07/03/2026
This National Womenโs Month 2026, we honor three distinguished Filipina leaders who are also women behind TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez, women whose influence shaped education, governance, and global advocacy.
Helena "Tita Helen" Z Benitez was a senator, diplomat, and champion of womenโs rights on the global stage. She served as Chairperson of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and later became the first woman President of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme. A strong advocate of Filipino culture, she also founded the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company, bringing Philippine heritage to audiences around the world.
Francisca Tirona Benitez, fondly remembered as โMama B,โ was a visionary educator and nation-builder who helped transform womenโs education in the Philippines. Through her leadership in education and civic work, she opened opportunities for Filipinas to pursue professional careers and leadership roles in society.
Amelia Lourdes "Amelou" Benitez-Reyes carried forward this legacy through her work in education reform and womenโs empowerment. A TOWNS awardee for education, she helped develop programs that strengthened private education in the Philippines and served as president of the National Council of Women of the Philippines. She also represented the country in global discussions on womenโs advancement, including the UN General Assembly Special Session on Women.
Their lives remind us that Filipina leadership does not only build institutionsโit shapes policy, empowers communities, and uplifts generations.
Lead like the Babaylans. Lead with purpose. โจ
