Empowering Governance and Inclusive Leadership
Celebrating Women’s Leadership in Policy and Public Service
To commemorate Women’s Month and champion the value of inclusive governance, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) Alumni Association – Philippines Chapter, in partnership with the NUS Alumni Network Manila, hosted an intimate dinner and panel conversation on 28 March 2025 at Café Mary Grace, Rockwell Power Plant Mall, Makati.
The event, themed “Empowering Governance: The Synergy of Women’s Leadership and Inclusive Policy-Making,” gathered alumni and professionals from across the National University of Singapore (NUS) community. While spearheaded by LKYSPP, the initiative was supported by representatives and alumni from other NUS schools—including Yale-NUS, Medicine, Public Health, Law, Business, and FASS—highlighting the strength of cross-school collaboration within the NUS community in Manila.
Inspiring Keynote: Purpose, Resilience, and "Mothering a Business"
The evening began with a heartfelt keynote from Ms Mary Grace Dimacali, Founder and CEO of Mary Grace Foods, Inc., who shared her journey from a small home kitchen to a beloved Filipino brand with over 140 branches. She shared: “There’s nothing more humbling than being a mother. Women embody stamina, endurance, service—and the ability to take punches with grace.” Ms Dimacali emphasised the importance of emotional intelligence, spiritual grounding, and slow, deliberate growth—values echoed in her leadership style and her company's philosophy.
The event also featured a compelling panel of three accomplished LKYSPP alumnae, whose careers span the regulatory, corporate, and development sectors: Atty Monalisa Dimalanta (SFPS 2021), Chairperson and CEO, Energy Regulatory Commission; Atty. Maria Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones (MPM '07), CHRO, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation; and Ms Mary Jean T. Pacheco (SFPS 2021), Undersecretary, Department of Trade and Industry.
They shared personal insights on navigating leadership roles as women in traditionally male-dominated spaces. Atty Allones reflected on the four pillars of governance: stability, rule of law, a professional bureaucracy, and an inclusive civil society. Atty Dimalanta noted how “public sector leadership brings larger consequences,” while Ms Pacheco debunked gendered expectations by affirming “being direct is not a male trait—it’s a leadership trait.”
Lastly, the event also welcomed the newly appointed NUS Alumni Network Manila Executive Committee (2025–2026), now led for the first time by a female Chairperson, Dr Venus Oliva Cloma-Rosales (MPH '13), and Vice-Chairperson, Ms Patricia Villar-Yambing (MBA '15). Their presence exemplified the growing role of women in leadership within the NUS Manila community, and the strong commitment to inclusivity and alumni engagement across all NUS schools. This gathering not only celebrated Women’s Month but also reaffirmed the alumni network’s shared mission of leading with purpose, inspiring change, and building a future grounded in inclusive, ethical leadership.