07 September 2016 — On August 23 in Cebu, three Filipino women based in Switzerland, namely, Anny Misa Hefti from Berne, Edita de Leon from Vaud, and Magnolia Uy from Geneva, were listed among this year’s 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World (Global FWN100) by the Filipina Women’s Network.
Since 2007, the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World Award seeks to honor Filipino women who are changing the face of leadership in their local communities and in their adopted countries they now call home.
Ms. Hefti, founder of Samahang Pilipina Bern, is a two-time Global FWN100 awardee. She was first recognized in 2015 under the “Builders” category, and now named as one of the “Continuing Influencers.” Ms. Hefti was instrumental in co-founding several other groups in Switzerland such as the Samahang Pilipina Luzern and Zürich (1985); Babaylan Philippine Women's Network in Europe (1992), Migrant Women's Forum in Bern (1999), and the European Network of Filipinos in Diaspora (2013).
Ms. de Leon, who is the Global Head of Corporate Affairs of Nestlé Nutrition, Nestlé S.A., was selected under the “Innovators & Thought Leaders” category. She was recognized for her social advocacies and pioneering initiatives that help address pressing social needs in the Philippines such as the “Nescafé Plan.” Adopted by the national government as part of its national agricultural development program, Nestlé's coffee farming program continues to train thousands of coffee farmers all over the Philippines to help improve farm productivity and yield, thereby helping increase incomes for coffee farmers.
Ms. Uy, Commercial Attaché of the Philippine Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO), was selected under the “Builders” category. She was being recognized for her contributions in the negotiations and eventual signing of the Philippines’ free trade agreement with the EFTA member countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and in putting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as a priority in the World Trade Organization (WTO) agenda, among others.
Vice President Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo, who was keynote speaker at the 13th Filipina Leadership Global Summit coinciding with the awarding of the 2016 Global FWN100, was also one of the awardees. Vice President Robredo received the award under the “Nicole” category, which honors Filipino women whose words, actions and activism inspire others to act and revolutionize society’s way of understanding traditional beliefs and customs.
The Filipina Women's Network is a San Francisco-based non-profit professional organization for women of
Philippine ancestry with members worldwide. Established in 2001, the FWN aims to promote the social welfare of Filipina women and advocate for Filipina women's rights. END
