Powerful Women Empowering Women

(Photo provided by the author)

Never underestimate the strength and power of a woman of substance — her great influence in humanity leaves footprints for all to follow. Our world needs powerful women like it needs air, water, and sunlight. The world thrives on Queens who are not afraid to build and lift others. A world full of women of indomitable will — both fierce and gentle — creates a balanced and harmonious environment. Our world needs women who are confident enough to stomp on eggshells that others tip-toed on to inspire others to shoulder on with courage. Always remember this: As women, we do not only provide the necessary essentials for life, but we also have the unique power to create life. Without women, the circle of life would be far from closed. I’m not just talking about biological children — I’m talking about ideas, books, films, songs, arts, humanitarian projects, business ventures, political careers, advocacies, and the lists are endless.

I am so excited to write this article because I’m featuring 9 strong and powerful Filipinas I totally admire. I carefully chose this women. They are much more than movers and shakers of a society — they are the hearts and souls of a society. I admire these women because their true power come from being the best versions of themselves. By being their best versions, they create a better world — a more compassionate, a kinder, and a progressive world with cracked glass ceilings. Above all, I admire them for their commitment to empower other women. Trust me, these women are on a league of their own!

Let’s get to know these powerful women empowering other women:

1. Bettina Lopez Osmeña. I admire this woman for her strength and courage, for her grace and compassion. She is the daughter of former Congressman Alberto Lopez of Iloilo and Chona Mejia Lopez. She is also the wife of former Senator Sergio Osmeña III. She is a loving mother of four grown children. This woman is more than someone’s wife, mother, or daughter — she is a brave breast cancer survivor, a staunch ally and supporter of micro-entrepreneurs, a successful businesswoman and Founder of Gourmet Corner (by the way, Gourmet Corner sells the best artisanal yogurt, different kinds of longganisa, frozen vegetarian dishes, healthy snacks, and other regional delicacies and imported items), she’s the hostess nonpareil, the woman we all wish we had as a Filipina First Lady (she’s the Michelle Obama of the Philippines). I chose my current partner because of the advice she once gave to her niece: “Well, remember this, a guy who makes you skip pizza is ‘not the one’.” What I truly admire about Bettina is her acknowledgment that she is wiser because of her mistakes.

Bettina on what motivates her to get up and start her day on a particularly difficult day: “Problems make your day hard.  Solving the problem is a big motivator.”

Bettina on finding strength when going through hardships: “I always discuss my problems with my family.  I want my children to be well equipped for the volleys of life and not be quitters.  We go through our hardships together and discuss solutions.  We are supposed to support one another.”

Bettina on why it is important to have strong female friendships: “We understand and relate easily to one another.  We are all motherly and caring by nature.”

Bettina on supporting other women: “I’m always available when they reach out to me and if I feel that their advocacies are something that I believe in, I provide my total support. I give back to the underprivileged by giving them the necessary tools and education they need to make their business a success.”

Bettina on who inspires her to live her best life and why: “God — who gave me my beautiful life — I have to show HIM that I did not waste the talent and blessings he gifted me with and of course, my family.  I want them all to live their best lives too and I have to be a good example to them.”

Bettina on the best advise she could give to younger women out there: “Know your strength and your passion. Don’t be afraid of failure. I just turned 60 and I’m still learning.  I just entered a new business venture.  I am making mistakes up to now.  At the end — your success is the sum of all your past failures.”

Bettina’s advise on beauty, health, and wellness: “Inner peace and happiness for beauty from within. I only use my beauty products — AloDerma which is an Aloe Vera based skin line.  We use certified organic Aloe Vera juice in our products, and we have extremely high concentrations on all our products.”

2. Cory Quirino. When I first saw Cory Quirino, I literally gasped! When she entered the room, she lit the whole venue! At that precise moment, I told myself: “I want to be like Cory Quirino someday!” It’s not just her physical beauty, Cory has this unique genuine spark of life that rubs off on others. She grew up privileged and raised by parents who valued integrity and humility, which provided Cory with a strong sense of family and personal purpose. Being known as the granddaughter of former President Elpidio Quirino provided Cory with a formidable role model — she knew at an early age and by instinct, the meaning of responsibility. Surrounded by four brothers, she was as carefree as ‘one of the boys’ — and just as competitive. Cory has always been headstrong and self-assured. She’s a product of the all-girl’s school, Assumption and to this day, Cory strives to live up to the spirit of their class motto “Magis” (Latin for: “Doing more and being greater”). She has built a successful and colourful career — two professions left an indelible mark on her: her long-time stint with Hyatt Regency Manila and until today, a 25-year dedication to TV and radio broadcasting as presenter and tv host. Not to mention, she is currently the president and national director of Mutya ng Pilipinas. She is also a former licensee and national director of Miss World Philippines and Mister World Philippines. She is also a dedicated humanitarian and a council member of one of the branch offices of the Philippine Red Cross.

Cory on what motivates her to get up and start her day on a particularly difficult day: “No two days will ever be alike. Each day brings with it new challenges. On difficult days, I remind myself to be more dedicated to the discipline of meditation or simply adopting a level of calm and composure. Ultimately, I surrender my day with faith in the belief that indeed, tomorrow the sun will rise! I practice positive self-talk and do my mind-body exercises. When things seem unwieldy, I face the mirror and affirm loudly to myself “You will overcome” Plus, let us not forget, I put on that winning smile.”

Cory on finding strength when going through hardships: “Prayer is the foundation of triumph. I start my day with Gratitude and Thanksgiving. Luke 18:27 comes to mind “What is impossible with man is possible with God”. Remember the saying “When you are down to nothing, God is up to something.”

Cory on why it is important to have strong female friendships: “Apart from a strong gift for empathy, women have a strong emotional capacity to bear pain. Thus, it makes sense to surround yourself with the strongest of women. Women instinctively nurture and protect. And this becomes a source of strength to those who are in need.”

Cory on supporting other women: “My Wellness Crusade is all about Empowering Women — body, mind and spirit.  This has manifested in the form of my best-selling book series “Forever Young” as well as countless seminars and webinars on the subject, plus my newspaper column in the Daily Tribune and other broadsheets in the past. Also, as Chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, an NGO in support of victims of crime, women who have become victims of crime come to us for support.”

Cory on who inspires her to live her best life and why: “My best life is a work in progress. It is the sum total of all that I can be as I live each day hopeful in the knowledge that there is so much more of me that I can be, not just for myself but for my family and for others. Who inspires me to be better than who I was yesterday? The answer is my God, Ed Shaddai who is Almighty. I see my daughter, Tamila and my grandchildren Sage and Alejandro as a source of inspiration. For them I strive to be admirable and noble. Ultimately, I refuse to let myself down. There is this ‘never-give-up’ attitude in me that will keep me going until victory is at hand.”

Cory on the best advise she could give to younger women out there: “You have your whole life ahead of you. Use it wisely and meaningfully. Respect your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit. Do not allow anyone to disrespect you in any way. You are a beautiful person that deserves only the best. So, do not settle for second best. Finally, learn to love yourself first. How can you give love to others if you do not have enough love for yourself? By learning how to love yourself, you will then begin to realize one truth: you do not need a man to define you. A man’s love does not and will not complete you. You need to be complete — whole and intact in your being in order to be ready to enter into a loving and fulfilling relationship.”

Cory’s advise on beauty, health, and wellness: “Health comes first before beauty. A healthy body is the foundation of true beauty. So, nourish yourself with whole foods, exercise daily, hydrate generously, sleep well, manage stress levels and adopt a happy disposition. Above all, be kind to yourself. And never forget to smile. When you smile, you attract only goodness in your life. Never forget your daily affirmations, ladies! Repeat after me: “I am beautiful!”

3. Babes Castro Newland. When I first met Babes, I was won over by her kindness and transparency. With Babes, what you see is what you get. I’m fortunate to call her as an extremely good friend — she will protect you from harm, she will stand by you, and she will nurture your friendship. Babes is a product of University of Sto. Tomas, having a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts. Babes worked as local-hire Trade Attachée (Commercial Officer) for the embassies of Finland, Sweden, and the Provincial Government of Quebec in the Philippines for 20+ years combined. During evenings and weekdays, Babes dabbled in fun and creative activities that she’s most passionate about — mentoring and managing popular band performers in the Philippines. Babes is now based in Vancouver and is happily married to a Saskatchewan born Canadian gentleman. She is a mother to two lovely and successful young women and a doting grandma to one. She currently works as a Manager for a popular signature luxury brands store for women in West Vancouver location.

Babes on what motivates her to get up and start her day on a particularly difficult day: “I just follow the “double G” rule— Grace and Gratitude. I wake up each morning in grace and with grateful heart. I co-exist with people around me in grace and gratitude. These two important words help me into becoming the better version of myself each day. And then, I choose to be happy everyday. Yes, it is a choice.”

Babes on finding strength when going through hardships: “Positive attitude and unwavering faith in God. I look at every hardship as an opportunity of testing one’s resilience and strength of character. And instead of looking at a glass half-empty, I always look at it half-full.”

Babes on why it is important to have strong female friendships: “They empower and motivate you to become a better version of yourself. But while it is important to have strong female friendships, it is equally important to discern whom you choose to establish that bond with. Real strong female friends don’t judge. They know your heart without the need for an explanation. They let you hear things as is, where is. Because honesty is the best foundation for authentic relationships. Strong female friends should lift you up when you’re down. After I’ve personally experienced failed friendships with some of so-called strong women who ended up judging me, it taught me to love and appreciate myself more. And I became much more discerning as to who I open up my heart to.”

Babes on supporting other women: “By just being there for them; listening to them talk about their dreams and aspirations. And sharing with them your own “success stories” and how you achieved them. By not becoming competitive and jealous of who they are and what they have.”

Babes on who inspires her to live her best life and why: “My late father, Ding J. Castro. Being his eldest (from his second marriage to our mom) offspring, I’ve essentially spent the most time with him before he passed at an incredibly young age. He lived his life respecting people from all walks of life. They all respected and loved him back in return. Engaging in socio-politics that got him exposed to graft and corruption as the norm, our dad chose to raise his family modestly within his means and with integrity. He talked the talk and walked the walk.”

Babes on the best advise she could give to younger women out there: “They should take their time out to smell the coffee. While they can be too ambitious and over-working themselves, they ought to enjoy life to the fullest while young and fulfil their dreams without surrender.”

Babes’ advise on beauty, health, and wellness: “There’s an old adage that goes, “beauty is skin-deep.” While I do have my non-negotiable daily beauty regimen (washing my face with oil-based purifier & applying 50spf sunblock even when just staying home), it is more crucial to have a happy and contented heart. For true beauty radiates from within. I supplement my joyful disposition with doing moderate exercises like brisk walking, stretching and yoga. I also take multi-vitamins (like half a dozen of them); drinking a cup of hot ginseng tea every the morning; lots of water (I only drink it warm) for skin hydration and cups of green & mint teas in between meals to aid digestion.”

4. Felice Prudente Sta.Maria.I met Felice with her husband, Andy Sta. Maria during my short stint at Sofitel Philippine Plaza. I had the pleasure of collaborating with them on a special event. Husband and wife were a real class act — a reminiscent of the old and golden era — when couples exude sheer elegance and unparalleled glamour. I was blown away by Felice’s politesse, intelligence, and kindness. She is a graduate of The University of the Philippines (Diliman) with a bachelor’s degree in speech and drama majoring in broadcasting. For over 50 years, Felice has been a writer of non-fiction specializing in Philippine heritage, and a cultural worker.  From writing for women’s and travel magazines in her early career, she moved on to newspapers maintaining a short daily culture vignette column and then a weekly opinion page column in the 1980s and 1990s. Her most recent book, Káin Ná, co-authored with Singaporean food explorer Bryan Koh and released by RPD Publications, is the first illustrated guide to Philippine cuisine. Her literary works have received recognition from National Books Awards, Gourmand World Cookbook Award rankings, and the Southeast Asian Writers Award. I am most inspired by her style of writing.

Felice on what motivates her to get up and start her day on a particularly difficult day: “No day will ever return; I remind myself emphatically. Why waste it. From an early age, I learned to appreciate time and not squander it.  Every day is an opportunity to bring loving, kindness, to share, to improve. As one brand and a song say: Just do it.”

Felice on finding strength when going through hardships: “I re-visit the arts and seek their spiritual upliftment. Today’s health science buttressed by neuropsychology and neuroaesthetics alert that one must take control of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. It is an holistic package. Experiencing art — from the visual to the performing — is a path to regain clear-mindedness, revive heart-sense, re-harmonize, and harness spiritual strength. Listening to Bach, Gregorian chants, and Arvo Part also helps. So does the tango.”

Felice on why it is important to have strong female friendships: “Women can relate to women in a way men cannot. Our responses to the natural physical and emotional developmental stages everyone goes through are different because we are women.  We know what it’s like from a female point of view.”

Felice on supporting other women: “Friendship intimate and steadfast is so important for women: honoring a confidence, listening without judging, sending a wig and bandanas post-chemotherapy, being silly, shopping together, sharing silence.  As reality and fiction both remind, one can encounter betrayal, mistruth, bullyism, and meanness in varying degrees. Being there for my women friends I see as supportive and an antidote to the treachery and disappointment they may have suffered. There are systemic failures. Many women and girls hurt from extreme machismo and even misogyny, lack of skills and unemployment, forced motherhood and pained poverty.  Thankfully, there are groups that seek short- and long-term solutions ranging from work, counseling, shelter, food, medical relief, legal aid, and scholarships. I put women for women efforts on the “must help” list.”

Felice on who inspires her to live her best life and why: “My late maternal grandfather believed I could do anything I set my mind to do.  That is indelible inspiration.  As a child, I had his encouragement and steadfast support to develop strong self-confidence.  He and my parents believed in self-achievement. Then I discovered the value of self-responsibility.  Opportunities presented themselves often because people believed in me. I never wanted to disappoint them, nor myself. It is self-expectation turned into passionate commitment: to aid the fundamental and sometimes undervalued role of culture in societal assessment, expression, and transformation. At this age, I try to cultivate successor generations. Martin Seligman’s work in positive psychology notes that having a purpose larger than one’s self can bring happiness.”

Felice on the best advise she could give to younger women out there: “Enjoy maturing as an adventure. Become aware of strengths. Make improvements even incremental where you feel they are needed. Expand one’s consciousness.  Be open to newness, wonder, tipping points that test adaptability. Value full wellness: the harmony of body, mind, emotion. Consider seeking to embody elegance in humility. Life is what we choose to make of it.”

Felice’s advise on beauty, health, and wellness: “Get quality sleep. The body heals and re-charges during sleep. When it needs more sleep than usual, the body will tell you. Aid blood and oxygen circulation. I massage my hands/wrists and feet/ankles touching acupressure points, daily. Lying down with legs raised perpendicular to the ground helps circulation and is relaxing. Do facial exercises. There are some I learned in the 1970s.  I still do them when I wake up and before sleeping.  I suppose they work. For example: Face the mirror and say E, then O. It tightens the jaw line muscles. Keep the body flexible. Basic, simple yoga asanas, chi gong, as well as easy and safe ballet bar exercises (like those learned as a child and a teen) are also helpful for overall health that reflects as beauty.”

5. Lanie Aquino. I admire this woman for her classic beauty, her demeanour, and her perseverance. Lanie comes from the Aquino family of Tarlac — one of the most prominent families in the Philippines because of their involvement in politics. She may be born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but this woman has found her own success in the modelling world and entrepreneurship. Lanie is extremely proud of her roots. She has fond memories of her days in Tarlac National High School where many famous Tarlaqueños went to school. Her grandmother, Maria Policarpio Beraton was the driving force behind Lanie and her family’s success — she taught them resilience, determination, tenacity, and yes that Aquino political will. Lanie’s father is the first cousin of the late Senator Ninoy Aquino — a man I so admire in the same breath that I admire Imelda Marcos, a long-time family friend.

Lanie on what motivates her to get up and start her day on a particularly difficult day: “Hard days come every so often, I motivate myself by simply believing that “it’s just a bad day and not a bad life.” Bad days come and go. Everything comes and goes, so I practice this “mindset”. Every morning I wake up and start thinking how grateful, thankful, and blessed I am for being given another day to enjoy life. Life is a blessing, a gift, we should not waste it. Do not worry about the bad times. Don’t overthink it. Keep an optimistic attitude, never lose your sense of humor and presence of mind. Be calm, be serene. Trust that all is well!”

Lanie on finding strength when going through hardships: “I pray a lot; I pray until my situation changes. I believe every sincere prayer is answered. Miracles happen everyday, so I never stop believing in God and His timing. He can change things in an instant. Prayer is the most important conversation of my day. His Grace is abundant, and my faith is strong!”

Lanie on why it is important to have strong female friendships: “Another greatest gift of life is friendship, and close female friends are truly life’s treasures. Sometimes they know us more than we know ourselves. They’re there to guide and support us. They’re there to share our laughter and our tears. Their presence in our lives remind us that we are not alone. True friends bring so much joy in our lives; life would truly be lonely without them. True and real friends can relate and understand — It’s a girl thing.”

Lanie on supporting other women: “If what they do is right up my alley — like an advocacy — I will be supportive; I will speak up for them. They have my voice. I will shout out with them! I also make it a point to support and patronize products made by women, to show that I truly support their causes. I’m also extremely active in giving support to women’s causes through social media. I like to share ideas, give words of encouragement to women’s causes. Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. Let us cheer each other on! Women should empower one another!”

Lanie on who inspires her to live her best life and why: “The one that inspires me the most is the LORD. He always reminds me that I deserve to live my best life. Hence, I am living it right now. His teachings, His leadings, are hard to do sometimes, but His words are lamps onto my feet — guiding my steps. He has restored my soul and made my heart sing again. He gave me the assurance that I am worthy of His Love and Grace. With God, I am inspired, knowing my soul is in a good place! Such Joy!”

Lanie on the best advise she could give to younger women out there: “BE BRAVE. Take calculated risks. Nothing can substitute experience. Be a warrior. Fight for what you believe in and never ever hold back. Focus on where you want to go not on what you fear. Do not give up when you find yourself face to face with an obstacle, instead continue forward with abandon. Keep the fire in your heart burning strong and do not ever let your flame fade away. Always remind yourself that whatever you’re fighting for — it is worth it! Believe in yourself. Love yourself, when you love yourself — you glow from the inside; you attract people who love, respect, and appreciate your energy. Everything starts with and how you feel about yourself. Start feeling worthy, valuable, and deserving of receiving the best life has to offer. Be authentic, be magnetic. Be humble! Just be your best version!”

Lanie’s advise on beauty, health, and wellness: “I wash my face with just soap and water, in the morning and moisturize. I do the same ritual at night. Smile often — it increases your face value. Smile is the best make up any girl can wear and it’s free. Be cheerful, apply it everyday till it becomes a habit; it’s the collagen of the skin. It will make you glow and pretty. Cheerfulness is a great beauty secret. Above all, LAUGH A LOT!”

6. Tessa Rama Belland.This woman has been a family friend for years — she’s family! I am in deep awe of her beauty. Her cheekbones are every woman’s desires. What I love about Tessa is her insight and outlook in life. Tessa has impeccable taste and style when it comes to beauty and fashion. She is a positive motivating force to her daughter and her friends. Tessa graduated with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management at La Consolacion University. Shortly after, she was discovered as a model for print ads and TV commercials in the 80’s. She was also sought after at catwalk modeling. Tessa is based in Vancouver, BC. Tessa is currently one of the top sellers for the prestigious and high-end Holt Renfrew luxury brands for the last 31 years. She is also a proud mother of one. I admire Tessa because of the way she raised her only daughter on her own. She is one strong and powerful woman on her own right.

Tessa on what motivates her to get up and start her day on a particularly difficult day: “My work motivates me, fashion is my passion, I enjoy what I do. My daughter and my friends motivate me.”

Tessa on finding strength when going through hardships: “Faith, believing that everything is temporary, things will always get better.”

Tessa on why it is important to have strong female friendships: “Female friendship is incredibly important because they are our pillars, gives you good support and understands us better.”

Tessa on supporting other women: “I am immensely loyal and a reliable friend. I am a good listener and non-judgemental.”

Tessa on who inspires her to live her best life and why: “I met a lot of amazing women in my job and learned so much from them. How to grow old gracefully, taking care of yourself financially, mentally, and physically. Not taking things personally. Enjoy life to the fullest.”

Tessa on the best advise she could give to younger women out there: “Don’t rely on anybody except yourself. Be independent. Know how to take care of yourself. Have your own freedom to create your own destiny.”

Tessa’s advise on beauty, health, and wellness: “I’m big in skin care. Eat well balanced food. “You are what you eat.” It’s true, don’t put junk food in your body. Exercise, you feel good when you do. Nature walk is the best. Yoga is part my lifestyle. Smile!”

7. Michelle Carillo. Michelle is someone who isn’t afraid to share her opinions and speak her truth. She listens, but she doesn’t allow other problems to bring her down. She is filled with kindness, generosity, compassion, integrity, determination, and authenticity. No matter what, she is true to herself. This lady is more than a beautiful fashionista — she is a devoted wife to a successful French-Canadian VP; she is a loving and supportive mother of four. She was a graduate of the Lyceum of the Philippines. Michelle used to work as an Italian interpreter and merchandiser for a fashion company in Manila (Linea Italia) and (Lilla International) Italy. She is currently working as VP — Sales for Hempur Body and Skin Care products.

Michelle on what motivates her to get up and start her day on a particularly difficult day: “On hard days — what motivates me to get up and start my day — is the mindset that I can do it and I will do it.”

Michelle on finding strength when going through hardships: “Whenever there are bad times, I remind myself of this Mantra: “This too shall pass.” Spiritual practices like meditation or just simply praying in silence help me move through bad times with a smile and hope for better days. Understanding that life is a transient phenomenon and always living in the present are the secrets to staying positive and optimistic during times of hardship.”

Michelle on why it is important to have strong female friendships: “I think strong female friendships are important because they can be the backbone of our support system. Associating with strong women makes us feel stronger too in the end. Strong women raise you up, not bring you down.”

Michelle on supporting other women: “I support other women by listening. By encouragement. Giving compliments. Connecting with other women. Sharing my knowledge. I support other women by collaborating, not by competing. I also show up physically and emotionally whether it’s sending them messages to check in, being a shoulder to cry on, and by supporting female-founded companies.”

Michelle on who inspires her to live her best life and why: “My husband and four kids inspire me to live my best life. Nothing inspires me more than the thought of my husband and kids being happy. It could be just as simple as cooking their favorite meal that I lovingly prepared or join them at doing their favorite sports activities. True fulfillment and happiness come from within. It starts when I see myself as high value and live a life that is true to me.”

Michelle on the best advise she could give to younger women out there: “The advice I could give to younger women is to have fun. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Don’t care what others think. Be as independent as you can financially, professionally, and in your own pursuits however much you love your partner and or family. Life is for living and your success is living your life to the fullest.

Michelle’s advise on beauty, health, and wellness: “Keep yourself hydrated. Exfoliate. Regular facial is a must. Coat your hair in a conditioner before a swim at the beach or the pool. Use sunscreen faithfully. Carry lip balm everywhere, you can moisturize cuticles, fix frizzy hair spots or cowlicks, or add a bit of glossiness to your eyelids. Wiggle your mascara horizontally through your lashes to create definition and separation.”

8. Abbygale Arenas.I mean seriously, who can resist Abbygale’s beauty and équilibre? A former representative of the Philippines in the 1997 Miss Universe Pageant, Fashion Model and TV personality, she has since ventured into the world of image consultancy where she could pass on her legacy of beauty and poise to others. Amongst her many achievements, she is a former board member of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP), and a former board member of the Philippine Society for Training and Development (PSTD). She is also a Certified Image Professional and the Past President of the Association of Image Consultants International — Philippine Chapter. The President of BNI — Business Network International, Genesis Chapter. She now works full-time as the Managing Director and Chief Trainer of Personi-fi Image Studio, Inc. The author of 88 Things Every Professional Should Know, Or Else. She is a wife to a celebrity photographer, Jun de Leon, and a mother to their sons — 19-year old Ijah and 4-year old Eli.

Abbygale on what motivates her to get up and start her day on a particularly difficult day: “Since the pandemic, I have set a routine to make work at home possible and organised, waking up the same time everyday and knowing what to do next gave me a sense of direction. Monday to Friday is still workdays and weekends is purely family time.”

Abbygale on finding strength when going through hardships: “Two words — Life integration! Seven months into this quarantine, it is now all about embracing a different normal. Professional life is integrated with my personal life, whether we like it or not. Using my family as a support system, it keeps me going even through the hardest days.”

Abbygale on why it is important to have strong female friendships: “I have a group of friends that I meet regularly through Zoom that’s all ladies and we get together to support each other spiritually and mentally. From baking Ensayamda from scratch, to praying the rosary together, we all have one thing that relates us together. Our vocation: motherhood. My favourite job, that I will never give up for anything.”

Abbygale on supporting other women: “Attending Zoom parties is a big step in the right direction. Interaction is the one thing that this pandemic is making sure we don’t have, but we can always socialise through the internet. Even though it’s not the same as physically being there, it still creates connections and support for each other.”

Abbygale on who inspires her to live her best life and why: “My family inspires everyday, whenever I see a notification from my Family Viber, my mind becomes laser focused on seeing what they have posted which leads to a smile on my face.”

Abbygale on the best advise she could give to younger women out there: “Be the best version of yourself, even if perfection is not required.”

Abbygale’s advise on beauty, health, and wellness: “Sleep. Sleep. Sleep! Having a good night’s sleep rejuvenates one’s body, mind, and soul. Also, knowing when one should take a day off for just themselves. Mental care is self care!”

9. Mylene Villanueva Lim. This woman is the quintessential powerful combo of beauty and brains. She is a wife and a mother to two beautiful grown up children. She graduated from The University of The Philippines in Diliman. She is currently the President of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in BC. Mylene is a successful mortgage professional for the last six years. It is her passion to help BC residents, especially Filipinos, to turn their dreams of owning a home into a reality.

Mylene on what motivates her to get up and start her day on a particularly difficult day: “I’ve always been a go-getter. Generally, especially on bad days, I don’t give myself the option to curl up in bed as this tends to get me spiraling downward into a depressed state. I get up, make my coffee, and set simple tasks which I know I could easily get done. Then I go about my day checking off my list and my mood tends to improve as I see more tasks getting checked.”

Mylene on finding strength when going through hardships: “I find my strength in my family — they get me going and motivate me to become a better person. I find strength in God — that He in His infinite wisdom, knows what I can do and what I can take. I find strength in myself — that I can be what I want to be.”

Mylene on why it is important to have strong female friendships: “I believe in the saying “No man is an island and no man stands alone.” I go through daily struggles and knowing that I have support from friends who know what I’m going through somehow makes the load bearable. I treasure friends who lend a shoulder to cry on when I need it and yet hold me accountable for my actions.”

Mylene on supporting other women: “I always try to encourage other women in their undertakings in any way I can. It’s surprising how an encouraging or kind word can make a difference in a girlfriend’s day.”

Mylene on who inspires her to live her best life and why: “I draw inspiration from my family. They are my rock and my foundation when I’m strong and they are my refuge and my fortress when I’m weak.”

Mylene on the best advise she could give to younger women out there: “Even a bed of roses is full of thorns. Concentrate on making a life that you can be happy with, not what you think other people would think that you should be happy with.”

Mylene’s advise on beauty, health, and wellness: “I don’t really follow a beauty regimen. I try to eat healthy and exercise regularly. I find intermittent fasting gives me more freedom to eat what I want and still keeps my weight down. The four things I can’t do without with regards facial care are: a good face wash, moisturizer, sunscreen and tretinoic acid.”

In a nutshell, these powerful women share the same sentiments on life: real beauty comes from within — it stems from your ability to not be afraid to be who you are. It is essential to be true to yourself and just be yourself no matter what others say. These powerful women agree that you should never allow anybody to frighten you about speaking up for yourself. Make your voice heard in the world. Make it loud and clear. Above all, these powerful women empower other women. They are confident and strong enough to fix another woman’s crown without telling the world it was crooked — that’s the real essence of a powerful woman.