BAYI CENTENNIAL AWARDEES
DR. HELENA Z. BENITEZ, PhD
Educator, Civil Society Leader, Women’s Advocate, Legislator, Stateswoman, Diplomat, Environmental Pioneer
First Filipina chair of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (1969)
Senator, 1968-1973
First Filipina and first woman president of the Governing Council of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP, 1975)
First Filipina and 1st woman member of the Board of the International Association of Universities
MARGARITA “Maita” GOMEZ
A feminist activist, researcher, writer, professor
Principal Organizer/ Secretary-General of WOMB
Founding Member/ Chairperson of its Metro Manila Council of GABRIELA
Principal Organizer/ Secretary-General of KAIBA, the first women’s political party in the Philippine
Senior Policy Analyst/Trustee (Member of the Management Collective of Action for Economic Reforms (AER)
Coordinator of Bantay Kita (a national network advocating transparency in the mining industry)
DR. JUNICE D. MELGAR, MD
A medical doctor- activist dedicated to transforming health policies and programs for women based on social justice, women’s empowerment and participatory democracy
A community-based health program practitioner and advocate for over 25 years, author/co-author of articles and policy papers on reproductive health and reproductive rights, and health system reforms
Co-founder and Executive Director of Likhaan Center for Women’s Health since 1995
Secretary-General of Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN)
ANA MARIA “Princess” NEMENZO
An indefatigable Socialist-Feminist
Organizer/founder of Abating Makabayan, the Women’s Bureau of the Kabataang Makabayan
Member, KALAYAAN
A pioneer champion of reproductive health and reproductive rights
Founder of WomanHealth; a member of the Steering Committee of DOH for the development of the concept of Women’s Health and Safe Motherhood, and Health Partners Group of the Department of Health
President of the Freedom from Debt Coalition in 2007-2008
International Convenor of the NGO Forum on ADB in Southeast Asia
The first Vice-Chairperson for the basic sector of the National Anti-Poverty Commission in 1999; member of the Coordinating Committee of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)- Philippines
HON. SANTANINA TILLAH RASUL
The Philippine’s first Muslim woman senator
Co-author of the RA 7192 or the Women in Development and Nation-Building Act of 1995.
Sponsor of RA 6949, the law declaring March 8 of every year as National Women’s Day in the Philippines
Before elected Senator, she was a public school teacher, a barangay councilor, a provincial board member, a Commissioner representing Muslim and other indigenous peoples, a member of the Board at Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports
Honorary Ambassador of UNESCO during the International Literacy year of 1990
NELIA SANCHO
Chairperson, GABRIELA, the coalition
National Coordinator, Lolas Kampanyera, a Filipino “Comfort Women” survivors group
President and Executive Director, Streetchildren and Child Workers Support Center
AIDA F. SANTOS
A feminist, human rights advocate, researcher, educator, trainer, and mentor
Palanca award- winning literary writer
Founder of KALAYAAN, 1983, founding member of the Gender Resource Network (GRN)
Founding member of Women’s Education, Development, Productivity and Research Organization (WeDpro)
A moving force behind WeDpro’s gender responsive development programs, projects and activities
A moving force behind the feminist collective’s gender responsive development programs, projects and activities
DR. LETICIA RAMOS-SHAHANI, PhD
A legislator for women
She introduced the mandatory annual budget allocation of 5% for gender and development from every department and agency of the government
authored was RA 6725, entitled “Strengthening the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Women in the Workplace, Amending the Labor Code of the Philippines
District Representative, 8th and 9th Congress,
Senator, 10th Congress
Commissioner, National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women, 1974 to 1976
Assistant Secretary for United Nations and International Organizations, 1969 to 1975
Dean, College of International, Humanitarian & Development Studies, Miriam College, 2008-present
DR. CAROLYN ISRAEL SOBRITCHEA, PhD
Director of the University of the Philippines’ Center for Women’s Studies from 2000-2007. Deputy Director for Training and Extension Service from 1991-1999.
Helped establish the women’s/gender studies programs of the various universities in the country and some Asian countries; and, headed a project of the UP Center for Women’s Studies on the establishment of women’s/gender resource centers in seven regions of the country.
She currently serves in the advisory board of the Asian Women’s Studies Association and country convenor of the Women’s/Gender Studies Network in Asia.
Authored and edited several books, journal articles, policy papers and advocacy materials on women’s issues.
MARIANITA “Girlie” VILLARIBA
A feminist that possess the conscience and consciousness of a babaylan
A woman that is a “work-in-progress”, a lifelong learner
Babaylan Psychologist and Bodytalk health system practitioner, 2000-2011
Co- Founder, Treasurer, Resident Senior Trainor, Gender Specialist
of Marikina-Antipolo Watershed Initiative, 2010 -2011
Coordinator-Member, Technical Working Group of EcoAcademy Governing Board Member, 2009-2011
Executive Director of ISIS Manila International, 1994 – 1998
Founding Executive Director of Center for Women’s Resources (CWR), 1982 – 1985
Co- Founding Organizer of Gabriela (General Assembly Binding women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action), Womb and Samakana, women’s pioneer formations during the martial law period