Negosyo: 50 Inspiring Women of Passion

MANILA, Philippines - Among the 50 are thriving entrepreneurs – founders and next generation trailblazers; social entrepreneurs – innovators and trendsetters for the greater good; and, intrapreneurs – corporate executives who worked their way to the top with an enterprising and entrepreneurial mindset.

Go Negosyo pays tribute to the 50 Inspiring Women of Passion.

1.Mary Joy Canon-Abaquin, the founding directress and proponent of the Multiple Intelligence International School, raises leaders and entrepreneurs who utilize their intelligences to make a difference.

2. From modest beginnings, Ma. Fe Perez- Agudo’s passion and drive for excellence led her to become the president and CEO of Hyundai Asia Resources Inc., leading a company with skyrocketing growth in sales. (Intrapreneur)

3. A fifth-generation-entrepreneur, Olivia Limpe- Aw reengineers Destileria Limtuaco in launching proudly Filipino liquor while maintaining the integrity and product quality of the oldest distillery in the Philippines.

4. With the founding belief that there is exquisite beauty in everyone, Dr. Vicki Belo and Cristalle Henares further strengthen the pioneer brand of Belo Medical Group and Belo Essentials.

Recognized as one of the Most Influential Thought Leaders and Innovative Filipinas in the United States, Gemma Bulos is the founding director of A Single Drop for Safe Water Philippines, a social enterprise that creates income-generating community-based water service organizations. (Social Entrepreneur)

6. Founded by Leonarda Capuyan, Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts presents the world with a taste of Philippine ethnic culture through signature Cordillera fabrics for high-end fashion.

7. Through innovation and product development, Natividad Cheng continues the 45 years of success of Uratex as the most dominant player in the local foam industry and one of the leading foam-makers in Southeast Asia.

8. At the forefront of Standard Insurance Co., Patricia Echauz-Chilip remains committed to their strategy of guaranteeing discipline and sustainable profitability while continually modernizing their systems to deliver faster quality service.

9. One of Asia’s most powerful businesswomen, Teresita Sy-Coson takes on the role of leading and transforming their family-owned retail, property and banking empire as the vice chairman of SM Investments Corp.

10. A second-generation-entrepreneur leading a company with 75 years of service, Dahlia Dy continues to steer the 230 stores and 2,400 employees of South Star Drug in serving the country’s healthcare needs.

11. Santa Elena president and CEO Alice Eduardo established her company’s niche as one of the biggest construction companies in the Philippines that has built a significant portfolio of horizontal construction, roads, bridges, ports, elevated structures and power plants all over the country.

12. Hailed as a culinary powerhouse, Gaita Fores is one of the most established entrepreneurs in the Philippine food industry because of her consummate creativity and passion expressed through the art of gastronomy.

13. The values of celebrated matriarch and founder Julie Gandionco spearheaded Julie’s Bake Shop from its regional roots to domestic and global expansion as the largest chain of bakeshops in the country.

14. Publishing mogul Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng made her own success imprint as the founder and president of Summit Media, one of the leading publishing companies in the Philippines.

15. Magsaysay Group of Companies president and CEO Doris Magsaysay-Ho finds a niche for the top maritime company, with her belief in the hard work and potential for success of Filipino seafarers.

16. In 20 years, Rosalinda Ang- Hortaleza built remarkable presence and reached international markets in the cosmetic scene as one of the prime movers of HBC.

17. Committed to meeting the standards in producing top-quality fertilizers, Universal Harvesters EVP Milagros Ong-How has mastered the ins and outs of the agriculture industry and continues to be a key partner of Filipino farmers.

18. Pacita Juan ceaselessly promotes social and environmental change through ECHOstore, while leading numerous campaigns to promote living green and environment-friendly, sustainable, and socially-conscious enterprises. (Social Entrepreneur)

19. The Goldilocks sisters, Milagros Leelin Yee and Clarita Leelin Go, are renowned for transforming a business with humble beginnings in the family kitchen into the largest Filipino-owned bakeshop in the world.

20. Unilever’s Vice President for Personal Care Gina Lorenzana personifies “passion in action” for a company that reaches out to Filipinos from all walks of life with products that can positively impact lives. (Intrapreneur)

21. In her 17 years of service, Sun Life Philippines president and CEO Rizalina Mantaling works towards their mission to build financial literacy and freedom for Filipinos through a highly trusted company valued for its financial strength and excellent service. (Intrapreneur)

22. As the founder and CEO of Care. com, Sheila Marcelo seeks to help families find the perfect caregivers for their loved ones who are in need of special care and assistance.

23. Nanette Medved-Po serves as a venture co-founder and transcends to social entrepreneurship through her brainchild Hope in a Bottle, wherein sales of bottled water help build classrooms in the Philippines. (Social Entrepreneur)

24. Prominent for being the woman on the leading edge of Regal Entertainment, Lily Monteverde is a distinguished film producer and mogul who conceives and creates each of her films as a new product to be developed through creativity.

25. Designer and fashion entrepreneur Celestina Maristela Ocampo achieved worldwide success through a self-made and self-named brand that thrives in the international fashion scene.

26. Multi-awarded entrepreneur Corazon Dayro-Ong started from her home-based recipes and worked hard to achieve success in the food manufacturing industry through CDO – presently a highly-acclaimed enterprise.

27. Siu Ping Par stands in the frontline of PR Gaz, a company with humble beginnings and a grand vision, armed with the bullish confidence of thriving in the energy industry for a long time by offering clients and partners the whole package.

28. Catherine Dizon-Posas leads the company in envisioning Dizon Farms as the biggest consolidator of fresh fruits and vegetables in the Philippines, with 167 supermarkets that carry their products.

29. Marixi Prieto and Sandy Prieto-Romualdez continue to serve the nation through the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

30. Charita Puentespina is a vanguard in agribusiness, with endeavors of saving the waling waling from extinction and reviving the dying cacao export sector, through Puentespina Orchids and Tropical Plants, Malagos Garden and Golden Sunset.

31. A woman who needs no introduction, Socorro Ramos is the acclaimed matriarch and founder of National Book Store – the largest bookstore chain and leading retailer ofbooks,officesuppliesandgreeting cards in the Philippines.

32. Under the leadership of CEO Maria Ressa, social news network Rappler provides the public with stories that provide perspective and inspire community engagement, smart conversations and social change.

33. Rags2Riches is a for-profit social enterprise piloted by founder- partner and CEO Reese Ruiz, as they continue to empower women across communities and expand their social impact and eco-ethical footprint in the country. (Social Entrepreneur)

34. A respected and celebrated name, Vivian Sarabia is the only eyewear stylist in the Philippines to create her own niche market in the optical industry by reinventing herself to compete in the business.

35. Nelia Siggaoat is a pioneer in the Philippine leather industry, and she continues to lead Manel’s as a top retailer and manufacturer of leather goods and one of the most recognizable brands in the country.

36. Heny Sison, the founder of the Heny Sison Culinary School, continues to establish a strong self- named brand and a comprehensive culinary education for existing or budding entrepreneurs in the food business.

37. Driven by her passion for teaching, Preciosa Soliven instituted O.B. Montessori – the first Montessori school in the Philippines, with the mission to help a child help himself and transform students into self- developing individuals.

38. Eleanor Tan leads Healthway Medical in pursuing for excellence in delivering primary and specialty care through a service-driven system, as the most trusted and preferred network of mall-based clinics in the Philippines. (Intrapreneur)

39. Genevieve Ledesma-Tan followed her passion for teaching and shaping young minds by putting up Southville Foreign University, the first international college in the Philippines.

40. Believing in providing excellence aside from luxury, Zenaida Tantoco reigns in the frontlines of Stores Specialists Inc. and Rustan’s, the country’s leading upscale department store and supermarket chain.

41. Tesoro Group of Companies president Beng Tesoro upholds the legacy of the more than six-decade- old company, distinguished for Filipino-made gifts, apparel, and handicrafts.

42. Esther Vibal outlasts competition as chairperson of the Vibal Group, a company that has been known to be the biggest book printer and publisher in the country – now a multi-billion peso group of companies engaged in multiple core businesses strengthened by technology.

43. MDI Group founder Myla Villanueva ascended as one of the leading innovators in Silicon Valley and creator of Novare Technologies, a strategic consultancy and IT solutions provider.

44. Sen. Cynthia Villar creates livelihood opportunities for women through Villar Foundation’s community enterprise projects, spotting opportunities to improve lives and further help people. (Social Entrepreneur)

45. Rosalind Wee marked the Philippines’ territory in the world market in agribusiness through PCI Worldwide Inc., the country’s largest producers and exporters of carrageenan.

46. With a strong principle that businesses should be at the forefront of addressing social and environmental issues, Anna Meloto- Wilk co-founded and expanded Human Nature, an internationally recognized social enterprise. (Social Entrepreneur)

47. A truly world-class entrepreneur, Raintree Hospitality Group CEO Annabella Wisniewski continues to make and break records in the hotel and restaurant business for the past 40 years.

48. With standards for creativity and commitment and the motivation to give joy to kids, Richwell founder and COO Myrna Yao is the leading distributor of children’s products in the Philippines.

49. A prominent name in Asian media, One Mega Group’s founder and CEO Sari Yap continues to create a business empire out of an entrepreneur’s enthusiasm and passion for fashion and business.

50. Convergys’ senior vice president and managing director for Asia Pacific Marife Zamora, is internationally recognized for her success in leading the way for Convergys’ Philippine operations to become the country’s largest private employer in less than 10 years. (Intrapreneur)