In Balagtas, the absence of women in the Municipal Council became Mikee Payuran-Gonda’s motivation to stay, speak up, and make space for others. Rather than seeing womanhood as a limitation, Mikee sees it as the foundation of her leadership and public service. Faced with a male-dominated political environment, she refused to walk away from the council simply because there were no other women at the table. Through the Angat Bayi Women Local Humanitarian Leadership Fellowship, she strengthened her leadership alongside other women working in local governance and humanitarian action. Today, as Vice Mayor, Mikee continues to champion women’s participation in decision-making, showing that representation is more than being present—it is about having a voice and using it to open doors for those who come next.

Read Mikee’s Story in Voices from the Frontline Keeping the Door Open: The Story of Mikee Payuran-Gonda