s natural resources. “One good thing that came out in the closure of Boracay is that people have been educated further on what sustainable and responsible tourism is,” she says.

 Joining Berna on the list are other achievers like popular Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines, Kok Li Peng, who traded off a lucrative career as a lawyer to enter the world of diplomacy in 1995. “As a diplomat, you work on solutions before a potential problem arises. I chose to become a diplomat because I love to resolve problems in a friendlier approach, as compared to the more rigid rules of the court,” she shares.

 Also a Woman of Style and Substance is Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray – a mathematician, musician and celebrity who is redefining what it means to be a beauty queen in modern times; and rising superstar Morissette, who has risen from being a humble “kontesera,” to become one of the most popular pop divas of her generation.

 The list also includes a number of prominent women who use their voice and talents for greater causes. They are GoNegosyo adviser on agripreneurship Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, a businesswoman, “creativepreneur” and advocate who helps Filipinos in ARMM rebuild their lives through various livelihood programs; BPI Foundation executive director and vice president Maricris San Diego, who advocates sustainable CSR projects in lieu of traditional dole outs; and ABS-CBN broadcast journalist Zen Hernandez, who uses her voice to cover stories that are of importance to everyday Filipinos.

 Also on this year’s list is media executive Tootsy Angara, the wife of Sen. Sonny Angara, who not only excels in her job as ABS-CBN’s cluster head for advertising and sales, but also uses her unique position to push for various legislation such as the Anti-discrimination Act. Marga Nograles, wife of Davao First District Rep. Karlo Nograles, on the other hand, supports local communities in Mindanao by turning their local textiles into world-class fashion items through her very own Kaayo brand.

 PeopleAsia’s “Women of Style & Substance” also prove that women are more than capable of wearing both the pants and the heels in the workplace, thanks to the business acumen of its enterprising awardees. Among them are Advance Paper Group CEO Connie Haw, who transformed a fledgling paper business from her apartment into a business empire in 37 years; IT wiz and finance expert Ma. Jessica Palmiano, who founded modern money transfer apps such Moneygment through her burgeoning Togetech Inc.; and CEO Aiza Diuco, whose Age Defying Solutions Philippines Corp., empowers women to achieve confidence through a wide range of trademarked beauty solutions.

 “If there’s one thing that can be said about these women, it’s that they are all women of action. They walk their talk – whether on the corridors of power, the catwalk, the rice fields, or battle zones in Marawi,” says PeopleAsia editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez.

 Now on its 13th year, the “Women of Style & Substance” list is the magazine’s annual ode to women who exhibit both inimitable style in the looks department, and unparalleled substance, in terms of their achievements. Read more about these women in PeopleAsia’s August-September issue, now available in leading bookstores and newsstands nationwide. For reservations, call Bong at 892-184, or text 0922 877 6556.