# The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service

The Outstanding Women in Nation’s Service (TOWNS) award is presented by the TOWNS Foundation to outstanding Filipino women ages 21 to 45 years old who have contributed positively to strengthening national capability and shaping the nation’s future and served as catalysts for economic, social and cultural development, national security and national unity by providing their time, talent and resources. The award is given every three years during the last week of October. Since its inception in 1974, TOWNS has cited 189 women (as of 2022).

## The Awardees

| Year | Awardee | Field | Notes |
| 1974 | Medina H. Delmendo | Agriculture | |
| 1974 | Aida D. Eugenio | Science | |
| 1974 | Perla S. Ocampo | Medicine |
| 1974 | Elisa (Boots) A. Roa | Arts Cinema | |
| 1974 | Flerida Ruth Romero | Law | |
| 1974 | Rosa Rosal | Humanities | |
| 1974 | Leticia Ramos-Shahani | Foreign Service | |
| 1974 | Editha A. Tan | Economics | |
| 1974 | Mona D. Valisno | Education | |
| 1977 | Zenaida Amador | Performing Arts | |
| 1977 | Edwina K. Arroyo | Arts | |
| 1977 | Lilia R. Bautista | Public Administration | |
| 1977 | Rosario C. Manalo | Foreign Service | |
| 1977 | Emily Marohombsar | Education | First awardee from Mindanao |
| 1977 | Julia B. Pantastico | Science | |
| 1977 | Elsa V. Payumo | Tourism | |
| 1977 | Delia E. Torrijos | Science | |
| 1981 | Isabel R. Aleta | Humanitarian Endeavor | |
| 1981 | Teresita K. Briones | Medicine | |
| 1981 | Elnora Cabalfin | Science | |
| 1981 | Elizabeth P. dela Fuente | Tourism | |
| 1981 | Zenaida G. Gordon | Business | |
| 1981 | Roqaiya H. Maglangit | Public Administration | |
| 1981 | Leticia J. Magsanoc | Journalism | |
| 1981 | Alice Reyes | Arts | |
| 1981 | Amelou B. Reyes | Education | |
| 1981 | Ingrid S. Santamaria | Arts | |
| 1981 | Evelyn R. Singson | Business | |
| 1981 | Mercedes C. Teodoro | Law | |
| 1983 | Nora Aunor | Performing Arts | |
| 1983 | Carmen J. Barredo | Performing Arts | |
| 1983 | Julie Y. Daza | Journalism | |
| 1983 | Victoria de Guzman | Tourism | |
| 1983 | Corazon Santos de la Paz-Bernardo | Business | |
| 1983 | Lilia B. de Lima | Law | |
| 1983 | Olivia Aguinaldo Ferry | Business | |
| 1983 | Evelyn A. Magno | Education | |
| 1983 | Nora Z. Petines | Humanitarian Services | |
| 1983 | Tricita H. Quimio | Agriculture | |
| 1983 | Thelma T. Ramos | Medicine | |
| 1983 | Patricia A. Sto. Tomas | Public Administration | |
| 1983 | Marlene H. Tamano | Social Work | |
| 1983 | Rosalinda V. Tirona | Diplomacy | |
| 1986 | Sister Bellarmine Bernas | Education | |
| 1986 | Esperanza Cabral | Medicine |
| 1986 | Olivia "Bong" Coo | Sports | |
| 1986 | Lourdes J. Cruz | Biochemistry | |
| 1986 | Ruby Q. Gonzalez | Social Service | |
| 1986 | Cora C. Jacob | Business |
| 1986 | Cecile Licad | Music | |
| 1986 | Magda Carolina V. Llamanzares | Nursing | |
| 1986 | Alicia O. Lustre | Food Technology | |
| 1986 | Maria V. Montelibano | Media |
| 1986 | Miriam Defensor Santiago | Law | |
| 1986 | Zenaida Y. Ubaldo | Rural Development | |
| 1989 | Cecille G. Alvarez | Performing Arts | |
| 1989 | Rowena S. Arrieta | Performing Arts |
| 1989 | Lydia B. Brown | Educational Television | |
| 1989 | Ma. Rosa U. Carrion | Business | |
| 1989 | Corazon P.B. Claudio | Science and Technology | |
| 1989 | Sister Teresa R. Dagdag | Community Development |
| 1989 | Celeste L. Gallardo | Performing Arts | |
| 1989 | Cheche Lazaro | Broadcast Journalism | |
| 1989 | June Caridad P. Lopez | Psychiatry | |
| 1989 | Evelyn Mae T. Mendoza | Science |
| 1989 | Lisa Macuja | Performing Arts | |
| 1989 | Margarita J. de la Rama | Business | |
| 1989 | Aurora G. del Rosario | Agriculture | |
| 1989 | Paulynn P. Sicam | Print Journalism | |
| 1989 | Vivien M. Talisayon | Performing Arts |
| 1989 | Luzviminda Santos Valdez | Social Work | |
| 1989 | Imelda Virginia G. Villar | Education | |
| 1992 | Zorayda Amelia C. Alonzo | Government Service | |
| 1992 | Teresita Ang See | Cultural Integration |
| 1992 | Mediadora Claudio Saniel | Medicine | |
| 1992 | Ma. Nieves R. Confesor | Government Service | |
| 1992 | Virginia C. Cuevas | Agriculture | |
| 1992 | Teresita Q. Deles | Community Service |
| 1992 | Elena J. Golez | Drug Abuse Prevention | |
| 1992 | Elizabeth P. Marcelino | Child Rehabilitation | |
| 1992 | Corazon Soliman | Community Development | |
| 1992 | Ma. Beatriz P. Tesoro | Cultural Revival |
| 1992 | Mel Tiangco | Broadcast Journalism | |
| 1992 | Cristina L. Yuson | Education | |
| 1995 | Ma. Cynthia Rose B. Bautista | Government Service | |
| 1995 | Ma. Karina A. Bolasco | Book Publishing |
| 1995 | Emilia T. Boncodin | Public Administration | |
| 1995 | Gloria T. Climaco | Business Management | |
| 1995 | Rina J. David | Women’s Rights Advocacy | |
| 1995 | Ma. Leonora V. de Jesus | Public Administration |
| 1995 | Cynthia E. Dominguez | Medicine | |
| 1995 | Lorna P. Kapunan | Law | |
| 1995 | Millie L. Kilayko | Entrepreneurship Development | |
| 1995 | Yolanda V. Ong | Communications |
| 1995 | Loren Legarda | Broadcast Journalism | |
| 1995 | Aida D. Solsoloy | Agriculture | |
| 1998 | Rhodora R. Aldemita | Science | |
| 1998 | Carmina Noela A. Aquino | Medicine |
| 1998 | Tessie C. Nunez | Agriculture | |
| 1998 | Ester B. Ogena | Education | |
| 1998 | Lilian F. Patena | Agriculture (Plant Tissue Culture) | |
| 1998 | Maria Lea Carmen I. Salonga | Performing Arts |
| 1998 | Ma. Lourdes A. Sereno | Law | |
| 1998 | Evalyn G. Ursua | Law | |
| 1998 | Monica Anne E. Wilson | Performing Arts | |
| 1998 | Ma. Helena T. Yap | Science |
| 2001 | Maria Victoria M. Abesamis | Medicine | |
| 2001 | Clarita P. Aganon | Government Service |
| 2001 | Grace N. Aves | Contemporary Culture | |
| 2001 | Queena Lee Chua | Education | |
| 2001 | Olivia P. Damasco | Agriculture | |
| 2001 | Bernadette J. Madrid | Medicine |
| 2001 | Maria Antonette J. Menez | Science | |
| 2001 | Clarissa Emerita G. Ocampo | Extraordinary Public Service | |
| 2001 | Leah Victoria R. Reyes | Education | |
| 2001 | Jessica Soho | Broadcast Journalism | |
| 2004 | Alicia Rita Arroyo | Business | |
| 2004 | Maria Josephine Barrios | Arts | |
| 2004 | Madonna Casimero | Science and Technology | |
| 2004 | Ces Drilon | Journalism | |
| 2004 | Raquel Fortun | Medicine | |
| 2004 | Catherine Guballa | Public Service | |
| 2004 | Chin Chin Gutierrez | Environment Protection | |
| 2004 | Marichu Lambino | Law | |
| 2004 | Aura Matias | Industrial Engineering | |
| 2004 | Deanie Lyn Ocampo | Education | |
| 2004 | Blessilda Raposa | Education | |
| 2004 | Fernandina Sandico-Ong | Arts | |
| 2007 | Glecy Cruz Atienza | Arts and Culture | |
| 2007 | Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz | Medicine | |
| 2007 | Maria Corazon de Ungria | Science | |
| 2007 | Elizabeth H. Lee | Business | |
| 2007 | Dina S. Ocampo | Education | |
| 2007 | Alyssa M. Peleo-Alampay | Science | |
| 2007 | Hilly Ann Maria Roa-Quiaoit | Environmental Conservation | |
| 2007 | Maria A. Ressa | Broadcast Journalism | |
| 2007 | Alexandra Prieto Romualdez | Print Media | |
| 2007 | Catherine P. Vistro-Yu | Education | |
| 2010 | Therese Badoy | Education | Founder, Rocking Society through Alternative Education |
| 2010 | Arlene Bag-ao | Law | Member, House of Representatives |
| 2010 | Kara Patria Constantino–David | Broadcast Journalism | Journalist |
| 2010 | Laura David | Oceanography | First among five oceanographers in the country to earn the award |
| 2010 | Therese Fernandez | Social Entrepreneurship | President, Rags2Riches (Youngest TOWNS awardee) |
| 2010 | Jo Enrica Enriquez | Humanitarian Endeavour | Executive director, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (Asia-Pacific) |
| 2010 | Regina Hechanova–Alampay | Psychology | Research specialist |
| 2010 | Carmela Lapitan | Urology | First female urologic surgeon admitted as diplomate in the Philippine Board of Urology |
| 2010 | Stella Quimbo | Economy | Economic professor |
| 2010 | Marissa Romero | Agriculture | Research specialist |
| 2010 | Myla Villanueva | Information & communications Technology | President, Global Telecom Women's Network |
| 2013 | Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe | Government Service | Chief executive officer, Pag-IBIG Fund; lawyer |
| 2013 | Noraida Abdullah Karim | Social Work | Deputy Director for Philippine Programme of the Community and Family Services, International |
| 2013 | Ani Karina Brown | Sports | Women empowerment program manager; tri-athlete |
| 2013 | Karen Davila | Broadcast Journalism | ABS-CBN journalist |
| 2013 | Rachelle Gerodias | Performing Arts | Country's premier soprano |
| 2013 | Gemma Narisma | Atmospheric Science | |
| 2013 | Eleanor Pinugu | Social Entreprise; Education | Founder of a non-profit school |
| 2013 | Ma. Amihan Ramolete | Theater Arts | Manager, Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas |
| 2013 | Maricor Soriano | Physics | President, Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas |
| 2016 | Cherrie Atilano | Social Development | Founder of an agri-social enterprise in Marinduque |
| 2016 | Hidilyn Diaz | Sports | First Filipino female Olympic medalist |
| 2016 | Patricia Evangelista | Media | First Filipino winner in an annual public speaking competition in London; journalist |
| 2016 | Luisa Lorenzo | Arts | Established the first photography gallery in Southeast Asia |
| 2016 | Marissa Martinez | Government Service | Commissioned officer, Philippine Navy |
| 2016 | Aisa Mijeno | Social Enterprise | Founder, Sustainable Alternative Lighting Corp. |
| 2016 | Sabrina Ongkiko | Education | Public school teacher |
| 2016 | Jocelle Batapa–Sigue | Information and Communications Technology | One of the creators, National Information and Communication Technology Confederation of the Philippines |
| 2019 | Ma. Regina Justina Estuar | Science and Technology | Working for Ateneo de Manila University as an ICT-based center executive director and a social computing laboratory head |
| 2019 | Stephanie Sy | Technology Entrepreneurship | Founder, Thinking Machines Data Science, Inc. |
| 2019 | Carmina Bayombong | Entrepreneurship | Founder, InvestEd |
| 2019 | Dr. Gay Jane Perez | Science and Technology | UP Diliman professor who led a program that sent Diwata-1 into orbit in 2016. |
| 2019 | Bai Rohaniza Sumndad–Usman | Education | Founder, Teach Peace Build Peace Movement, Inc., involved in the programs for Marawi siege evacuees |
| 2019 | Samira Gutoc | Peace Advocacy | Organizer of a volunteer group for Marawi siege evacuees; former ARMM legislator and former commissioner, Bangsamoro Transition Commission; journalist |
| 2019 | Karla Patricia Gutierrez | Performing Arts | Founder, Philippine Opera Company |
| 2019 | Clarissa Isabelle Delgado | Education | Founder, Teach for the Philippines (TOYM awardee, 2016) |
| 2019 | Geraldine Zamora | Health and medicine | Rheumatologist; pioneered the Philippine Vasculitis Study Group, as well as programs for cancer patients, for indigent patients, and for the treatment of lupus |
| 2019 | Atty. Patricia Ann Prodigalidad | Law | Lawyer; local and international arbitrator; 1996 Bar Examination topnotcher |
| 2019 | Chiara Zambrano | Journalism | ABS-CBN News correspondent (TOYM awardee for the same field, 2017) |
| 2019 | Xyza Bacani | Humanities | Photographer for various international companies |
| 2022 | Ani Rosa Almario | Education and entrepreneurship | From the Adarna House |
| 2022 | Rubilen Amit | Sports | Billiards World Champion |
| 2022 | Dr. Pia D. Bagamasbad | Medicine and public health | Molecular biologist |
| 2022 | Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho | Medicine and public health | From the Department of Health |
| 2022 | Dr. Erika Fille Legara | Data science | |
| 2022 | Keisha Alena Mayuga | Transport planning | |
| 2022 | Ana Patricia Non | Community service | Community pantry organizer |
| 2022 | Anna Rosario Oposa | Marine ecology conservation | Environmentalist |
| 2022 | Patricia Marie "Pia" Ranada | Investigative journalism | Rappler journalist |
| 2022 | Georgina Romero | Women empowerment through Information and Communications Technology | |
| 2022 | Dr. Aletta T. Yñiguez | Marine science | |