PhilDev Foundation

What started as a simple idea became something deeper: a space to reconnect, to learn, and to reflect on the role each of us plays in carrying the vision of our founder, Dado Banatao. From honest conversations and trust-building workshops to shared stories of growth and leadership, one thing was clear: this community moves forward because of the people within it. Thank you to everyone who showed up, shared, and stepped into what it means to be part of something bigger. Thank you to Dolores Bernardo from Makena Consulting, Jordana Valencia from Waymo, Lieza Marie Danan, PhilDev Awardee and CEO of LiVeritas, Rajiv Ayyangar, Banatao Scholar Alum and CEO of Product Hunt, and Regina Manzana Sawhney, PhilDev Trustee and Community Director. We are the bridge. #PhilDev #TheBridgeWeBuild #Community #Leadership #FilipinoExcellence

Innovation takes center stage. ✨ Experience the Impact Fair at the PhilDev Annual Gala Fundraiser, featuring local startups supported by PhilDev through the years who are turning bold ideas into real-world solutions in areas like sustainability, clean energy, community livelihoods and tech-enabled services. This year, we are proud to feature: @MAGWAI , @RootsCollective , @Bambuhay , CleaningLady, FHMoms, @KoolGear , and @mHycro . 23 May 2026 | 6:00 PM EDSA Shangri-La, Manila Save A Seat to support the advocacy: /events/annual-gala-fundraiser-2026/ #PhilDev #EnableSuccess #AnnualGalaFundraiser #PhilDevGala2026 --- 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘚&𝘛 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘐𝘯𝘤. (𝘥𝘣𝘢 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘋𝘦𝘷) 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 (𝘋𝘚𝘞𝘋), 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘕𝘰. 𝘋𝘚𝘞𝘋-𝘚𝘉-𝘗𝘚𝘗-𝘚-2025-000166

This is your invitation. ✨ Save a seat among changemakers in innovation at the PhilDev’s Annual Gala Fundraiser as we celebrate the Legacy of Filipino excellence! 23 May 2026 | 6:00 PM EDSA Shangri-La, Manila More details: /events/annual-gala-fundraiser-2026/ --- 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘚&𝘛 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘐𝘯𝘤. (𝘥𝘣𝘢 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘋𝘦𝘷) 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 (𝘋𝘞𝘚𝘋), 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘕𝘰. 𝘋𝘚𝘞𝘋-𝘚𝘉-𝘗𝘚𝘗-𝘚-2025-000166 #PhilDev #EnableSuccess #AnnualGalaFundraiser #PhilDevGala2026

Join us for a night of impact and purpose, celebrating the Legacy of Filipino Excellence! As we commemorate the life of Dado Banatao, PhilDev brings together a growing community of scholars, partners, and changemakers working toward a shared vision of innovation for nation-building and global impact. 23 May 2026 (Saturday) | 6:00 PM EDSA Shangri-La, Manila Save a seat and be a partner for change: https://forms.gle/Pa4vj9L8J16AdUep9 --- 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘚&𝘛 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘐𝘯𝘤. (𝘥𝘣𝘢 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘋𝘦𝘷) 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 (𝘋𝘞𝘚𝘋), 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘕𝘰. 𝘋𝘚𝘞𝘋-𝘚𝘉-𝘗𝘚𝘗-𝘚-2025-000166 #PhilDev #EnableSuccess #AnnualGalaFundraiser #PhilDevGala2026

𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐃𝐞𝐯 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬! 🤝🌟 Last February, PhilDev attended the Wells Fargo Community Impact Fair, an event highlighting the vital work of program grantees. It was a milestone day as we presented our programs to Wells Fargo’s top global executives and the Philippines Leadership Team, alongside 500 enthusiastic employees! Through this engagement, we showcased how our partnership continues to bridge the gap between education and industry, empowering the next generation of Filipino leaders. 🚀💡 𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐔𝐒 for more updates on how we are driving change through our partnerships. 🔗 #PartnershipsForImpact #PhilDevFoundation #BankofDoing

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚'𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 For Diana Lebaquin, a third-year Information Technology student at Pateros Technological College, joining the CORE Talent Accelerator, a PhilDev Foundation program in partnership with Wells Fargo Philippines, meant choosing to hustle today for a stronger tomorrow. As a working student balancing her role as a Customer Service Representative and her BSIT degree, Diana saw the program as a game changer. It gave her access to real-world skills, mentorship from industry professionals, and the confidence to step into the tech field with purpose. One moment that reshaped her perspective was learning about design thinking. She shared, “it really clicked for me that being more empathetic isn't just a "nice" thing to do, but a super important tool for creating stuff that actually helps people... making me realize that the best ideas come from listening and understanding someone else's perspective.” Through CORE, Diana strengthened her leadership, project management, and technopreneurship skills. She discovered how her work experience and entrepreneurial drive could work hand in hand with technology. Today, she dreams of building smart automation tools for her apartment business and creating platforms that help fellow peers manage their side ventures more efficiently. Her journey in one word is ‘Synergy.’ When asked why, Diana said: “Every single part of this journey, from the crazy fun ice breakers to the heavy-hitting talks from the speakers, actually worked together to change how I think.” Her message to her fellow tech peers is simple: “We’re all future tech leaders now, and I’m so hyped to see us all winning in the real world!” Learn more about our programs at #CORE2026 #PTCAccelerate #PhilDev #BankofDoing

𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 Last February 23–28, the CORE Talent Accelerator, a PhilDev Foundation program supported by Wells Fargo Philippines, successfully held its pilot run at Pateros Technological College. Over 100 Computer Studies students participated in a week-long immersive workshop covering both essential soft skills and key technical competencies, including technopreneurship, project management, and cybersecurity. The sessions strengthened students’ mindset for creative, human-centered problem solving and enhanced their readiness to enter the tech workforce. We extend our sincere thanks to Pateros Technological College for hosting us and for their shared commitment to developing the next generation of Filipino tech talent. Learn more about our programs at PTC? Accelerate! #CORE2026 #PTCAccelerate #PhilDev #BankofDoing

The Young Banatao Learning Lab 3.0, as seen through the eyes of our young changemakers. In January, 60 student-innovators from 7 partner universities across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao came together for the Onboarding and Design Thinking Camp. The 3-day experience blended technical skills in fields like business, finance, and computer science with mentorship and foundational knowledge in technopreneurship, sparking creativity, collaboration, and bold ideas. These photos, captured by the Young BLLoodz, highlight the energy and curiosity that make the YBLL journey an exciting space for future innovators to learn, experiment, and create impact. 🤝 Learn more about out programs at

We close this Women’s Month by spotlighting the kind of leadership that transforms lives through patience, guidance, and steady, meaningful impact. As Program Director of PhilDev Science and Engineering Scholarship (PSES), Zen believes that empowerment begins with helping a person recognize their own worth, and patiently walking beside them until they come to believe in it. For her, real change happens in small, steady moments. In conversations. In guidance. In the quiet support that helps people stand on their own, make thoughtful choices, and use what they have to uplift others. Because empowerment is not just about growth. It is about guiding others until they believe in themselves. She Thrives. We Thrive.

We continue to spotlight the women who are opening doors and creating pathways for others to lead. For Ronna Sieh, empowerment is an intentional act, one that builds bridges and expands opportunities for women and girls to discover and pursue their full potential. As a founding board member of PhilDev and co-founder of The Coding School Learning Hub (@coding.ph ) , she leads by example, showing that leadership can take shape both inside the home and in the communities we serve. Through her work, she creates accessible and flexible pathways for women to grow in STEM and beyond, helping them build both skills and confidence. Drawing from her experience across global finance and edtech, she is committed to mentoring women to scale their impact while staying grounded in purpose and service. She believes that true empowerment is rooted in integrity, balancing professional excellence with a deep commitment to uplifting others and strengthening communities. When women are given the tools, mentorship, and opportunity to lead, they do not just succeed. They help bridge talent to the world and create lasting change. She Thrives. We Thrive.

As we continue to celebrate Women’s Month, we’re spotlighting the women who continue to shape and strengthen the communities they helped build. As a co-founder of PhilDev, Maria has always believed that empowerment goes beyond individual success. For her, it means creating spaces where women can lead, be heard, and pursue opportunities without limitations. Through PhilDev, she champions initiatives that open doors for women in innovation and entrepreneurship, while ensuring they are supported every step of the way. She believes that true empowerment is both personal and collective, when women build confidence in themselves and uplift others along the journey. When women are given the right support, they do not just grow. They create pathways for others to rise. She Thrives. We Thrive.

We continue to spotlight women who are redefining what’s possible in science, innovation, and leadership. As Co-Founder and CEO of LiVeritas Biosciences, Dr. Lieza Danan is leading the development of AI systems that are transforming how regulated science is done, turning months of analysis into days of FDA-ready outputs. With over two decades of experience across global biopharma leaders, she has helped build systems grounded in trust, precision, and impact, shaping work that reaches far beyond the lab. As a cancer survivor, her mission is deeply personal. She believes that innovation from anywhere can uplift communities, transform systems, and create meaningful change worldwide. When expertise meets purpose, innovation becomes a force for good. She Thrives. We Thrive.