PeopleAsia’s ‘Women of Style and Substance’ 2024: Singular — not solo — acts!

PeopleAsia’s “Women of Style and Substance” list continues to celebrate women who inspire, captivate and share their successes for the greater good. And this became even more palpable as the leading glossy feted its most recent batch of awardees at The Bellevue Manila in Alabang last week.

In a taped message from Washington DC, Philippine Ambassador to the United States and PeopleAsia publisher (on leave) Jose Manuel Romualdez commended the awardees, saying that “when it comes to politics and leadership, the Philippines is way ahead of the United States and other nations because we have had two women presidents.”

Onstage, it was editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez, who celebrated the women’s “shared successes.” Ramirez, who celebrates her 25th year as the PeopleAsia editor, said: “When our women honorees receive their award at the Bellevue Ballroom tonight, it will be a shared experience, a shared celebration, a shared accolade. After all, no successful woman is a solo act. She’s a symphony, a chorus, an ensemble with two feet.”

Leading this year’s roster is Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Anne Manalo, who has shattered stereotypes and broken the mold for being the first black Filipino-American woman to represent the country at Miss Universe, which will happen this November in Mexico.

Top business leaders such as Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso, a certified public accountant and president of Megaworld Corp.; and Rosemarie Bosch-Ong, senior executive vice president and COO of Wilcon Depot, were also honored.

They were joined by “Concert Queen” Pops Fernandez, who, after more than 40 years in show business, continues to pack in huge crowds to her shows here and abroad; and Cynthia Carrion Norton, who as president of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines, mentored and acted like a second mother to Filipino gymnast and double Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo.

Also feted were “Women of Style and Substance” awardees such as businesswomen and aspiring public servants Milka Romero and Samantha Panlilio; entrepreneur and art advocate Alelee Aguilar-Andanar of Luxuri; and world-class fencer and Olympian Maxine Esteban.

Bespoke furniture designer and businesswoman Katrina Blanca De Leon of genteelhome; and real estate maven and philanthropist Judy Miranda Abalos of JD Diamond Properties and Holdings also received their awards.

Unknown to guests and one special awardee, the PeopleAsia team has been tending to a little surprise number that bloomed fantastically on the awards night. Right after delivering her speech, Pops got the surprise of her life when “Concert King” Martin Nievera, who postponed his trip to the US for this special occasion, went onstage to serenade his former wife with a heartfelt rendition of “Wildflower.”The two then proceeded to treat the audience, who clamored for a duet, by performing “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?”

As The Bellevue Group’s managing director Patrick Chan said in his speech, “The event celebrates not just success, but also the journey, resilience, and dedication that define true substance. These qualities are at the heart of the women we honored tonight. And it is a privilege for us to host this event in partnership with PeopleAsia.”

Event stylist extraordinaire Dave Sandoval also worked his magic by creating a breathtaking secret garden right in the heart of Alabang, where the event’s well-heeled guests and awardees partied the night away thanks to the free-flowing wines and spirits from Philippine Wine Merchants.  Veteran broadcast journalist Rico Hizon also took to the podium as the evening’s master of ceremonies.

PeopleAsia’s “Women of Style and Substance” 2024 Awards Night was staged in cooperation with The Bellevue Manila, Singapore Airlines, HSBC Philippines, Pili Ani, genteelhome, Aptos and Lift Aesthetic Center, Globalport Terminals Inc., Toyota Motor Philippines, San Miguel Corp., The Aivee Clinic, Spotlight Cosmetics, FuTECH Innovations, Philippine Wine Merchants, Hartman Communications and The Philippine STAR.