Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Republic of the Philippines/ Repúblika ñg Filipinas (Female Suffrage 1937) Spanish Rule till 1898,
US-Rule 1898-1946, Independent 1946
Also see
1948-54 Commissioner
of Social Welfare Asunción Arriola Perez
1949-54 Cabinet Member
Between 1941-44 Lieutenant Colonel in the resistance movement in Pacific War.
1954-55 Administrator of Social
Welfare Welfare Pacita Madrigal Warns
Senator 1955-61 and among others Chairperson of the Social Justice Committee.
1957-61 Administrator of Social
Welfare Ampora Villamor
1961 Administrator of Social
Welfare Tecla San Andres-Ziga
Senator 1963-69. (b. 1906-..).
1963–64 Secretary of Agrarian
Reform Claudette Caliguiran
An author, she worked in the Foreign Ministry from the 1940's and Minister to
West Germany 1959-64. She lived (1905-2007).
1972-78 Secretary of Social Affairs
Estefania Aldaba-Lim
She lived (1917-2006)
1975-77 Commissioner of National
Integration Moma Sinsuat
1978-84 Secretary of Resettlement Imelda Ramúaldez Marcos
1978-83 Secretary of Ecology
1982-84 Member of Executive Council of Cabinet
1992 and 1998 Presidential Candidate
Between 1975-86 Governor of Manila, 1987-1993 Leader New Society Movement Party.
Married to President Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled as a dictator for many years
until 1987. (b. 1927-)
1978-86 Secretary of Social Affairs
and Development Sylvia P. Montes
1981-82 Undersecretary of Social Security and Development Carmencita Reyes
Since 1998 Governor of Marinduque.
Around 1982 Undersecretary of Budget Dakila Fonancier
Around 1982 Undersecretary of
Education and Culture Helena Benitez
Around 1982 Undersecretary of
Education and Culture Felicita G. Bardino
Around 1982 Undersecretary of Tourism
Dolores Sison
Around 1982 Assistant Secretary of
Agriculture Aurora B. Marcos
Around 1982 Assistant Secretary of
Agriculture Josefina A. Saldana
Around 1982 Assistant Secretary of
Agriculture Nelia T. Gonzales
Around 1982 Assistant Secretary of
Social Service and Development Rosita L. Fundevilla
1986-92 Executive President and
Head of the Cabinet Maria Corazón Cojuangco Aquino(25.2-30-6)
Leader of the opposition after the murder of her husband Ninoi Aquino in 1986,
1998 among the senior advisors of the new President Estrada. Born Maria Corazón
Sumulong Cojungaco, and mother of 4 children. She lived (1933-2009)
1986-87 Secretary of Economic
Planning Solita “Winnie” Collas-Monsod
1987-89 Cabinet Minister, Director General for the National Economic and
Development Department.
1986-90 Secretary of Education,
Culture and Sports Lourdes
Sevilla Quisumbung
Between 1990-92 Ambassador and Secretary General of UNESCO National Commission
in the Philippines and Member of the Executive Board in Paris.
1986-89? Secretary of Social
Services Dr. Minita Pardo de Tavera
1986-89? Cabinet Minister, Head of
President's Commission on Human Rights Mary Concepçion Bautista
1986-87 Undersecretary of Foreign
Affairs Leticita Ramos-Shahani
Between 1975-78 Ambassador to Rumania, Hungary and German Democratic Republic,
1978-80 to Australia, 1981-86 Assistant Secretary General to The UN for Social
Development and Humanitarian Affairs. 1987-99 Senator and Chairperson of the
Foreign Affairs Committee,
1993-96 President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Her
brother, Fidel Ramos, was President 1992-98. (b. 1929-)
1992-95 and 2001-03 Undersecretary of Finance
2002-03 First Undersecretary of Finance
2003-05 Secretary of Finance
Later Member
of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank.
1987-89 Assistant Secretary of
Trade and Industry Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal-Arroyo
1989-92 Undersecretary of Trade and Industry
1998-2001 Executive Vice-President
1998-2000 Secretary of Social
Development and Welfare
2001-10 Executive President (20.01-)
2002 Minister of Foreign Affairs
2003 Minister of Defence
2003 Minister of Foreign Affairs
2006-07 Minister of Defence
Gloria Arroyo
was Senator 1992-98. The President charged her with the leadership of the
Cabinet Meetings, but in 2000 she resigned from the cabinet after accusations against President Estrada for corruption.
MP from 2010. Daughter of the late President
Diosdado Macapagal and Dr. Evangeline Macaraeg-Macapagal, mother of two sons and
a daughter (b. 1947-)
1987-82 Assistant Secretary Lirio
Abuyan
1987-8 Executive Secretary to
President Luz Cleta Reyes-Bakunawa
The executive secretary in charge of the Cabinet and the highest ranking
Secretary, whose office is placed
in the Office of the President. Member of the House of
Representatives
1987-89 Undersecretary of Tourism
Narzalina Lim
1989-92 Secretary of Tourism
1993-98 Undersecretary of Tourism
1987-1993
Assistant Secretary of Science and Technology Amelia C. Ancog
1993-2000
Undersecretary of Science and Technology
1995 and
1996
Acting Secretary of Science and Technology
(b.1933-).
1987-92 Assistant Secretary of
Social Welfare and Development Corazon Alma C. de Leon
1992 Undersecretary of Social Welfare and Development
1992-95 Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
1987-88 Assistant Secretary of
Education Patricia Sto. Tomas
2001-06 Secretary of Labour and
Employment
Patricia Aragon Santo Tomas was Administrator of DOEA/DDLE 1982-87 and 1988. Chairperson of the Civil
Service Commission 1988-95 and Chairperson of the Board of Development Bank of
the Philippines since 2006.
1987-90 Chairperson of the Cabinet
Commission of Immigration and Deportation Maria Defensor Santiago
Around 1990 Undersecretary of Agricultural Reform 1992 and 1998 Presidential
Candidate
Since 1991 Chairperson of People’s Reform Party
1989-91 Assistant Secretary of
Budget and Management Emilia T. Boncodin
1991-98 Undersecretary of Budget and Management
1998 and 2001-05 Secretary of Budget and Management
2002-04 Secretary of Environment and Natural
Resources
From 1991-2002 Bebet Gozun, as she is
also known, worked in various private companies. (b. 1952-)
1992-92 Secretary of Labour Marie
Nieves E. Confessor
1992-93 Presidential Spokesperson
Anabella T. Abaya
1992-96 Leader of President's Management Staff of the National Security Council
1992-98 Undersecretary of Social
Welfare and Development Leticia A. Moises
1992-98 Undersecretary of Social
Welfare and Development Flora C. Euremio
1992-96 Undersecretary of Tourism (Guiller)mina
Gabor
1996-98 Secretary of Tourism
1992-98 Undersecretary of
Transportation and Communication Josefina Trinidad-Lichauco
1998 Acting Secretary of Transportation and Communication
2000-01 Undersecretary of Transportation and Communication
Until 1992 Undersecretary of Trade and Industry
1992 Acting of Trade and Industry
2000-2001 Senior Undersecretary of
Trade and Industry,
Special Trade Negotiator
Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission
Ambassador and Permanent
Representative to WHO, ILO and other international
Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland 1992-99.
From 2004 Ambassador to Belgium, EU etc.
1993-98 Undersecretary of Agrarian
Reform Corazun del Rosarie
1995-96
and 1998 Secretary of Social Welfare
and Development Lilian Laigo
1996 Acting Secretary of Tourism
Evelyn B. Pantrig
Circa 1996-2009 Undersecretary of Tourism
2001-10 Secretary of Science and
Technology
In 1998 the department had two female undersecretaries and two female assistant
secretaries. Only the Secretary was a man.
2006-2007 and 2010- Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs for
Policy
2011 (18-22.02) Acting
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Ambassador to Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuenia 1997-2003
and later Head of the Foreign Affairs Institute and Permanent Representative to
the United Nations in Geneva 2007-2010. (b. 1944-)
1995-96 Assistant Secretary of
Foreign Affairs for America Alicia C. Ramos
2002-03 Assistant Secretary of Foreign Affairs for Asean
2003-05 (†) Asistant Secretary of Foreign Affirs for Asian and Pacific Affairs
Ambassador to Romania 1990-93, Singapore, 1993-95 and New Zealand 1996-2002, she
was murdered in her home, and lived (1960-2005).
1996-98
and 1998-99
Secretary of Health Carmencita Reodica
1996-98 Cabinet Member Amina
Rasul-Bernado
1996-99 Presidential Advisor for Youth Affairs
1997-2002
and 2009-10 Undersecretary of Foreign
Affairs Rosario G. Manalo
Between 1981-87 Ambassador to the European Communities, 1990-95 to France,
1995-97 to Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
Ca.1997-2000 Undersecretary of
Finance Maria Cecilia G. Soriano
1997-2009 Assistant Secretary of Trade
and Industry Zenaida Cuison-Maglaya
Ca.1997-98 Chairperson and Director of the Economic Zone Authority Lilia B. de
Lima
1997-2001 Assistant Secretary of
Social Welfare and Development Luwalhati F. Pablo
2001-10 Undersecretary of Social Welfare and
Development
2006 Acting Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
1998 Secretary of Education,
Culture and Sport Erlinda C. Perifanco
1998-99 Undersecretary of Education, Culture and Sport
1998-2001 Secretary of Tourism
Gemma Teresa Guerrero Cruz-Araneta
Resigned during the protests against President Estrada, who was accused of corruption. In 1964 she was Miss International as the first Asian winner of the
Beauty Contest.
1998-2001 Member of the Cabinet and
Chief of Presidential Legal Council Henrietta Demetrieou
1998-2000 Cabinet Secretary and
Presidential Secretary Leonora Vazques-De Jesus
2000-01 Secretary of
Housing
2001-04 Officer-in-Charge of the Housing and Urban Development Coordination
Council
Resigned during the protests against President Estrada
1998-2001 National Treasurer Leonor Magtolis Briones
2016- Secretary of
Education
1998-99 Assistant of the President
for Agrarian and Legal Reforms Milagros A. German
1998-2000 Undersecretary of Budget
and Management Irene G. Paleja
1998-2009 Undersecretary of Health
Milagros L. Fernandez
1998-2009 Undersecretary of Health
Margarita M. Galon
1998-2000 Undersecretary of Health
Teresita Dela Cruz
1998-99 Undersecretary of Social
Welfare and Development Milagros I. Llanes
In 1998 both the secretary (Gloria Arrayo), the two undersecretaries and the two
assistant secretaries were women.
1998-2009 1. Undersecretary of Social
Welfare and Development Belinda C. Manahan
1998-99 Assistant Secretary of
Agriculture Marinela R Castillo
1998-2000 Assistant Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Ofelia B. Castaño
1998-2000 Assistant Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Zenaida Tarcorda
Rabago
Circa 1998-99 Assistant Secretary of
Foreign Affairs for European Affairs Luz R. Palacios
Circa 1998-99 Assistant Secretary of
Foreign Affairs for Asean Affairs Emelinda D. Pineda
1998-99 Assistant Secretary of
Interior and Local Government Yolanda Maria L. de Leon
1998-2009
Assistant Secretary of
National Defence Leticia A. Gloria
1998-2000 Assistant Secretary of
Budget and Management Cynthia G. Castel
2000-09 Undersecretary of Budget and Management
1998-2000 Assistant Secretary of
Budget and Management Narcisa O. Santos
1998-2004 Assistant Secretary of Budget
and Management Laura B. Pascua
1998-2004 Assistant Secretary of Energy Flordeliza M. Andres
1998-10 Assistant Secretary of
Finance Ma. Eleanor
F. Dela Cruz
1998-2004 Assistant Secretary of
Justice Elvira P. Atanacio
1998-2004 Assistant Secretary of
Justice Teresita
D. Lucas
1998-2000 Assistant Secretary of
Science and Technology Lydia G. Tansinsin
1998-2001 Assistant Secretary of
Science and Technology Imelda D. Rodriguez
1998-2004 Assistant Secretary of Social
Welfare and Development Celia C. Yangco
2005 and 2010 Acting Secretary of Social Welfare and Developmen
1998-2009 Assistant Secretary of Social
Welfare and Development Rhoda F. Yap
1998-10 Assistant Secretary of
Tourism Ma. Theresia I. Martinez
1998-99 Assistant Secretary of
Transportation and Communication Teresitia S. Valdez
1999-2009
Undersecretary of Trade and Industry Nelly F. Villafuerte
Afterwards Member of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank.
1999-2002 Undersecretary of Health
Susan Pineda-Mercado
1999-2004 Assistant Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Rosalinda V. Tirona
Ambassador to India, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam circa 1987-98 and to Tanzania and
Burundi, Comoros, Dhjibuti, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, Seychelles,
Somalia, and Uganda.
Circa 1999-2000 Assistant Secretary
of Foreign Affairs Milagros R. Perez
Circa 1999-2000 Assistant Secretary
of Finance Lily K. Gruba
2000-02 Undersecretary of Finance
1999-2000 Assistant Secretary of
Public Works and Highways Linda M. Templo
1999 Assistant Secretary of Labour
and Employment Carmela I. Torres
1999-2002 Assistant Secretary of
Transportation and Communication Estelita G. Adriano
1999-2004
Assistant Secretary of
Education, Culture and Sport Fe A. Hidalgo
2004-06 Undersecretary of Education
2006-07 Acting Secretary of Education
1999-2001 Assistant Secretary of Health Cecilia Banca-Santos
1999-2009
Assistant Secretary of Health Zenaida O. Ludovice
1999-2002 First Undersecretary of
Labour and Employment Rosalinda D. Baldoz
1999-2004 Assistant Secretary of Labour
and Employment Reydeluz D. Conferido
2009-10 Under Secretary of Labour
and Employment
1999-2001 Undersecretary of Social
Welfare and Development Felicidad I. Villareal
1999-2000 Assistant Secretary of
Social Welfare and Development Gloria S. Mallane
1999-2000 Assistant Secretary of
Social Welfare and Development Ruth E. Layug
2000-02 Assistant Secretary of Tourism
2001 Acting Secretary of Tourism
2002-09 Assistant Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
1999-2000 Assistant Secretary of
Social Welfare and Development Gloria S. Mallane
1999-2000 Assistant Secretary in
the Office of the Press Secretary Rosario P. Dizon
1999-2004
Assistant Secretary in the Office of the Press Secretary
Carmen S. Suva
2000-01 Secretary of Social Welfare
Dulce Sasuinsag
Resigned during the protests against the regime of President Estrada in January
2001.
2000-04 Assistant Secretary of Social
Welfare and Development Lourdes G. Balanon
2000-02 Assistant Secretary of
Agriculture Maria Celia H. Fernandez
2000-10 Assistant Secretary of Budget
and Management Evelyn V. Guerrero
2000-04 Assistant Secretary of
Environment and National Resources Paula P. Defensor
2000-04 Assistant Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Victoria S. Bataclan
2000-01 Assistant Secretary of
Interior and Local Administration Carolina Z. Mangwang
2000-2001 Assistant Secretary of
Science and Technology Flordeliz S. Melendez
2001-05 and 2010-16 Secretary of Social Welfare
and Development Dinky Juliano-Soliman
Her full name is Corazon Julian N. Soliman
2001-04 Member of the Cabinet and
Secretary of
the Presidential Management Staff Victoria Garchitorena
2001-05 Member of the Cabinet and
Leader of the National Anti-Powerty Commission Teresita Ging Quintos-Deles
2010-16
Secretary and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
2001-09 Deputy Executive Secretary
for Finance and Administration Susanja Vargas
2001-02 Assistant Secretary of Agrarian Reform Antoniette R. Raquiza
2001-02 Undersecretary of
Agriculture Demaree J.B. Raval
2001-02 Undersecretary of
Agriculture Arsenia M. Balisacan
2001-02 Assistant Secretary of
Agriculture Maria Theresa C. Capellan
2001-09 Assistant Secretary of
Education, Culture and Sport Marina Lourdes G. De Vera
2001-04 Assistant Secretary of
Environment and National Resources Mylene G. Albano
2001-04 Assistant Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Belen F. Anotna
2001-04
Undersecretary of Justice
Manuela T. Teehankee
2001-09 Assistant Secretary of the
Press Office Carolina Z. Mangawang
2001-02 Assistant Secretary of
Health Cecilia Banca-Santos
2002-03 Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs
for International Economic Relations
2003-04 Secretary of Foreign Affairs
2004-05 Presidential Advisor for Multilateral Cooperation and Development and
Natural Resources
Delia Domingo Albert
A career diplomat since 1967 among others as
Ambassador to Australia, Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu and
the ASEAN, Ambassador to Germany since 2005. (b. 1942-).
2002-10 Assistant Secretary of
Agriculture Belinda A. Gonzales
2002-05 Assistant Secretary of Education, Culture and Sport Blanquita Bautista
2002-09 Undersecretary of Finance Nieves L. Osorio
2002-04 Assistant Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Lourdes G. Morales
2002-04 Assistant Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Minerva Jean A. Falcon
2002-10 Assistant Secretary of
Science and Technology Jocelyn G. Alvarado
2002-04 Assistant Secretary of Trade
of Industry Minerva P. Franco
2002-04 Assistant Secretary of
Transport and Communication Lydia S. Malvar
2002-04 Assistant Secretary of
Transport and Communication Delia R. Hoy-Ganden
2003-04 Undersecretary of Interior and Local Government
2004 Undersecretary of Justice's
2004 and 2007 Acting Secretary of
Justice
2007-09 Solicitor General
2009 Acting Secretary of Justice Agnes V.S.T. Devanadera
Candidate for a seat in the Supreme Court in
2009.
2004 Acting Secretary of Justice Maria
Mereditas N. Gutierrez
She was Undersecretary of Justice from before 2003.
Chief
Presidential Legal
Counsel from 2004.
2004-09 Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange
Commission Fe Barin
2004-05 Secretary General of the National Anti-Poverty Commission Imelda
M. Nicolas
2010- Cabinet Secretary and
Chairperson of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas
A Senior Presidential Advisor until her resignation.
2004-10 Assistant Secretary of Justice Teresita R.
Domingo
2004-98 Assistant Secretary of Justice
Lydia D. Resurreccion
2004-10 Assistant Secretary of Tourism Maria
Theresa I. Martinez
Circa 2002-09 Undersecretary of Social Welfare for
Muslim Affairs Bai Omera H. Dianalan-Lucman
2004-09 Undersecretary of Finance Maria
Gracia P. Tan
2004-10 Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Sonia C. Brady
2004-09
Undersecretary of Education Bai Sandra S.
Ampatuan Sema
2004-09 Undersecretary of Science and Technology Eriberta
B. Nepomuceno
2004-10 Assistant Secretary
of Foreign Affairs Susan O. Castrence
Former Consul General,
Toronto, Canada
2004-10 Assistant
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teresita VG Barsana
Former Consul General in the Netherlands
2004-10 Assistant Secretary of
Foreign Affairs Ophelia A. Gonzales
Former Consul General to Hamburg,
Bremen, Niedersachsen, Schleswig Holstein,
Mecklenburg- Vorpommern, Sachsen Anhalt in Germany.
2004-10 Assistant Secretary of
Foreign Affairs for United Nations Maria Lourdes V. Ramiro-Lopez
Former UN-Official
2004-09 Assistant Secreary of Social Welfare and Development Alicia R. Bala
2004-09 Assistant Secretary of Health Dolores C. Castillo
2004-09 Assistant Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Analiza R. Teh
2004-09 Assistant Secretary
of Energy Griselda J.G. Bausa
2004-09 Assistant Secretary of Labour and
Employment Maria
Anthonette Velasco-Allones
2004-10 Assistant Secretary of Science and Technology Maripaz L. Perez
2004-10 Assistant Secretary of Agrarian Reform Rosalita T. Nunez
2004-09 Assistant Secretary of Trade and Industry Carissa P. Cruz
2004-10 Assistant Secretary of Trade and Industry and Chief of Staff Arlene Mendoza
2004-10 Assistant Secretary of Transport and Communications Cecilia V. Reyes
2006-10 Secretary of Social Welfare and
Development Dr. Esperanza Cabral
2010 Secretary of Health
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Finance Emilia
Cruz
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Finance Maria Teresa Habitan
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Finance Maria Lourdes Recente
2009-10 Undersecretary of Agrarian Reform Rosalina L. Bistoyong
2009-10 Under Secretary of Health Ethlyn P. Nieto
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Health Margarita M. Galon
2009-16 Assistant Secretary of Health Dr.
Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial
2016- Secretary of Health
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Health Lydia Fernandez
2009-10 Under Secretary of Justice Linda L. Malaneb-Hornilla
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Justice Teresita R: Domingo
2009-10 Under Secretary of Energy Loreta G. Ayson
2009-10 Under Secretary of Environment and National Resources Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering
2009-10 Under Secretary of Environment and National Resources Teresita Samon Castillo
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Interior and Local Government Encarnacion G. Blanco
2009-10 Under Secretary of Labour and Employment Carmelita M. Pineda
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Labour and Employment Luzuiminda G. Padilla
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Labour and Employment Lourdes M. Trasmonte
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Labour and Employment Rebecca J. Caezado
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Labour and Employment Maria Teresa Soriano
2009-10 Assistant Secretary Public Works and Highways Maria Catalin E. Cabral
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Science and Technology Dr. Carol M. Yorobe
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Science and Technology Maria Lourdes P. Orijola
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Social Welfare and Development Florita R. Villar
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Social Welfare and Development Parisya M. Taradji
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Social Welfare and Development Maria Theresa M. Alano
2009-10 Under Secretary of Tourism Cynthia L. Carrion
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Tourism Janet Rita B. Lazatin
2009-10 Assistant Secretary of Social Welfare and Development
2010 Acting Secretary of Education Mona Valisno
2010 Undersecretary of Education Vilma Labrador
2010 Under Secretary of Finance Crisanta S. Legazpi
2010 Under Secretary of Finance Estela V. Sales
2010-15 Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima
Senator from
2016.
2010-16 Secretary of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Baldoz
2010- Secretary and Head of the Commission on Higher Education Patricia Licuanan
2010-16 Secretary and Head of the Presidential Management Staff Julia Abad
2010- Cabinet Secretary and Chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority
Luwalhati Antonino
Her husband, Adelbert Antonino was Member of the House of
Representatives and Mayor Santos City as later their daughter, Darlene
Antonino-Custodio. Another daughter, Eliza Bettina R. Antonino, was Commissioner
of the Social Security System
2010- Cabinet Secretary and Chair of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Yasmin Busran-Lao
From 2010 the list of Under-Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries are not onlineLast update 07.12.16