Women in different roles have been the unstoppable forces in shaping people around them. So we asked around: Who are the women you look up to?

I have to show appreciation for my mother TANIA GIL PADILLA. I see how her beliefs are challenged because she knows she’s raising very headstrong women. She doesn’t take that against us. She’s very humble in the sense that she’s always challenging her own style of mothering, her own set of beliefs. I hope to have that kind of mindset when I get to her age. —Gabby Padilla, actress

I admire JOEY MEAD KING because she’s a huge animal advocate. I aspire to be like her. —Soleil Ignacio, artist

My friends are my source of inspiration. They motivate me to do my best when I see them do things. I feel like I have to step up as well. My friend PATS LIMCAUCO is studying podiatry. She’s been doing it for five years. Even if we are in different fields, I feel motivated to do things as well. —Winnie Wong, artist of Penelope Pop

 

The first one will have to be my mom, CATHERINE ENAJE. The second will have to be my grandma because I also grew up with her. I have an amazing group of girlfriends that I look up to that I’m encouraged and inspired by. I love MAYA ANGELOU, MICHELLE OBAMA and OPRAH WINFREY and all of these incredible individuals who are really inspiring. Maya Angelou was a multihyphenate before the term was coined. She was a dancer, singer, writer, poet. She was all of these amazing things. One of her most powerful statements I read was, “You don’t have to pick. You can express yourself in lots of different ways.” She spoke eight languages, traveled the world, talked about her weaknesses as much as her strengths. I feel like I want to embody that kind of boldness and that kind of empathy in my life as well. —Joyce Pring, TV personality, host, radio DJ, recording artist and audio book narrator

What more central figure could there be in your life as model of femininity than your mom? There’s that generational gap between me and my mom LAURA BLACK—she comes from a conservative mentality and I am more modern. But in spite of that, she’s able to hold space for me. She doesn’t judge me for our differences and she allows me to be who I am. —Sara Black, photographer

I look up to GINNY MONTEAGUDO-OCAMPO, head of content of iWant, for revolutionizing digital content through streaming and for bringing to Filipinos worldwide relatable content. And PANCY HERNANDEZ, my mom, for working so hard for her family, a symbol of a mother who’d do everything for them. A caregiver in the United States, she sent us her kids to school, gave us quality education, even as she came from humble beginnings. —Nico Hernandez, iWant, creative head/film educator

I look up to a lot of women, including SOLITA MONSOD because I admire her intelligence, wit, courage and for speaking her mind. JESSICA SOHO because she defies stereotypes in the broadcasting profession; she weaves culture in her storytelling. CHECHE LAZARO because, for me, she set the standard in Philippine broadcast journalism. KARA DAVID for her her documentaries that champion the human spirit. MICHELLE OBAMA because she feeds my mind and soul. ROBINA GOKONGWEI-PE for her courage. RISA HONTIVEROS for championing women’s rights and humanity as a whole. Actress JENNYLYN MERCADO because she shows how a woman can survive and win in life. My mom, ZENY BONDOY, for personifying the Pinoy mom: a superwoman. —Ferds Bondoy, chief executive director, ComCo Southeast Asia

I admire my mom TITA PINUGO for giving me and my sister the loving and supportive home environment we needed in order to develop the courage to find and own our authentic self. I also look up to fearless women like ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ and NADIA MURAD for using their voices and platforms to fight against injustice, and raise awareness about issues that matter. —Lynn Pinugu, She Talk Asia founder

SR. MARY JOHN MANANZAN, a woman with a strong faith in God, a compassionate heart especially for the poor, fearless in denouncing corruption, injustice and human rights violation. CECILIA GARUCHO, REMMY RIKKEN and BRENDA FAJARDO of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (Peta)—three of the women in Peta who were most influential in shaping me as a Filipino artist, art educator and cultural worker. The Josef women in my Marikina family—four sisters (ROSARIO, MILAGROS, LEONOR and ESCARLITA) of my father and my mother (JOSEFA) who taught me the values of simple living, honesty, respect for elders and the rights of others, good manners, courage in defending what is right, compassion for the needy, love for the family, country and God.—Fernando Josef, artistic director, Tanghalang Pilipino

LENI ROBREDO. She is a shining example of a leader. Upright, honorable, distinguished, hard working and full of integrity. —Audie Gemora, entertainment director, Solaire Resort and Casino

I admire ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ. She’s intelligent, progressive and outspoken. ETHEL BOOBA—another intelligent woman, with a sharp wit. Both women tell it like it is. —Michael Williams, artistic director, Resorts World Manila’s Full House Theater Productions

I look up to my mom, “Manay” GINA DE VENECIA, the most because she is a bastion of strength, grace and perseverance—a mix of hard and soft, checks and balance but also my greatest supporter. —Rep. Christopher de Venecia, founder, The Sandbox Collective theater group

My mom MARICHI JOSE, of course. No other woman comes close. She’s given me life and limb, and has never stopped being a mother—not even for a hot second. Career-wise, I admire women like CLAIRE FOY (who’s actually also doing “Lungs” at the moment!), ELLEN DEGENERES, JENNIFER ANISTON, EMILY BLUNT, RACHEL BROSNAHAN, SUTTON FOSTER, AUDRA MCDONALD, LAURA OSNES, LAURA BENANTI, KELLI O’HARA, JESSICA VOSK, JOANNA AMPIL, LEA SALONGA—women who have never apologized for having a voice, and who have carved out a path for themselves and succeeded at it. —Sab Jose, Theater actress, currently doing “Lungs”

Besides my mom LIGAYA MARTIN, another woman that I look up to is PATTI LUPONE. She’s a Broadway diva in her own right but she is always one to speak her truth. A strong character, a marvelous actress and a woman of worth. She’s a living legend and an inspiration to young actors. —Jonjon Martin, PR manager, 9 Works Theatrical

INANG CONCHING (my maternal grandmother)—most lola will spoil, but she disciplined me and erased entitlement in my system. Nanay TERESA BARANGAN raised me and my siblings as a single mother. She dedicated every minute to us and introduced us all to Jesus Christ our savior. My wife, MAY BARANGAN, for marrying me even when I was jobless and broke, for being God-fearing and my greatest supporter. —Victor Barangan, executive chef, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel

Our University of the Philippines Manila chancellor, CARMENCITA PADILLA. I love her passion for health and her openness to innovation and change. She’s a leader, a researcher, an educator, a service provider and a mother. I’m just amazed how she does everything and remains unwavering and still. —Roy Dahildahil, cofounder, MentalHealthPH organization

The women of Red Turnip Theater—ANA ABAD SANTOS, JENNY JAMORA and CRIS VILLONCO. They’re at the top of their game as artists. I’ve learned so much just from being in the same room with them and exchanging ideas. They’ve inspired a lot of my choices and are also my go-tos whenever I’m working on anything new, whether as actor or director. —Topper Fabregas, director, “Tabing Ilog: The Musical”