Women in the Field of Media and Filipina Firsts

Mga Babae sa Larangan ng Midya

Maria Ressa

A journalist and author, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for her efforts to safeguard freedom of speech and expression. 

Photo by: Jire Carreon

Women in the media have played a crucial role in the fight for democracy, exposing human rights violations during war and dictatorship. They continue to be a vital pillar of democratic society.

• Celia Mariano-Pomeroy (Hukbalahap Propagandist), Trinidad Legarda (editor and first Filipina ambassador), Paz Policarpio Mendez (suffragist and writer), June Keithley (broadcast journalist), Maria Ressa (journalist and first Filipina Nobel Peace Prize Awardee) 

• Women-led organization Women Writers in Media Now, Woman Watch, Women’s Media Circle

Women Writers in Media Now

Seated L-R: Sheila S Coronel, Fanny Garcia, Sol Juvida, Rochit Tañedo.

Standing L-R: Paulynn Sicam,  Ma. Ceres P. Doyo, JoAnn Q. Maglipon, Marites D. Vitug, Karina A. Bolasco, Marra PL Lanot, Neni SR Cruz

(Not in the photo are Leonor Aureus Briscoe, Arlene Babst-Vokey, Mila Astorga-Garcia, Fe Panaligan Koons, Sylvia L. Mayuga, Gemma Nemenzo, Lilia Quindoza Santiago, Marites Dañguilan Vitug, and Criselda Yabes)

Filipino Firsts

A Salute to One Hundred Women Pioneers 1898-1998

GOVERNMENT (EXECUTIVE)

Guadalupe Adaza

First Filipino Woman Governor of a Province

Estefania Aldaba-Lim

First Filipino Woman Minister of Social Services and Development

Corazon Cojuangco Aquino

First Filipino Woman President

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

First Filipino Woman Vice President

Carmen A. Buyson

First Filipino Woman Consul of the Philippines

Solita Collas-Monsod

First Filipino Woman Director General of the

National Economic and Development Authority

Nieves Roldan Confesor

First Filipino Woman Secretary of Labor and Employment

Albina Manalo Dans

First Filipino Woman Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission

Virginia Oteyza de Guia

First Filipino Woman Mayor

Trinidad Fernandez Legarda

First Filipino Woman Ambassador

Narzalina Zaldivar Lim

First Filipino Woman Secretary of Tourism

Rosario Lopez

First Filipino Woman Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission

Carmencita Noriega-Reodica

First Filipino Woman Secretary of Health

Carmen Planas


First Filipino Woman Councilor

Lourdes Sevilla Quisumbing

First Filipino Woman Secretary of Education

Miram Defensor Santiago

First Filipino Woman Secretary of Agrarian Reform

Haydee Yorac

First Filipino Woman Commissioner of the Commission on Elections

GOVERNMENT (LEGISLATIVE)

Elisa Sanchez Ochoa

First Filipino Congresswoman

Geronima Tomelden-Pecson

First Filipino Woman Senator

GOVERNMENT (JUDICIAL)

Natividad Almeda-Lopez

First Filipino Woman Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals

Minita Chico-Nazario

First Woman Justice of the Sandiganbayan Court

Corazon Juliano-Agrava

First Filipino Woman Judge of the Court of First Instance

Cecilia Muñoz-Palma

First Filipino Woman Associate Justice of the Supreme Court

Lourdes Paredes-San Diego

First Filipino Woman Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals

MILITARY

Arlene de la Cruz

First Filipino Woman to Graduate Valedictorian of the Philippine Military Academy

Maria Luisa Dimayuga

First Filipino Woman Police General

Agueda Iniquinto Kahabagan

First Filipino Woman General in the Philippine Revolutionary Army

Leah Lorenzo

First Filipino Woman Summa Cum Laude of the Philippine Military Academy

Elvegia Ruiz Mendoza

First Filipino Woman Brigadier General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

BUSINESS

Emily Altomonte-Abrera

First Filipino Woman Chief Executive of a Major Advertising Company

Corazon Santos de la Paz

First Filipino Woman Elected to the World Board of a Major Accounting Firm

Belen Fabros-Calderon

First Filipino Woman to Hold a Seat in the Philippine Stock Exchange

Lourdes Lauchengco-Sanvictores

First Filipino Woman Board Member of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines

Alicia Llamado-Reyes


First Filipino Woman Governor of the Development Bank of the Philippines

Salud Santos-Tesoro

First Filipino Woman Entrepreneur of Native Handicrafts

Mercedes Tan-Gotianun

First Filipino Woman Bank President

Gliceria Rustia Tantoco


First Filipino Woman Owner of a Retail Chain

HEALTH

Honoria Acosta-Sison

First Filipino Woman Physician

Filomena Francisco Guerrero

First Filipino Woman Pharmacist

Maria Paz Mendoza-Guazon

First Filipino Woman Doctor Educated in the Philippines

Thelma Navarrete-Clemente

First Filipino Woman President of the Philippine Hospital Association

Camellia Posoncuy

First Filipino Woman Neurosurgeon

EDUCATION

Rosa Sevilla Alvero

First Filipino Woman Head of a Non-Sectarian School for Women

Consuelo S. Blanco

First Filipino Woman President of a State University

Pilar Hidalgo-Lim

First Filipino Woman to Graduate with Honors from the University of the Philippines

Norberta Lapuz-Laurea

First Filipino Woman Professor of Law

Emerita S. Quito

First Filipino Woman with a Doctorate in Philosophy

LAW

Maria del Pilar Francisco-Villaceran

First Filipino Woman Lawyer

Tecla San Andres-Ziga

First Filipino Woman Bar Topnotcher

Teresita Cruz Sison

First Filipino Woman President of the Philippine Bar Association

SCIENCE

Encarnacion Alzona

First Filipino Woman Historian

Claire Baltazar


First Filipino Woman Entomologist

Mercedes Concepcion

First Filipino Woman Demographer

Fe del Mundo

First Filipino Woman National Scientist

Raquel del Rosario Fortun

First Filipino Woman Forensic Pathologist

Celia Gallego-Bantegui

First Filipino Woman Meteorologist

Griselda Garcia-Bausa

First Filipino Woman Geologist

Victoria Mendiola-Ela


First Filipino Woman Agriculturist

Cristina Parel


First Filipino Woman Statistician

Leonora Paraan San Agustin


First Filipino Woman Chemical Engineer

Teofila Aquino Varsovia

First Filipino Woman Veterinarian

ARTS

Pacita Abad

First Filipino Woman Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM)

Awardee in the Field of Arts

Sister Maria Rosalina Abejo

First Filipino Woman Music Conductor

Paz Marquez Benitez

First Filipino Woman Short Story Writer in English

Carmen Concha

First Filipino Woman Film Producer

Honorata "Atang" de la Rama

First Filipino Woman to Appear in the Movies (Silent Films)

Genoveva Edroza-Matute

First Filipino Woman to Win the Palanca Award for Short Story in Filipino

Daisy Hontiveros-Avellana

First Filipino Woman to Found a Theater Group

Magdalena Jalandoni

First Filipino Published Woman Novelist

Pelagia Mendoza-Zamora

First Filipino Woman Sculptor

Leonor Orosa-Goquingco

First Filipino Woman Choreographer

Consuelo Padilla Osorio

First Filipino Woman Film Director

Kerima Polotan-Tuvera

First Filipino Woman to Win the Palanca Award for Short Story in English

Francisca Reyes-Aquino

First Filipino Woman National Artist in Dance

Alicia Vergel

First Filipino Woman to Win the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts 

and Sciences (FAMAS) Award

SPORTS

Bong Coo

First Filipino Woman to be Included in the International Hall of Fame in Bowling

Nora Deslate

First Filipino Woman Ultra Marathoner

Girme M. Fontanilla

First Filipino Woman International Chess Master

Carmen Wilson-Ylanan

First Filipino Woman Basketball Coach

JOURNALISM

Betty Go-Belmonte

First Filipino Woman Newspaper Publisher of a National Daily

Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc

First Filipino Woman Editor of a National Daily

Severina Luna-Orosa

First Filipino Woman Newspaper Columnist

PROFESSIONS

Aurora Amada Carandang-Gloria

First Filipino Woman Commercial Pilot

Belen Enrile Gutierrez

First Filipino Woman Certified Public Accountant

Joseta Jara-Martinez

First Filipino Woman Social Worker

Engracia Cruz Reyes

First Filipino Woman Restaurateur

Carolina Flores Trinidad

First Filipino Woman Major Radio Personality

Esperanza Araullo Zamora

First Filipino Woman Hotelier

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

Juanita Dy Amatong

First Filipino Woman Executive Director of the World Bank

Josefina Phodaca Ambrosio

First Filipino Woman President of the Federacion Internacional de Abogadas

Helen Benitez

First Filipino Woman Chairperson of the United Nations

Commission on the Status of Women

Corazon Alma de Leon

First Filipino Woman Member of the International Civil Service Commission of the United Nations

Narcisa de Leon Escaler

First Filipino Woman Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Jovita Fuentes

First Filipino Woman Opera Singer to Gain International Renown

Cecile Licad

First Filipino Woman Pianist to Win an International Music Award

Perla Santos Ocampo

First Filipino Woman President of the International Pediatrics Association

Purificación Valera Quisumbing

First Filipino Woman Chair of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights

Leticia Ramos-Shahani

First Filipino Woman Career Assistant Secretary of the United Nations

Lea Salonga

First Filipino Woman to Win the Sir Lawrence Olivier Award and

the Tony Award for Best Actress

CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

Loreto Paras-Sulit

First Woman Secretary General of the Philippine National Red Cross