Standing tall together
“Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women.” – Maya Angelou
Blessed with so many empowered and compassionate women on my side, I have sailed smoothly through the toughest waters in my life journey. With a super mom, Marixi Prieto, and my only sister Sandy Prieto-Romualdez in my family, all struggles and challenges these past years have not been a burden because I am supported by these strong and dignified women who constantly steer me to the right path.
This March has been all about women empowerment. It’s a time to recognize women’s achievements, raise awareness about women’s rights, and promote gender equality. In the Philippines, women struggle with economic empowerment and leadership development. We need to give women tools, resources and support to reach their full potential.
Leading women
This year, I joined the Women Lead Conference 2026 at Dusit Thani Manila. The Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, Inc. in partnership with Connected Women, Philippine Young Entrepreneurs Association of the Philippines, and the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment spearheaded a one-of-a-kind and exclusive event to celebrate International Women’s Day. It was sponsored by Cathay Pacific, SSI Group, Inc., Security Bank, MX3, Dusit Thani Manila, and CRIF. I was happy to get giveaways from DMark Beauty, Teviant, For Keeps Clean Beauty, and Vogue and TAG Media.
The Leadership panel brought together influential women who are leading organizations, shaping industries, and redefining what leadership looks like in today’s evolving world. With backgrounds spanning education, design, construction, and corporate leadership, this discussion highlighted how women are driving impact through vision, expertise, and purpose.
In this session, panelists shared their leadership journeys, how they rose to positions of influence, the challenges they encountered along the way, and the values that guide their decision-making. The conversation explored what effective leadership means today, how women can cultivate confidence and authority in their roles, and how leaders can inspire the next generation.
Sharing her experiences in her successful career in the beauty industry, DMark Beauty CEO Nikki Tang learned that leadership often begins before confidence does. Some of the most important growth in leadership happens when we accept responsibility even while we are still learning. Nikki has indeed proved her credibility in a space that is still largely male-dominated.
Leadership is about building credibility through consistency. It is about showing up. Doing the work. Delivering results. And building trust over time.
Our panel was moderated by Nikki together with other speakers Dr. Marie Castro Paz, dean at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde; Apple Rosales, CCO of Teviant; and Lesley Villanueva, president of DATEM. Personally, I felt like a comic relief to be with these successful and engaging women leading and changing lives in their respectively fields.
At the Health and Wellness panel, Bikram yoga teacher and studio owner Ollay Aninion talked about the importance of movement and alignment as women age. We need to keep our energy flowing and Bikram yoga is an excellent way to stay fit at any age and physical fitness level. Together in the panel with Ollay was Beverly Archangel who recently opened All-Time Massage, an excellent premium home massage service.
The Women in Profession and Careers panel of Women LEAD 2026 included my cousin Atty. Amanda Carpo, co-founder and chief legal counsel of KMC. She shared that building a business is tough especially with managing a team. But it is also the greatest part where she is able to nurture talent, foster growth, and build a culture where everyone thrives. Other younger women who are making the future brighter are Nikki Huang of SSI Group Inc. and Kerry Tinga of Lifestyle Asia.
Up close with Gabby
After that exciting conference, I enjoyed a relaxing and entertaining evening with more dynamic women to watch the iconic Gabby Concepcion. I was shocked to see so many screaming fans of Gabby at his special performance at City of Dreams. We even went on stage with GMA big boss Annette Gozon-Valdes and performed with this local showbiz legend.
The spirit of resort living
ArteFino is founded in 2017 by amazing women who support local artists and craftsmen and curate the most exclusive finds all over the country. They are Cedie Vargas, Marimel Francisco, Maritess Pineda, Mita Rufino, and Susie Quiros.
With a community that has grown more discerning and design-aware over time, the curation for 2026 reflects a deeper understanding of the ArteFino audience—highlighting brands that not only capture the spirit of resort living but also embody the platform’s ethos of craft, sustainability, and cultural storytelling. This year’s edition brings together a tightly edited selection of designers whose work reflects the evolving language of Filipino resort style. The fair is happening all weekend at the Power Plant Rockwell.
This March also includes my legal battles and I am lucky to have my Assumption BFF Tessa Alindogan in my support team. With the New Moon in Pisces and the retrograde over, the rest of the month will be more auspicious for all! Let’s all harness this positive energy!
