Winnie Monsod

Solita Monsod
AKA Solita Collas Monsod

• 1st Filipina Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

QUOTE
“…the future is shaped by the people, by us - by our commitment or our indifference, by our despair or by our confidence.”


ALIAS
"Mareng Winnie"


DATE OF BIRTH
July 29, 1940

BIRTHPLACE
Manila, Philippines


HUSBAND: Christian Monsod
Winnie and Christian have five children.

USEFUL LINKS

Solita "Winnie" Monsod Bio from Cfsymposium.org
A World of Change - A Constant World by Solita "Winnie" Monsod
Why It's Never Enough for Mareng Winnie

Miss Universe 2006

Photo from Binibining Pilipinas.com

Lia Andrea Ramos - Miss Philippines 2006

Congratulations!!!
Miss Photogenic
in the Miss Universe 2006 beauty pageant

Nelly Ledesma

Dr. Nelly R. Ledesma

• 1st Filipina Audiologist
• 1st and only Filipina Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology (FAAA)

QUOTE
"God has been very good to me. I believe that the Lord has called me to this mission of making people who have communication problems hear and speak better."

USEFUL LINKS

www.ledesma.com.ph
The First Filipino Audiologist
Twenty-five years of better hearing in the Philippines
Filipino Audiologist attends Annual American Convention

Emme Tomimbang

Emme Tomimbang

• 1st Filipina-American TV news anchor in Hawaii (1975)

QUOTE

“Filipinos have a strong, artistic expression. They work very hard at their artistry, and they have pride.”

FATHER: Eutiquio Tomimbang (Tommy)

Emme’s father, Tommy Tomimbang, is the founder of the 1st Filipino-language radio station (KISA) in Hawai'i.

USEFUL LINKS

EMME Inc.com
Moments in Emme's fascinating career

Emme Tomimbang wins achievement award
Show-biz veterans remain true to their artistry

Melanie Marquez

Melanie Marquez
AKA Mimilanie Laurel Marquez

• 1st Filipina to join the Supermodel of the World contest (1986)
• 1st Filipina first runner-up on Supermodel of the World contest (1986)
• Miss International 1979

QUOTE

“Have faith in God, be good to yourself in order to be good to others.”

ALIAS
"Melanie"
"Mimi"

DATE OF BIRTH
July 16, 1964

BIRTHPLACE
Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines

FATHER: Artemio Marquez
MOTHER:

HUSBAND: Adam Lawyer
SONS: Adam II and Abraham

Ex-HUSBAND: Gov. Lito Lapid
SON: Manuelito

Ex-HUSBAND: Arab businessman
SON: Mazen

Ex-HUSBAND: Derek Dee
DAUGHTERS: Maxene Xuxa and Michelle Zarah

USEFUL LINKS

iGMA.tv Celebrity Profile: Melanie Marquez
Melanie Marquez finds a home, and a new love
The miseducation of Melanie
Mrs. World Bets All Praises For Melanie Marquez
Melanie To Put Up Modeling School
Fairy Tale Bliss

Maniya Barredo

Maniya Barredo
AKA Honey Barredo

• 1st Filipina Prima Ballerina in the Philippines (1978)

QUOTE

“I don't know in what capacity. I would raise the level of what the country needs but in action -do it quietly. Hopefully I can build a pre-professional school not just for dance, but reunite all the different arts.”

USEFUL LINKS

Maniya Barredo
Maniya Barredo hangs her toe shoes - but not quite

Lisa Macuja

Lisa Macuja
AKA Lisa Macuja Elizalde

• 1st Filipina Ballerina to win a Laureate Prize - a silver medal from the Asia-Pacific Ballet Competition in Tokyo (1987)
• 1st Filipina Ballerina to win the 1st major international award in ballet for the Philippines
• 1st Filipina Ballerina to join the Kirov Ballet in Russia (1984)
• 1st Filipina Artist-in-residence at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (1986)
• Founder of Ballet Manila

QUOTE

“It's cool to read because you can transform into anything and anyone you want or dream of becoming. You can go to any place you want to be. You can learn about any subject you can think about. You can change your very being. Just think about all that power!.”

ALIAS
"Ballerina of the People"

FATHER:
MOTHER: Susan Macuja


HUSBAND Fred J. Elizalde
CHILDREN: Michelle Elizabeth (Missy) and Manuel Cesar (Mac)

USEFUL LINKS

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde: Artistic Director
Interview with Lisa Macuja-Elizalde
Ballet Manila

Gloria Diaz

Gloria Diaz
AKA Gloria Maria Aspillera Diaz

• 1st Filipina crowned Miss Universe (1969)

QUOTE
"Staying beautiful while ageing requires not only skin health, but more so bone health, which determines the integrity of your entire physical structure and well-being. Well, that has a lot to do with your figure and you have to consult your doctor."


DATE OF BIRTH
1950

BIRTHPLACE
Ilocos, Philippines

FATHER: Jaime Diaz
MOTHER: Theresa Aspillera

HUSBAND: Gabriel "Bong" Daza
CHILDREN: Raf, Ava, Isabelle

USEFUL LINKS

Gloria Diaz: The Woman, The Actor, The Beauty Queen
Binibining Pilipinas-Universe
Gloria Diaz on Wikipedia
GLORIA DIAZ: Getting high on life

Gemma Cruz

Gemma Cruz
AKA Gemma Teresa Guerrero Cruz Araneta

• 1st Filipina and 1st Asian crowned Miss International (1964)
• 1st Filipina to win an international beauty pageant title

QUOTE
“We Filipinos believe -- and I am certain this view is shared by neighboring peoples and countries -- that we can care for nature and people at the same time.”

ALIAS
"GCA"


DATE OF BIRTH
1943


FATHER: Capt. Ismael Arguelles Cruz
MOTHER: Carmen Guerrero

HUSBAND: Dr. Antonio Sebastian Araneta
CHILDREN: Fatimah and Leon

USEFUL LINKS

Dynamic women, feminism and me
Uncharted Frontier

Evelyn Mandac

Evelyn Mandac

• 1st Filipina Soprano to sing at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., USA (1975)
• 1st Filipina Soprano to sing in a full-length opera with Placido Domingo

USEFUL LINKS

Evelyn Mandac, diva

Charmaine Clamor

Charmaine Clamor

• 1st Filipina-American Jazz Singer (2006)

USEFUL LINKS

Charmaine Clamor.com

Amy Lopez-Forbes

Amy Lopez-Forbes

• 1st Filipina to win 1,000,000 pesos in the television game show Who wants to be a millionaire?, Philippine version (2001)

USEFUL LINKS

Who wants to be a millionaire?

Anna Bayle

Anna Bayle

• 1st Filipina International Supermodel (1975)

QUOTE

“If I was able to ‘baby sit’ younger models like Tyra Banks and Naomi (Campbell), then I can surely help any girl from the Philippines. It would be like having a new child.”

ALIAS
“Model of the ’80s”

USEFUL LINKS

Anna Bayle: Investment Specialist
The runway stunner is now teaching future models

Imelda Marcos

Imelda Marcos
AKA Imelda Trinidad Romuáldez

• 1st Filipina First Lady to win a seat in the Interim Batasang Pambansa (1978)

QUOTE

“Filipinos don't wallow in what is miserable and ugly. They recycle the bad into things of beauty.”


ALIAS
"Steel Butterfly"
"Muse of Manila"

DATE OF BIRTH
July 2, 1929

BIRTHPLACE
Manila, Philippines

FATHER: Vicente Orestes Romuáldez
MOTHER: Remedios Trinidad

HUSBAND: President Ferdinand Marcos
CHILDREN: Imee, Ferdinand Jr. (Bongbong), Irene, and Aimee (adopted)

USEFUL LINKS

TIME.com 10 Questions: Imelda Marcos
Sandigan acquits Imelda of foundation graft raps
Wikipedia Article on Imelda Marcos
Rotten.com Imelda Marcos Bio
Homage to Imelda's shoes
Exclusive Photos of the Jewelry Collection of Imelda Marcos
Imelda Marcos runs for Philippines presidency