Filipina Movers and Shakers, Part 3

To celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8) and Women’s History Month, Positively Filipino (PF) is republishing a three-part roster of outstanding Filipino women worldwide as recognized by the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN). The FWN Foundation names the Most Influential Filipina Women Awardees, a distinguished assembly of leaders who have left an indelible mark on the global stage.

The awardees hail from 34 countries and were chosen through a rigorous global search for their exceptional contributions and enduring impact in the public and private sectors. Their stories concern success, transformation, and influencing industry sectors and local communities. Their peers nominate them and are then meticulously selected by a seasoned panel comprising previous year's laureates, ensuring a legacy of excellence transcending borders and generations.

The FWN celebrates these trailblazers and creates a platform for their collective power to inspire and catalyze change and serve as a beacon for Filipina leadership and innovation worldwide. Positively Filipino conducted additional research on each achiever. The following is Part 3 of the series.

Nikki Fortunato Bas, Council President (since 2021) + District 2 Councilmember (2019-2027)

City of Oakland, California

Nikki Bas (Source: City of Oakland)

Bas held nonprofit executive director positions for Partnership for Working Families, East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy, and Sweatshop Watch. In her 21 years in the nonprofit sector, she advocated for worker, environmental, gender, and racial justice. She organized immigrant garment workers to win their wages back in Oakland’s Chinatown, worked in coalitions to raise Oakland's minimum wage with paid sick leave, created living-wage jobs on the Oakland Army Base, and reduced diesel truck pollution at the Port of Oakland. In 2018, she was elected the first Filipino American Councilmember in the City of Oakland. With almost half a million Oakland residents, she represents District 2, the most diverse district with the largest AAPI population. She was elected Council President in 2021 and instrumental in the passage of the city’s $4.2 billion 2023-2025 city budget allocating $200 million for affordable housing. Since taking office in 2019, she has passed policies that support everyday Oaklanders and the most vulnerable residents, including passing California's strongest city-level COVID-19 eviction moratorium, creating a $12 million fund to help low-income tenants purchase their homes with community land trusts, tripled the Department of Violence Prevention's budget and boosted funding for alternative crisis response including mental health issues; and reauthorized the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth for another ten years to invest millions in youth and families each year. Bas was a leading voice in the movement to reduce police funding during the heated protests in 2020. Bas won 34 percent of the Super Tuesday, March 6th primary, with the November 2024 runoff set in the race for the hotly contested Alameda County supervisorial seat. The winner will be the first new representative in more than 30 years for District 5, which spans Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, and some parts of Oakland.

Janice Lao-Noche, Environmental Scientist and Development Economist

El Paso, Texas, U.S.A.

Janice Lao Noche (Source: MetroMom)

Lao has received awards for her work, including being named in Forbes Magazine as one of the world’s most influential female sustainability leaders and receiving the 2019 Edie Sustainability Leader of the Year Award, being the first Asian and youngest to receive the award. She also received the 2019 Women in Sustainable Leadership Award by GB&D magazine and named by Greenbiz as one of 25 most influential women working on climate change. She has a rare background as an environmental scientist and development economist with a degree from the University of Oxford as a full scholar under the prestigious British Chevening program, given only to the best and brightest talents outside the UK. Lao started her career at one of the world’s most respected think tanks, the World Resources Institute, helping to pioneer community engagement in corporate decisions and embedding sustainability milestones in project financing. Since then, she has worked for some of the biggest brands in multinational conglomerates, real estate, FMCG, transportation, and the services sector. She has developed and worked on pioneering sustainability initiatives that have become global industry standards from carbon trading, biodiversity, responsible seafood sourcing, single-use plastics, textiles upcycling, and refugee and minority hiring. She has been featured in international media such as CNBC, a US-published book, “Everyday Superheroes: Women in STEM careers,” with 25 other women STEM professionals worldwide, including Nobel Prize winners. Lao was raised in the Philippines and educated in the United Kingdom and the United States, giving her deep personal insight into the impacts of inequality and the crucial role of business. Her education in the Jesuit tradition of social justice inspired her to live as a “person for others.”

Lucy Reyes, Nurse Manager

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Lucy Reyes (Source: Filipina Women’s Network)

When Reyes was in Grade 5, she was already giving injections while accompanying her father, a vet technician, on his trips to remote areas in the Philippines. The experience created a passion to learn more about public health care. She joined the Exchange Visitor Program for foreign-trained nurses and landed in New Jersey.  After completing the program, she was promoted to case manager for cardiac surgery patients. In 1975, she married her high school classmate and moved to Calgary, Alberta, to join him, but finding a job was not as easy as she had hoped. Reyes was hired at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Calgary General Hospital. She was promoted to frontline manager and was the first person of color to hold such a position. Reyes took graduate studies to advance her career while working full-time and parenting two daughters. She became the first Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) to graduate with a Master’s in Nursing. She was elected provincial councilor for the Alberta Association of Registered Nurses to represent over 23,000 registered nurses in Canada. Reyes retired from her manager position when her husband’s health declined.  She continued to work in health care as a project coordinator for Performance Evaluation and Rhythm Follow-Up Optimization Through Remote Monitoring (PERFORM). A story Reyes likes to tell is an incident that happened at the beginning of her career: “I remember my first management meeting, one of the other managers asked me if I worked in housekeeping or the kitchen. I was wearing a business suit and not carrying a mop or kitchen tray. When I asked why he thought so, he explained that Filipinos have these jobs. When the new managers were introduced, this guy stood up and admitted how wrong he was to stereotype people who did not look like him.”

Jennifer Mah, Dean, Faculty of Health Studies, NorQuest College

Edmonton, Canada

Jennifer Mah (Source: NorQuest College)

Jennifer Mah, the dynamic and visionary Dean of the Faculty of Health Studies at NorQuest College, is a force to be reckoned with in healthcare education. For over 25 years, she has carved her path as a trailblazer, spurring innovation and catalyzing change. Mah's stewardship of the Practical Nurse Program, developing over 20 college programs, steering accreditation reviews to pioneering the development of a groundbreaking Provincial Health Care Aide Curriculum, and creating the award-winning virtual reality medication administration, a revolutionary tool that has transformed how healthcare education is delivered has set a benchmark for excellence in healthcare education. Beyond borders, Mah's influence and initiatives in China, the Philippines, and Jamaica and securing a $12.8M grant have expanded NorQuest College's global footprint and fostered cross-cultural collaboration and exchange. She is a Registered Nurse with a Master's in Nursing, advanced training in intensive care, and ongoing doctoral studies. She uses the pronouns she/her for her unwavering passion for equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism. As a staunch advocate for social justice, Mah is not content with the status quo. She is committed to dismantling barriers, challenging biases, and creating a more inclusive and equitable future.

Agnes Miranda, Founder, WFG Canada

Ontario, Canada

Agnes Miranda (Source: Canadian Immigrant)

Miranda received her first job as a junior accounting clerk the day after arriving in Canada in 1966. In 2017, WFG (World Financial Group) Canada celebrated its 20th anniversary, and Miranda was also named one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants by RBC (Royal Bank of Canada). “The most important qualities that helped me as an immigrant were courage, ambition, and perseverance,” says Miranda, who gives lots of her time to mentor other Filipino Canadian women in business. In 2009, she received the WFG Pioneer Award for her substantial contribution to the growth of WFG Canada. In 2012, she was awarded Outstanding Filipino Canadian in business by the Philippine Independence Day Council. Now, at 75 years old, Miranda has several passions – financial literacy of seniors so they can retire with dignity, empowering Filipino Canadian women, and instilling an appreciation of Filipino culture among the youth born and raised in Canada. “When I first arrived in Canada, I felt that as a woman of color, you must work harder for your achievements to be recognized.” Miranda decided to shatter that self-limiting belief by example. “Some still believe less in themselves, and I did not accept that. I became the first Filipino national sales director of A.L. Williams because I believed that if they can do it, so can we,” she explained. “My commitment to give back to the community has grown more over the years,” says Miranda. “I focus on helping the youth succeed in ventures such as sports and arts.”

Catalina Manarin Bagsik, President, First Integrity Bank

Carmona, Cavite, Philippines

Catalina Manarin Bagsic (Source: Filipina Women’s Network)

Catalina Manarin Bagsic embodies a legacy of brilliance and distinction. She rose from her roots as a standout honor student from elementary to college with two scholarship grants to complete a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Centro Escolar University to leading one of Calabarzon's foremost financial institutions and leadership roles in diverse industries. She was President/CEO of Magen Peak Realty & Development Corporation; General Manager of Mandarin Pressworks; Municipal Secretary/ Administrator of Carmona, Cavite. She spearheaded the Trainors for People’s Technology Complex Human Resource, was District Sales Manager of Filway Marketing Corporation, and Municipal Coordinator to the Presidential Taskforce on Solid Waste Management of Carmona Landfill. She led philanthropic endeavors for the Rotary, Zonta, Kiwanis Philippine Association for Renal Health, and Rotary International District 3810. Bagsik's entrepreneurial spirit shines through her ventures, from owning Lina's Bakeshop to chairing MTHIRAYA (manufacturer of Cold Pressed Juices and Organiz Chips and Nuts), and President and CEO of First Integrity Bank, Inc., where she pushes the boundaries of what is possible by spearheading initiatives that redefine the landscape of rural banking in Bailen, Cavite.

Cora Dela Cruz, President/CEO, Trade Alliances Canada Inc.

Ontario, Canada

Cora Dela Cruz (Source: FWN Summit 2017)

Dela Cruz has over thirty years of experience in business regulation and administering consumer protection statutes in Ontario, including policy development, operations management, project management, information technology, and systems development. She has provided expertise to a diverse group of SMEs and government agencies, travel and tourism businesses, call centers and outsourcing, staff recruitment and placement, review and training centers, cemeteries and funeral homes, and trade missions. She was the National Executive Director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines for five years, with offices in Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

Denise Viardo Koh, Occupational Medicine Specialist & Author

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Denise Koh (Source: UM Today)

Dr. Denise Koh is a Filipina-Canadian Public Health/Occupational Medicine specialist, assistant professor, hypnotherapist, life coach, motivational speaker, mentor, social justice advocate, and leader in the ethnocultural community. She founded MedResRx, created the MedResRx Hypnotherapy App, and co-authored two upcoming book collaborations (Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Canada’s Family Doctor Crisis). She has dedicated much of her therapy/coaching practice to helping her patients deal with burnout, moral injury, harassment/intimidation, and enhancing performance. Her app increases her impact and reach through hypnotherapy, motivational, and educational programs (e.g., burnout, anxiety, stress, weight/eating) that can be delivered anytime, anywhere. She also performs workplace risk assessments and management plans to optimize wellness at work. She has served as Manitoba's Chief Occupational Medical Officer & Medical Officer of Health, leading her province’s Workplace COVID Unit and Public Health Advisor for Food Processing, Temporary Foreign Workers, and other high-risk worker groups, including racialized workers. In 2022, she received two awards for her pandemic and community work: Canadian Occupational Safety’s Top Woman in Safety and WXN’s Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 (Canadian Tire Community Impact).

Rosary Escaño, Creative Consultant and Marketing Professional

Mississauga, Toronto, Canada

Rosary Escaño (Source: Filipina Women’s Network)

Escaño plans, develops, and executes marketing and event strategies for organizations that focus on strengthening their brand identity. As Regional Marketing Director for North and Latin America for ABS-CBN International, she promoted Filipino culture and identity to overseas audiences through a mix of content, retail products, and life experiences.   She continues her work at a new company, KRE8 Corporation. Escaño recently received the Universal Peace Federation service award as Ambassador of Peace, Outstanding Achievement Award from the Kalayaan Group of Organizations, City of Mississauga, and recognition from the City of Toronto York Centre for her community development through the Fun Philippines Toronto Street Festival. Before moving to Canada in 2004, she was a faculty member at the University of the Philippines – Asian Institute of Tourism in Diliman and a professional congress and event organizer. She experienced the typical journey of an immigrant chasing that elusive “Canadian work experience,” from customer service to banking/finance, before joining ABS-CBN Canada in 2010. She found her calling as a marketing professional promoting Philippine culture and identity in Canada. As a foodie, she regularly explores the different cuisines readily available in the multi-cultural communities in Canada.

Erlinda Olalia-Carin, Accountant and Partner

Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Erlinda Olalia-Carin (Source: LinkedIn)

Olalia-Carin is a senior information risk management professional with over 25 years of experience serving many of KPMG Canada’s large and complex clients as its Global Leader for Information Technology Attestation on projects like upping SWIFT security requirements to prevent cyber incidents, especially in the financial services industry. As a partner at KPMG Canada’s Advisory practice, Carin is in charge of large Section 5970 and SAS 70 engagements whose clients include those in the financial services sector and the telecommunications industry. She has a team of 60 professionals focusing on identifying and mitigating risks related to technology use. Carin earned her Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Accounting from the University of the Assumption, graduating cum laude. She is an active member of the Information Technology Advisory Committee of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Joyce Javier, Physician and Professor

Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Joyce Javier (Source: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles)

Javier is a model of excellence in medicine and academia. She is committed to advancing healthcare and education as an attending physician and associate professor at USC's prestigious Keck School of Medicine. With a distinguished academic background, including degrees from UC Irvine, Stanford University School of Medicine, UC Berkeley, and Keck School of Medicine of USC, Javier's journey is marked by her multidisciplinary approach, encompassing clinical pediatrics, preventive medicine, epidemiology, and biomedical investigations. As a pediatrician scientist, Javier's research shines a light on marginalized communities, focusing on optimizing the well-being of minority and immigrant populations through groundbreaking studies on mental health stigma and disparities, employing community-partnered participatory research to implement evidence-based interventions funded by prestigious institutions like the National Institutes of Health, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Her leadership roles, including Executive Committee Member of the AAP Council on Community Pediatrics and Co-chair of the Society for Pediatric Research Advocacy Committee, underscore her influence in shaping pediatric policy and advocacy. A dedicated educator, Javier imparts her knowledge to the next generation of healthcare professionals, teaching residents and medical students at CHLA/AltaMed and designing courses like "Health Disparities in the U.S.: Moving Toward Health Equity" in the USC MPH Program. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Javier has been honored with prestigious awards such as the American Academy of Pediatrics Local Hero Award by the Council on Community Pediatrics and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Equity Award by the Asian & Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health of the American Public Health Association. 

Jocelyn David, Brand and Identity Expert

Edmonton, Canada

Jocelyn David (Source: Philippine Canadian Inquirer)

Born in Canada, David visited the Philippines for the first time when she was 14 years old, a life-changing event that shaped her identity and fueled her expertise in brand and identity. With a Bachelor's Honors degree from the University of Alberta and a Master of Arts degree from York University, she brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to her role. As the leader of Western Union's Digital Business and Product Marketing divisions in Canada, David has seamlessly merged her professional expertise with her cultural roots. For eight years with Western Union, she forged connections with the Filipino community, serving millions of customers who rely on the company's services to send money home. At AVC, as owner and CEO, David's mission is clear: to empower brands to reach and resonate with diverse, multicultural audiences honed through her tenure as Global Head and CEM Go-to-Market Strategy for Western Union, Direct Marketing Manager for United Way Alberta, and Regional Marketing Manager for KPMG.

Kristine Custodio Suero, Chair, City of San Diego Citizens’ Equal Opportunity Commission

San Diego, California, U.S.A.

Kristine Custodio Suero (Source: San Diego Paralegal Association)

As president, Suero, an award-winning legal professional, has led the San Diego Paralegal Association and California Alliance of Paralegal Associations as the first Filipina to lead the statewide professional trade association. She is a member of the University of San Diego School of Law Paralegal Program’s Advisory Board and an adjunct faculty member who teaches Introduction to Law and Ethics. She was appointed Commissioner for the San Diego Commission on the Status of Women and serves as the Chair of the City of San Diego Citizens’ Equal Opportunity Commission, advocating for supplier diversity in contracting with the city. She is an officer of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of San Diego County.  In 2017, Suero was awarded by the Philippine American Business Improvement & Development as the Rising Star for utilizing her professional skills in community service. She was named the 2020 California Paralegal of the Year, awarded by the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations. Her latest projects include founding a media company, combating human trafficking, and elevating Filipina women to elected office.

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