Empowering Governance and Inclusive Leadership: A Women’s Month Dinner Conversation Led by LKYSPP Philippines Chapter, Supported by NUS Manila

Celebrating Women’s Leadership in Policy and Public Service

To commemorate Women’s Month and champion the value of inclusive governance, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) Alumni Association – Philippines Chapter, in partnership with the NUS Alumni Network Manila, hosted an intimate dinner and panel conversation on March 28, 2025, at Café Mary Grace, Rockwell Power Plant Mall, Makati.

The event, themed “Empowering Governance: The Synergy of Women’s Leadership and Inclusive Policy-Making,” gathered alumni and professionals from across the National University of Singapore (NUS) community. While spearheaded by LKYSPP, the initiative was supported by representatives and alumni from other NUS schools—including Yale-NUS, Medicine, Public Health, Law, Business, and FASS—highlighting the strength of cross-school collaboration within NUS Manila.

Inspiring Keynote: Purpose, Resilience, and "Mothering a Business"

The evening began with a heartfelt keynote from Ms. Mary Grace Dimacali, Founder and CEO of Mary Grace Foods, Inc., who shared her journey from a small home kitchen to a beloved Filipino brand with over 140 branches.

“There’s nothing more humbling than being a mother. Women embody stamina, endurance, service—and the ability to take punches with grace.”
— Mary Grace Dimacali

Dimacali emphasized the importance of emotional intelligence, spiritual grounding, and slow, deliberate growth—values echoed in her leadership style and her company's philosophy.

Panel Highlights: Strength in Diverse Leadership

The event featured a compelling panel of three accomplished LKYSPP alumnae, whose careers span the regulatory, corporate, and development sectors:

• Atty. Monalisa Dimalanta, SFPS 2021, Chairperson and CEO, Energy Regulatory Commission

• Atty. Maria Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones, MPM 2006, CHRO, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation

• USec. Mary Jean T. Pacheco, SFPS 2021, Undersecretary, Department of Trade and Industry
  
  

They shared personal insights on navigating leadership roles as women in traditionally male-dominated spaces. Atty. Allones reflected on the four pillars of governance: stability, rule of law, a professional bureaucracy, and an inclusive civil society. Dimalanta noted how “public sector leadership brings larger consequences,” while Pacheco debunked gendered expectations by affirming “being direct is not a male trait—it’s a leadership trait.”