The TOWNS Foundation will honor 15 exceptional Filipinas in the 2025 cycle of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) Awards, recognizing their transformative impact across diverse fields of national development this October. This year’s awardees are Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba (Peace Building and Good Governance), Jamela Aisha Alindogan (Courageous and Honest Journalism, Atty. Maria Kristina Conti (Human Rights for All), COMMO Christine Pauline Bergaño-Diciano (Maritime Law Enforcement and Public Service), Ma. Salve Ibañez (Financial Empowerment), Dr. Decibel Faustino Eslava (Environmental Science for Local Learning Communities), Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman (Peacebuilding, Courageous Governance, and Socio-Economic Development), Dr. Jennie Jocson (Innovations in Teacher Education and Access), Deputy Minister Nur-Ainee Tan-Lim (Ethical Public Service, Social Services and Development), Gail Concepcion Cruz-Macapagal (Information Technology and Entrepreneurship), Col. Francel Margareth Padilla (Cybersecurity, Military Service and Transformative Engagement with Local Communities), Dr. Maria Cielo Magno (Financial Accountability and Good Governance), Lorelie Quiambao Osial (Business Innovation and Corporate Citizenship), Dr. Katherine Ann Reyes (Service, Research and Leadership in Public Health Delivery), and Georgina Ann Hernandez Yang (Leadership in Innovations in Local Governance and Education).

Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba – Peace Building and Good Governance

Atty. Sha Elijah B. Dumama-Alba is a transformative legal and governance leader whose pioneering work has shaped the institutional foundations of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). As Floor Leader of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament, she has successfully steered the passage of five out of seven priority legislations mandated by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), including the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, Local Governance Code, Indigenous Peoples Act, and Parliamentary Districting Act. These laws embed safeguards against political dynasties, promote women’s political participation, and institutionalize equitable representation—hallmarks of her commitment to inclusive governance.

In her concurrent role as Minister of the Interior and Local Government, Atty. Dumama-Alba has led reforms to strengthen peace and security, enhance intergovernmental relations, and institutionalize merit-based appointments across BARMM’s local government units. Her leadership has expanded infrastructure support and promoted participatory, rights-based governance frameworks aligned with the BOL.

Atty. Dumama-Alba was the first appointed Attorney General of BARMM, where she laid the legal groundwork for the region’s transition from ARMM, ensuring constitutional alignment and operationalization of autonomy. Her contributions to the drafting of the BOL and the Transition Plan were instrumental in establishing BARMM’s legal identity and governance architecture.

Beyond legislation, she has championed community-centered programs in youth development, education, health, and special education. As President of the Autism Society of the Philippines–Cotabato Chapter since 2017, she has advanced support for children with developmental disabilities. Her advocacy for moral governance and ethical public service is reflected in her rejection of patronage politics and her prudent stewardship of public funds.

Recognized nationally and internationally, she is a recipient of the 2024 Lotus

Leadership Award, the 2023 Philippines Women Leaders Award, and the 2025 UPAA Distinguished Alumna for Peace and Order. Her appointments to global leadership fellowships and as Shari’ah Bar Examiner affirm her professional excellence and integrity.

Atty. Dumama-Alba exemplifies the TOWNS vision through her principled leadership, legal acumen, and unwavering dedication to peace, equity, and nation-building.

Jamela Aisha Alindogan – Courageous and Honest Journalism

Jamela Aisha Alindogan is not just a journalist — she is a frontline witness to history, a humanitarian leader, and a peace advocate whose work has reshaped public discourse and given voice to conflict-scarred communities across the Philippines.

For more than 15 years, she has stood on the fault lines of some of Southeast Asia’s most dangerous crises — from the Marawi siege and Typhoon Haiyan to Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody drug war — reporting with integrity, courage, and a relentless commitment to truth. Her Emmy-nominated documentaries and UNESCO citation for Courageous Journalism attest not only to her professional excellence but also to her refusal to look away when it mattered most. She has reported from Ukraine’s frontlines in Bucha, Irpin, and Kyiv, taking her storytelling to some of the world’s darkest theaters of war.

As Al Jazeera English’s Philippine correspondent for over a decade, Alindogan chronicled political upheavals and peace negotiations across Asia and Africa, always with an eye on the human cost of conflict. In 2018, she carried that mission beyond the newsroom by founding the Sinagtala Center for Women and Children in Conflict. Today, Sinagtala’s trauma-healing programs, weaving centers, and toy libraries serve as safe havens for hundreds of women and children in Marawi, while its empowerment initiatives for wives and daughters of former rebels in Sulu are quietly transforming the prospects of reintegration and resilience. It remains the only sustained program in the country for female members of rebel families.

Her leadership is not confined to the field. As President of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, she guided her peers through the Marawi siege, the Duterte years, and the COVID-19 pandemic. She convenes the Democracy Consortium on Disinformation, serves on boards ranging from the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ CSR arm to the Museo de Ticao Foundation, and advises the AFP Leadership Development Center. Her global influence is reflected in fellowships and speaking engagements from Ukraine to Spain to Australia, as well as in her postgraduate work in international security at the Institut Barcelona Estudis.

Jamela Alindogan embodies the very essence of the TOWNS vision: fearless journalism, transformative advocacy, and a lifelong commitment to rebuilding lives far beyond the headlines.

Jamela Alindogan embodies the very essence of the TOWNS vision: fearless journalism, transformative advocacy, and a lifelong commitment to rebuilding lives far beyond the headlines.

Atty. Maria Kristina “Krissy” Conti – Human Rights for All

Atty. Maria Kristina “Krissy” Conti is a fearless human rights lawyer whose strategic litigation, grassroots advocacy, and principled leadership have advanced justice, accountability, and democratic freedoms in the Philippines. As Secretary-General of the National Capital Region chapter of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), she has led legal teams defending victims of extrajudicial killings, political persecution, and red-tagging—often at great personal risk.

Her most impactful achievement is her role in securing the conviction of four Caloocan police officers for the 2016 killings of Luis and Gabriel Bonifacio, one of only four successful prosecutions among thousands of drug war-related deaths. She also contributed to the landmark conviction of Gen. Jovito Palparan for the kidnapping of UP students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, demonstrating her legal rigor and courage in high-profile cases.

From 2016 to 2023, as Associate at the Public Interest Law Center, Conti represented political prisoners and secured the release of individuals falsely charged under invalid search warrants. Her work contributed to jurisprudential reforms, including the Supreme Court’s revocation of nationwide warrant powers from executive judges in Manila and Quezon City.

She is the first Filipino woman lawyer registered as Assistant to Counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), where she supports victims of the Duterte administration’s drug war in seeking reparations and accountability. Her legal activism also includes challenging the Anti-Terrorism Act, defending jeepney drivers against forced modernization, and filing the first civil countersuits against red-tagging.

Conti’s pioneering spirit was evident early on, founding the first law student chapter of NUPL in 2009 and serving as Student Regent of the UP Board of Regents. She continues to mentor young lawyers and law students, and serves on the Supreme Court’s technical working group on developmental and social change lawyering.

Atty. Krissy Conti exemplifies the TOWNS vision through her tireless pursuit of justice, fearless defense of the marginalized, and transformative use of law to build a more equitable and democratic society.

COMMO Christine Pauline BERGAÑo-DICIANO PCG – Maritime Law Enforcement and Public Service

COMMO Christine Pauline Bergaño-Diciano PCG is a revolutionary officer of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) whose visionary leadership, operational excellence, and gender-inclusive reforms have transformed maritime law enforcement and public service in the Philippines.

With 24 years of distinguished service, she has broken multiple institutional barriers, becoming the first female pilot and only female PCG Air Station Commander under West Philippine Sea Oplan MATATAG, the first female Commander of the Coast Guard Aviation Force, and the youngest female Commander in any military or law enforcement aviation nationwide. She was also involved in various cooperive arrangements between the country and China, Korean and Indonesian Coast Guards. She is the first Filipina and ASEAN Vice-President of the World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden. As Chairman of Logistics Command Admission Board, her stint lead to the acceptance of the first class of female drivers in the PCG. She authored the creation of the Intelligence and Surveillance Team that later became the Unmanned Aerial System unit for drones. Simultaneously, she also mainstreamed opportunities to train the first female rescue swimmer and the all-female team of Special Operations Force jumpers from Airbus helicopter to a multi-mission vessel.

Her most notable achievement is the institutionalization of gender-responsive reforms within the PCG. As Commander of the Coast Guard Gender and Development (GAD) Office, she reconstituted the GAD Focal Point System, activated VAWC and PWD desks across all PCG units, and successfully advocated for the inclusion of hijab in the PCG uniform manual—recognized by the UN Human Rights Commission in 2022. She also led the JuanaPreneur Program, mainstreaming non-traditional roles for women in disaster response and maritime operations.

As Director of the Leadership and Doctrine Development Center, she oversees the evaluation and development of training syllabi for all PCG-managed courses, including satellite training institute thru the Coast Guard School for Special Maritime Affairs to which she is also the Acting Superintendent. Her work has shaped doctrine, curriculum, faculty, technological support systems and leadership frameworks for future generations of coast guard personnel.

Her operational contributions include flight missions in search and rescue, maritime security, and law enforcement across strategic zones such as the West Philippine Sea, Scarborough Shoal, and ZAMBASULTA. She served as one of three female battle captains during Task Force Bayanihan’s COVID-19 response and was designated as Evaluation Lead for the PH-US Balikatan Exercise 40-25 and the PH-US-JPN Trilateral Exercise. She was the Flight Mission Commander for Task Force Kaligtasan sa Karagatan installing five (5) navigational aids in the WPS.

Internationally, she has represented the Philippines in over 23 countries and served as resource speaker for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, WIMAPHIL, and the SHEroes Summit for Women in Peace and Security. She holds over 130 CG awards and 100 plaques and citations, including the 2025 Natatanging Juana Award 2024, PCW and PCG Pilak Award and Most Outstanding Woman in Public Service citations from National Maritime Polytechnic and National Academy of Security and Defense Planning (NASDP).

She has pursued her Masters in Maritime Education and Training at WMU in Sweden, Honorary Degree of Doctor in Philosophy in Advance Maritime Security Enforcement and Leadership Development in NASDP, ongoing Doctorate in Public Administration. She also finished training at the International Air Transport Association (Hongkong), Ateneo Center for Continuing Education, Maritiem Instituut Willem Barentsz (Tershelling), Defence International Training Center (RAAF Williams, Australia), Canberra Institute of Technology, US Coast Guard Training Center (Yorktown, Virginia) and the International Security Group at US Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, California), respectively.

She is also a grateful and proud mother to Angel Alexandria, Alliah Aisha, Ariannah Ameera and Alexander Attila.

COMMO Diciano exemplifies the TOWNS vision through her groundbreaking leadership, institutional reform, and steadfast commitment to inclusive and resilient maritime governance.

Ma. Salve Ibañez – Financial Empowerment

Ma. Salve Ibañez is the Philippines’ most trusted voice in financial education, whose three-decade career has revolutionized how Filipinos understand, access, and apply personal finance. From pioneering the country’s first personal finance newspaper page and website to building a digital brand that reaches over one million followers, Salve has democratized financial literacy for millions—especially women, OFWs, and underserved communities.

Her most impactful achievement is the founding of Empower and Transform, OPC, a financial education company that delivers trauma-informed, behaviorally grounded, and community-based financial literacy programs. Through SalveSays, she has built a content ecosystem that spans Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, offering practical tools for saving, investing, and escaping debt traps. Her workshops have reached weaving communities in Mati, single mothers in Tondo, and government employees nationwide. She will be working with microfinance organizations to teach over two million nanays across the country, starting with a consumption study to inform policy on wage thresholds and financial interventions.

As Head Speechwriter for Vice President Leni Robredo (2016–2020), Salve helped shape national messaging on inclusive development and economic empowerment. Her earlier work with Secretary Jesse Robredo and agencies like the DILG, PNP, and OPAPP reflects her strategic communications expertise and commitment to good governance.

Her journalism career includes award-winning investigative reporting, editorial leadership at Inquirer.net, and anchoring ANC’s On the Money, which brought financial literacy into Filipino living rooms and mobile phones through YouTube and iWantTFC.com. Her columns in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Boardroom Tea offer both practical advice and systemic critique, addressing predatory lending, financial trauma, and the psychology of money.

Salve’s methodology—teaching “fish to swim in shark-infested waters”—combines empathy, rigor, and structural awareness. Her recognitions include the Jaime V. Ongpin Award, the SEC Investor Champion Award (2021–2023), and Citibank Award for Excellence.

Ma. Salve Ibañez exemplifies the TOWNS vision through her pioneering leadership, ethical journalism, and unwavering mission to build a financially literate and economically empowered Filipino nation.

Decibel Faustino Eslava – Environmental Science for Local Learning Communities

Dr. Decibel V. Faustino-Eslava is a distinguished geologist and environmental scientist whose interdisciplinary work has significantly advanced environmental education, disaster resilience, and sustainable development in the Philippines. As Professor and University Scientist at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), she has demonstrated exceptional professional excellence, integrity, and leadership across research, education, and public service.

Among her most impactful achievements is the nationwide rollout of the action-research project: Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry in the Philippines (Project SARAI). Under her leadership, SARAI trained over 12,000 stakeholders—including farmers, technicians, teachers, and government officials—and was handpicked as the platform to digitally transform Philippine agriculture through a 2022 presidential directive. Now, the SARAI Central Hub at UPLB is mirrored across all DOST Regional offices nationwide.

Dr. Eslava was instrumental in the development and institutionalization of the world’s first PhD program on Environmental Diplomacy and Negotiations. The program is designed to develop a cadre of competent environmental leaders and professionals who capitalize on good science to resolve environmental conflicts through sound environmental relations, negotiations, and diplomacy for advancing nationhood and sustainable development interests.

Her work on Project PAMANA and the Marcopper mine spill legacy has introduced watershed-scale rehabilitation frameworks and novel monitoring technologies, contributing to the body of knowledge towards more responsible mining practices and holistic environmental management. These projects have produced new scientific baselines and policy recommendations for ecosystems-based approaches for the rehabilitation of mineralized regions.

In disaster risk reduction, Dr. Eslava has been leading Project LIGTAS. This DOST-funded program developed the first national landslide database, now integrated into DOST-PHIVOLCS’ GeoRiskPH platform, and is the largest repository for historical landslide events. Project LIGTAS is also the only operational early warning system for rainfall-induced landslides in the Philippines, built on a citizen science-based platform that empowers communities and LGUs towards hazards preparedness.

Her advocacy for inclusive environmental education led to the regional expansion of UPLB’s MS and PhD programs in Environmental Science at the UP Tacloban and the UP Professional School for Agriculture and the Environment, with its pilot campus in Davao. These initiatives directly address educational access and have produced new cohorts of environmental professionals in Visayas and Mindanao.

Dr. Eslava exemplifies the TOWNS vision through her groundbreaking approach, resulting in measurable societal impact, and unwavering dedication to science-driven nation-building.

Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman – Peacebuilding, Courageous Governance, and Social Economic Development

Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman is a transformative leader whose governance of Isabela City, Basilan has redefined ethical public service, inclusive development, and community resilience in a post-conflict region. Her administration is a national model of transparency, meritocracy, and data-driven decision-making, demonstrating professional excellence and integrity in every facet of local governance.

Her most impactful achievement is the revitalization of Isabela City from a climate of fear and stagnation into a thriving, inclusive urban center. Under her leadership since 2019, public spaces have become vibrant, economic activity has surged, and tourism has flourished—clear indicators of restored public trust and safety. The Pasangan Commercial Complex, now solar-powered and clean, exemplifies her commitment to sustainability and dignified public infrastructure.

Mayor Hataman institutionalized transparency by publicly posting all city projects and processing Freedom of Information requests swiftly, reversing a culture of secrecy and empowering citizens with access to governance. Her merit-based hiring practices broke barriers, including the historic election of a Bajau woman as City Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representative to the local government—an unprecedented act of inclusion for indigenous communities.

Her administration’s use of real-time data—from population profiling to budget tracking—has elevated policy-making standards and enabled responsive public service. This data-centric approach has positioned Isabela City as a case study for national agencies and development partners seeking scalable models of ethical governance.

Beyond infrastructure and systems, Mayor Hataman’s impact is deeply human. She has fostered unity among Christians, Muslims, and Indigenous peoples, transforming diversity into a source of strength. Her refusal to engage in corrupt practices, even in a system where informal commissions are normalized, underscores her radical integrity and pioneering zeal.

Mayor Hataman embodies the TOWNS vision through her courageous leadership, principled governance, and steadfast dedication to building a just, inclusive, and hopeful society—proving that ethical public service is not only possible, but profoundly transformative.

Jennie Jocson – Innovations in Teacher Education and Access

Dr. Jennie Vergara Jocson is a nationally recognized education reform leader whose ground-breaking work in teacher education policy, curriculum development, and inclusive learning has transformed the Philippine education system. Rising from humble beginnings in Padre Garcia, Batangas, she has dedicated her career to strengthening public education and empowering teachers, demonstrating exceptional professional excellence and integrity.

Her most impactful achievement is her leadership in national teacher education reform as the first Executive Director V of the Teacher Education Council (TEC) Secretariat. She spearheaded the full operationalization of the Secretariat and led the development of the Reframed Pre-Service Teacher Education Curriculum, affecting over 1,500 teacher education institutions and thousands of future educators. Her work also includes the Teacher Career Progression Framework and the alignment of the Licensure Examination for Teachers with current curricula, ensuring merit-based advancement and accurate assessment for specialized graduates.

As Vice President for Academics at the Philippine Normal University (PNU), Dr. Jocson guided the institution through the COVID-19 crisis by launching the Flexible Learning Delivery Program, Kaway-Aralan sa Bagong Kadawyan (KABK). This initiative, a runner-up in the 2021 Gawad Edukampyon Awards, enabled PNU to maintain academic continuity and bridge educational disparities, showcasing her strategic foresight and resilience.

Her policy leadership at the Philippine National Research Center for Teacher Quality (RCTQ) led to the adoption of multiple Department of Education orders and national legislation, including DepEd Order 42 s. 2017 (PPST), DepEd Order 024 s. 2020 (PPSSH), and Republic Act 11713 (Excellence in Teacher Education Act). These reforms have improved teacher standards, performance evaluation, and professional development nationwide.

Dr. Jocson also founded the Literature Educators Association of the Philippines (LEAP), advancing inclusive and transformative literature education. Her global impact includes consultancy with UNESCO on teacher assessment tools across Asia, reinforcing her role as a thought leader in education.

Dr. Jocson exemplifies the TOWNS vision through her transformative leadership, evidence-based policymaking, and unwavering dedication to uplifting educators and learners across the nation.

Nur-Ainee Tan Lim – Ethical Public Service, Social Services and Development

Deputy Minister Nur-Ainee Tan Lim is a novel public servant, peacebuilder, and humanitarian whose work has redefined inclusive governance, social protection, and women’s empowerment in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Her leadership exemplifies professional excellence, pioneering zeal, and deep societal impact rooted in both lived experience and strategic vision.

Her most impactful achievement is her reform-oriented leadership at the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD-BARMM), where she institutionalized the region’s flagship Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). This systemwide reform modernized complaint handling, feedback integration, and staff accountability—establishing a responsive, citizen-centered foundation for public trust in social welfare delivery.

She also led the administrative overhaul of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in BARMM, resolving salary delays for over 1,500 workers through systems streamlining and hands-on management. These reforms positioned MSSD as one of the region’s most impactful ministries, demonstrating her commitment to ethical and efficient governance.

Deputy Minister Lim’s pioneering initiative, Project W.I.N. (Women’s Impact Now), secured pooled resources from six Members of Parliament to provide seed capital and livelihood training for 3,000 Bangsamoro widows, orphans, and female combatants. The program integrates financial literacy and enterprise development, transforming aid recipients into economic agents and peacebuilders.

As Chair of the Socio-Economic Subcommittee of the GPH-MNLF Peace Implementing Committee, she spearheaded the MNLF Women’s Project, which established Innovation Labs for leadership, mediation, and entrepreneurship training. These labs empower women in fragile communities to generate inclusive, community-based solutions—bridging peace process implementation with gender equity and economic innovation.

Her humanitarian legacy includes co-founding Al Husna Foundation, which provided psychosocial healing and nutrition support to displaced Muslim families after the 2013 Zamboanga Siege. Her work continues to uplift invisible sectors—displaced families, grassroots workers, and women in post-conflict recovery.

Deputy Minister Lim embodies the TOWNS vision through her courageous leadership, faith-rooted governance, and unwavering commitment to building a just, peaceful, and inclusive Bangsamoro society.

Gail Cruz-Macapagal – Information Technology and Entrepreneurship

Gail Concepcion Cruz Macapagal is a cutting-edge technology executive, blockchain advocate, and digital inclusion champion whose leadership has shaped the Philippines’ innovation ecosystem and empowered women, youth, and underserved communities through ethical tech adoption. As Head of Ed Tech at DCME, and Country Director of DynaQuest Technology Services, she has demonstrated professional excellence and integrity in advancing digital transformation across education, healthcare, and enterprise sectors.

Her most impactful achievement is the founding of Women in Blockchain Philippines (2019), a national platform that has trained and mentored hundreds of women in blockchain literacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Through this initiative, she has positioned Filipino women at the forefront of emerging technologies, earning recognition as one of LinkedIn’s 100 Most Influential Filipino Women (2021–2023) and among the Top 20 Women in Blockchain globally (2024).

Macapagal’s leadership extends to national policy and cybersecurity. As Founding Member of the Cybersecurity Council of the Philippines and Education Head of the Global AI Council, she has shaped strategic frameworks for responsible tech governance. In 2025, she launched Cyber S|Heroes and Youth for CyberPeace PH, two pioneering programs that promote digital safety, peacebuilding, and civic engagement among Filipino youth.

Her civic impact includes board service at Humanility.org, which supports rescued children through digital literacy and rehabilitation, and active leadership in school-based parent associations. She is a Founding Member of Digital Innovation for Women Advancement and Global Women Who Rule, amplifying women’s voices in tech and business.

Macapagal is a sought-after speaker at global forums, including TEDx Forbes Park and the ASEAN Institute of Peace and Reconciliation, where she delivered keynotes on cybersecurity cooperation and inclusive innovation. Her published work, Pinay Lady Boss, documents the journeys of women leading in finance and technology.

Gail Macapagal exemplifies the TOWNS vision through her dedication to, inclusive digital empowerment, and unwavering commitment to shaping a future where technology serves the public good.

Maria Cielo Magno – Financial Accountability and Good Governance

Cielo D. Magno is a distinguished economist, educator, and public servant whose career exemplifies professional excellence, pioneering leadership, and transformative societal impact. As Professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics and former Undersecretary for Fiscal Policy at the Department of Finance, she advanced equitable, transparent, and data-driven governance in the Philippines.

Her most impactful achievement can be seen in her leadership in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), both nationally and globally. As a Philippine EITI lead advocate and international board member, she worked to institutionalized transparency in mining, oil, and gas to ensure that revenues are disclosed, audited, and equitably distributed. In addition, Cielo worked with civil society groups on disclosure of social and environmental impacts of extractive industries. These reforms empowered local governments and communities, reduced corruption, and promoted environmental safeguards and responsible resource management.

Magno’s pioneering drive was evident during her tenure at the Department of Finance (2022– 2023), where she championed reforms in tax policy, debt management, and equitable public spending. Her principled opposition to rice price caps—grounded in sound economic analysis—demonstrated moral courage and professional integrity. Her resignation from government service reaffirmed her commitment to ethical governance over political expediency.

The impact of her work spans academia, civil society, and public discourse. As a professor, she mentored future leaders in public finance and development. Her research on mining taxation, fiscal decentralization, and health reforms has shaped national policy. Through organizations like Action for Economic Reforms and Bantay Kita, she has advanced tax justice and inclusive growth. She also simplifies complex economic issues through social media platforms, educating the public on good governance, fiscal accountability, and national budgeting.

Cielo Magno embodies the TOWNS vision through her unwavering dedication to truth, equity, and sustainability—proving that principled leadership and informed public service can transform institutions and empower communities.

Lorelie Quiambao Osial – Business Innovation and Corporate Citizenship

Lorelie Quiambao Osial is a pioneering global energy industry leader, currently serving as Country Chair of Shell Companies in the Philippines, President and CEO of Shell Pilipinas Corporation, Chair of Shell Energy Philippines, and President of Pilipinas Shell Foundation (PSFI). With over two decades of international experience across the Philippines, Middle East, and globally she has demonstrated transformational leadership, the ability to navigate complex, multicultural environments and care for people.

Under her stewardship, Shell provides the energy needs of the Filipinos today and the future, significantly advancing its energy transition agenda to Power Progress in the Philippines — reducing carbon emissions, pioneering renewable energy to power EV fast chargers, launching carbon-neutral lubricants, supporting nature-based solutions, supplying liquefied natural gas and promoting sustainability. Shell provides cleaner flexible energy solutions to commercial and industrial clients and entered into renewable and battery energy storage system projects. These efforts have positioned Shell as a key driver of energy innovation in the Philippines.

A cornerstone of her leadership has been a steadfast commitment to ethical business practices which is fundamental to the company’s long-term sustainability and reputation. She reinforces a culture of integrity, ensuring adherence to the highest standards of corporate governance and transparency.

A strong advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and well-being, she also champions sustainability, environmental responsibility and community engagement.

She has further embedded strategic social performance into Shell’s operations, and through PSFI aligns with the delivery of UN SDGs and positively impacting over 16 million Filipinos to date.

Lorelie truly exemplifies the TOWNS standards of outstanding dedication and positive contribution to society through her courageous leadership, ethical governance, and unwavering commitment to sustainable development and inclusive nation-building.

Col. Francel Margareth Padilla – Cybersecurity, Military Service and Transformative Engagement with Local Communities

Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla is a decorated military officer, cybersecurity advocate, and national communicator whose 29-year career in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) exemplifies professional excellence, pioneering leadership, and transformative public service. As the first female AFP Spokesperson in 88 years and Commander of the Media and Civil Affairs Group, she has redefined military public affairs—transforming the role into a strategic platform for civic engagement, crisis communication, and national unity.

Her most impactful achievement is the creation and leadership of the “Cyber for Peace” initiative, a grassroots movement that promotes digital literacy, cybersecurity awareness, and civic responsibility. Through lectures, radio programs, and community outreach, she has reached thousands of citizens, positioning cyberspace as a domain for peacebuilding and national resilience. Her work earned her global recognition as the 2023 Cybersecurity Woman Leader of the Year, selected from among experts in 59 countries.

As Battalion Commander of the 7th Signal Battalion, she led C4S operations across Northern Luzon, modernizing military communications and cybersecurity systems. Her command combined tactical precision with compassionate leadership, laying the digital backbone for secure operations in both military and civilian contexts.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was the designated Information Systems officer of the National Task Force Against Covid 19, coordinating vaccine rollouts, laboratory setups, and inter-agency systems integration. Her logistical and technical contributions supported the delivery of over 210 million vaccine doses nationwide.

Earlier in her career, she served as security officer to Philippine Presidents and foreign dignitaries, including Queen Sofia of Spain and President Park Geun-hye of Korea, demonstrating discipline, discretion, and integrity in high-stakes diplomatic missions.

Colonel Padilla embodies the TOWNS vision through her strategic leadership, ethical service, and dedication to national security, digital empowerment, and civic education—proving that patriotism can be both high-tech and deeply human.

Katherine Ann Reyes – Service, Research and Leadership in Public Health Delivery

Dr. Katherine Ann V. Reyes is a physician, public health leader, and researcher whose career bridges science, practice, and policy to advance health equity in the Philippines. As Research Assistant Professor and Program Lead of the Health Promotion Program at the UP Manila National Institutes of Health, she is pioneering the establishment of the Health Promotion Research Institute, a national initiative aligned with the Universal Health Care law. Within two years, she mobilized 24 research teams and secured multiple grants to address priority health promotion issues such as vaccine uptake and curbing unhealthy behavior.

Her most impactful achievement is the founding of the Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes (AIHO), a nonprofit that has engaged to date over 1,000 professionals in public health projects funded by DOH, PhilHealth, UNICEF, and WHO among others. As inaugural Executive Director (2014–2017), she led the development of three PhilHealth benefit packages, evaluated two national health policies, and contributed to the institutional design of the Health Technology Assessment system. AIHO also incubated the Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians and Women in Global Health Philippines, both of which she continues to serve in leadership capacity.

Dr. Reyes has contributed in shaping national policy through technical advising for DOH, USAID, and international organizations like the WHO. Her research projects informed the design of interventions to expand PhilHealth coverage for mothers and newborn , primary care, and children with disabilities. She supported ordinance development for strengthening private sector midwives’ role in maternal and reproductive health across 77 LGUs, and led HIV financing reforms in three high burden cities. Her work also informed DOH Administrative Order 2025-0002, establishing the Philippine Network for Health Policy and Systems Research.

As an educator, she has taught and mentored students across UP Manila, UP Open University, and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, including the DOH Doctors to the Barrios cohort. She consistently receives outstanding teaching evaluations and supervises graduate research in health policy and systems.

Dr. Katherine Ann V. Reyes exemplifies the TOWNS vision through her courageous leadership, evidence-based advocacy, and enduring commitment to building a healthier, more equitable Philippines.

Georgina Ann Hernandez Yang – Leadership in Innovations in Local Governance and Education

Georgina Ann Hernandez Yang is a distinguished public servant, social development leader, and governance innovator whose 18-year career exemplifies professional excellence, pioneering zeal, and transformative impact on marginalized communities. As Assistant

Secretary for Governance and Operations at the Department of Education, she pioneers cross-sector collaboration to advance inclusive and learner-centered reforms in basic

education. Her work has mobilized support from Southeast Asian ministries and global

partners to strengthen learner rights protection and improve learners’ health and wellbeing.

Her most impactful achievement is the transformation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) into a community-driven, market-oriented strategy for economic empowerment. As National Program Manager, she scaled the program from 40,000 to approximately 700,000 families in four years, integrating post-disaster recovery, value chain development, and inclusive employment for rebel returnees and persons with disabilities.

As founding head of Angat Buhay under Vice President Leni Robredo, Hernandez Yang linked 179 LGUs with over 200 partners to deliver livelihood, health, and education services to 83,707 families. She pioneered participatory approaches to local governance, including the Women Entrepreneurship Summit and Angat Kabuhayan jobs-matching program.

Her leadership at Galing Pook Foundation elevated local governance innovation through new awards programs and capacity-building for LGUs. She forged partnerships with international donors and BARMM institutions to promote peace, resilience, and social cohesion, contributing to the development of the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code and its implementing rules.

Hernandez Yang’s lifelong commitment to participatory development began with the Sumilao farmers’ land rights campaign, where she co-founded a social enterprise for indigenous women farmers. Her work continues to center the voices of vulnerable groups in policy and program design, from grassroots to national platforms.

Georgina Ann Hernandez Yang embodies the TOWNS vision through her principled leadership, inclusive governance, and zealous commitment to empowering communities toward sustainable development.