MANILA — Clark Development Corp. president and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera was recognized as the “Woman of the Year” at the Asia Leaders Awards (ALA) 2023 held on Nov. 20 at the Manila Hotel here.
She was conferred the prestigious award in recognition of her achievements as a public servant, earning her the title “Woman of Many Firsts.”
“I thought of the challenges that confront every woman. Every woman has to be a good wife, a good mother, a good sister, and now, in our age, a good grandmother. We also have to be good government workers. We have to keep the passion both for our family and our work,” said Devanadera in her acceptance speech.
To her fellow awardees, she enthused: “And so, the challenge for us, the awardees for leadership, is for us to create, recreate, nurture, and consciously develop more leaders. More leaders who one day will also join in the ripples in the very big ocean. Because we have nurtured and produced more leaders, we are hoping for a time when all the ripples will cover the entire ocean. And that is the challenge. And I hope and pray that that day will come.”
Throughout her extensive government career spanning several decades, Devanadera held various roles in government.
Starting as the local chief executive of Sampaloc, Quezon, she went on to achieve numerous milestones. She became the first woman to serve as president of the Quezon Mayor’s League and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.
She holds the distinction of being the first woman lawyer from Quezon Province admitted to the New York Bar, the first woman government corporate counsel, and the first woman solicitor general. Additionally, she was the first woman to become a full-pledged Secretary of Justice and the president and chief executive officer of the CDC.
Now in its sixth year, the ALA has partnered with flag carrier Philippine Airlines as its co-presenter. The event celebrated world-class business leaders who have spearheaded innovation in their respective industries, serving as catalysts for positive change.
Among the awardees at ALA 2023 were Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr.; Viventis Search Asia’s Yu Ming Chin; cosplayer-influencer Alodia Gosiengfiao Quimbo; and Yupangco Group of Companies president Robert Laurel Yupangco. Also awarded were CEO and co-founder of Sakahon, a leading agri-tech B2B in Pampanga Elaine Timbol; chairman, president, and CEO of the E-Hotels Group, Dr. Elton See Tan; and Batangas Governor and co-author of Mandanas ruling, Hermilando Ingco Mandanas.
Other honorees present were Tag Media Group CEO Andrew Nicolas and vice president Andria Terese Nicolas; culinary entrepreneur and CEO of Mernels’ Enterprises Merle Balicao; GR Bank’s COO Elizabeth Carlos Timbol; Ethiopian Consul David Ackerman, and president and CEO of Calabria Company Limited, Christopher Quimbo. CDC-PR
