FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Isabelle Santiago
Senior Fellow, Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network
+1 415.610.6637
filipina@ffwn.org
SAN FRANCISCO, CA | May 14, 2025 – On June 18, 2025, at Dusit Thani Manila, the world will witness history in motion, inside a ballroom alive with Filipina women changemakers boldly redefining the face of leadership.
DISRUPTing Manila is a tribute, a reckoning, and a rising.
We are honored to gather in celebration of Rosemarie P. Rafael (Global FWN100™ 2023), the trailblazing founder and Chairperson of Airspeed, as she is formally confirmed as the FWN Ambassador for Manila.
A visionary leader in the logistics industry, Rosemarie transformed a modest operation, just one van and six employees, into a powerhouse logistics company that is now a vital part of the Philippines’ economic infrastructure. But her most powerful cargo has always been her unwavering belief in the transformative potential of Pinay Power.
More than a corporate success story, Rosemarie Rafael is a tireless advocate for women’s economic empowerment and gender equality. She serves as:
Chairperson, Women’s Business Council Philippines
Commissioner on Labor, Philippine Commission on Women
Treasurer, ARISE Philippines (Alliance for Risk Reduction and Resilience)
Her leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including:
Circle of Excellence, Woman Leader of the Year, ASIA CEO Awards
Leader of the Year, Italian Chamber of Commerce
Woman of Power, Philippine Daily Inquirer
This event also heralds the official Manila launch of DISRUPT 5.0: Filipina Women Leading with Intersectionality, the fifth volume in the groundbreaking book series that continues to answer a single burning question:
What happens when Filipina women stop waiting for permission and start designing power on their own terms?
Twenty-two women. Six countries. One shared truth: we are no longer asking for a seat, we are building the whole table. DISRUPT 5.0 is a blueprint for what comes next. The stories in this book confront systems, redefine leadership, and dare us to imagine a world where equity isn’t aspirational, it’s operational.
If you’re ready to be part of what’s next, these DISRUPT 5.0 authors will see you on June 18:
Marily Mondejar – Founder and CEO, Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network
Benel Se Liban – Managing Partner, JBC Group LLC | US FWN100™ 2011, Global FWN100™ 2022
Grace Jamon – President, Lapu-Lapu Cebu International College | Global FWN100™ 2022
Lorna Kapunan, Esq. – Owner and Lawyer, Kapunan & Castillo Law Offices | Global FWN100™ 2016
Mary Joy Abaquin – Founding Directress, Multiple Intelligence International School | Global FWN100™ 2021
Nora Kakilala Terrado – Founder, Caroleon Global Solutions Philippines | Global FWN100™ 2016
Regina Berba, MD, MSc – Infectious Disease Physician and Professor 1, University of the Philippines | Global FWN100™ 2022
Rhodora Palomar Fresnedi – Founder, President, CEO, Sunshine Farm Philippines | Global FWN100™ 2019
Rosemarie Rafael – Chairperson and President, Airspeed Group of Companies | Global FWN100™ 2023
About the Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network
The Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network is a U.S. nonprofit committed to increasing the influence of Filipina women globally. Through femtorship, leadership initiatives, and advocacy, FWN empowers the next-generation Filipina women leaders. More at www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
