Here are Filipinas breaking barriers in STEM – and you can be one of them!

MANILA, Philippines — When little girls are asked about what they want to be when they grow up, many of them proudly say they want to be a nurse, doctor, veterinarian and, more recently, engineer and IT programmer.

At present, women continue to be underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)—despite the Philippines being one of the most gender-friendly countries in Asia, with many women holding leadership positions even in the government.

According to Evident, only two out of seven engineering students in the Philippines are female. Moreover, the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Global Gender Gap Report, created in collaboration with LinkedIn, indicates that the retention of women in STEM work continues to drop significantly.

The sadder news is that women make up only 29.2% of all STEM workforce.

In many scientific and societal challenges, such as healthcare, environment and sustainable development, women can provide diverse perspectives. More than having a balanced representation with males, empowering women in STEM further enhances the country’s global competitiveness and economic growth.

As we aspire to see more Filipino women in STEM over the next decade or two, here are some snippets about inspiring Filipinas who are breaking barriers in STEM. They are among the visible role models Generation Alpha can look up to, as they envision themselves in similar future roles.

Motherhood may have postponed Mari Anjeli Crisanto’s doctoral studies, but it has also been her inspiration to continue solving computer science problems, knowing that technology and innovation play a big role in advancing education. This was also why she pursued STEM, finishing her undergraduate in Computer Science (magna cum laude) from University of the Philippines Los Baños in only 3.5 years, instead of the usual four. Crisanto obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (with merit) from the University of Liverpool and holds the title of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies at the UP Open University.

The recipient of Zonta International District 17 Women