Robredo feted for life's work championing women, marginalized sectors

Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday was formally recognized for her life's work for women and the marginalized.

Robredo is the recipient of the Tanglaw Award from The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service (TOWNS) Foundation, only the second time that the said honor was handed out by the women's group.

The Vice President, who was an alternative lawyer before entering politics, was cited by the organization "for championing women's rights even before she became a public servant."

Robredo was also honored "for empowering the marginalized, especially those at the fringe of society through her advocacy of legal literacy and livelihood opportunities." 

The Tanglaw Award, "first and last given" in 1995 to businesswoman Elena Lim, was formally presented for Robredo in an awarding ceremony on Thursday night. 

The organization also presented its TOWNS awards to another set of Filipino women, including:

• agri-social entrepreneur Cherrie Atilano (Social Development);
• Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz (Sports);
• journalist Patricia Evangelista (Media);
• artist and Silverlens gallery founder Luisa Mercedes "Isa" Lorenzo (Arts);
• BRP Tausug commander Marissa Arlene Andres-Martinez (Government Service);
• SALt Corp. Asia Mijeno (Social Enterprise);
• public school teacher Sabrina Ongkiko (Education); and
• National ICT Confederation of the Philippines co-founder Jocelle Siguro (Information and Communications Technology). 

The award is given every three years to Filipino women ages 21 to 45 "who have contributed positively to strengthening national capability and shaping the nation's future."

Among more than 150 of its recipients are actresses Nora Aunor and Boots Anson-Roa, international theater artist Lea Salonga, the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and journalists Che-Che Lazaro and Jessica Soho. 

This year's recipients were selected by a board of judges headed by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

The board also includes Commission on Higher Education Commissioner Patricia Licuanan, Convergys President Marife Zamora, former Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr.,  Lamoiyan Corporation President Cecilio Pedro, former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, and TOWNS Foundation President Elsa Payumo. —JST, GMA News