Tag Archives : Karen Tanada


Zahria P. Muti- Mapandi (Philippines)

Zahria hails from the Maranao Tribe, a tribe that belongs to the Bangsamoro identity that has been fighting for autonomy and self-determination for several decades already. Her tribe, according to her, is perhaps one of the most conservative ones in the Philippines. Their tradition and culture is heavily peppered with very conservative interpretations of our […]

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REMEDIOS “REMMY” IGNACIO (Philippines)

In the 1960’s, many years before the women’s movement and even the work of social change and transformation had gained recognition or respectability, Remmy Ignacio was already at the forefront of such work. She had already established a career in accounting, working for the country’s top accountancy and management firm, when, in her search for […]


Jurgette Honculada (Philippines)

Jurgette Honculada was born in northern Mindanao to a big middle-class family, her father a lawyer who worked his way through school and her mother a secondary school teacher. She has a son who works in information technology, a daughter pursuing her doctorate in systems biology, and a three-year old grandson. Jurgette graduated summa cum […]

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JURMA TIKMASAN (Philippines)

Jurma Tikmasan was born in Tuburan, Basilan, Western Mindanao.  She took her elementary and high school education in Jolo, Sulu.  Without meaning to, she witnessed the burning of Jolo, Sulu in 1974 when the Moro National Liberation Front entered the town.  She and her mom evacuated to an island fronting Jolo known as Bangas.  Their […]


ELIZABETH U. YANG (Philippines)

Elizabeth’s passion for the issues of women started when she got involved with Social Development Index and later on with PILIPINA, a national organization of women committed to the work of integrating gender perspectives in the development process, with the thrust of increasing the number and quality of women’s participation in politics. When she assumed […]

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RAISSA JAJURIE (Philippines)

Raissa Jajurie is a lawyer, a defender of Moro people’s rights and an advocate for those marginalized even within Moro society, including Moro women. Raissa is a Tausug, one of the ethno-linguistic groups that make up the Bangsamoro (or Moro) Nation, which has recently celebrated coming to peace with the Philippines Government after 14 years […]


ROHANIZA SUMNDAD-USMAN (Philippines)

Bai Rohaniza’s life is a story of two faiths and cultures – she has Maranao roots with a royal lineage through her father belonging to a family of peace mediators and peace movers while her Catholic mother who converted to Islam hails from Bulacan​ whose family are composed of renowned musicians, poets and artists​. She […]

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SEC. YASMIN BUSRAN-LAO (Philippines)

Lao, an AB Psychology Magna Cum Laude graduate from Far Eastern University, pursued higher education in Clinical Counselling Psychology at the Ateneo de Manila University. She has also completed subjects on Islamic Studies and Muslim Personal Laws at the University of the Philippines Diliman and Mindanao State University respectively.   For two and a half […]


MARIA TERESA “MARITES” GUINGONA-AFRICA (Philippines)

MARIA TERESA “MARITES” GUINGONA-AFRICA has been engaged in the endeavor of building relationships of mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation among peoples of diverse cultures and beliefs since 1998. Her passion for the work was ignited by a vision of a world where religions bring to the fore the highest teachings and ideals of their faith […]

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JO GENNA M. JOVER (Philippines)

Jude hails from a family of traditional leaders recognized by her tribe. Her father is a respected tribal elder and a community leader referred to as Timuay who has raised Jude and her siblings to be good and responsible citizens.   She initially thought of becoming a nurse but eventually graduated with a degree in […]