WHEN I first pitched this column to the management of The Manila Times, I knew exactly what I didn’t want it to become. I had absolutely no interest in creating yet another conventional tech space that simply recycles the buzzwords we are bombarded with every day. We hear about AI, blockchain, cybersecurity and digital transformation constantly, often stripped of context. The truth is that we have no shortage of highly technical discussions about systems, code and infrastructure. What felt profoundly missing from the national conversation was a focus on the actual people behind the screen.

More specifically, I wanted to talk about women in technology. I don’t mean featuring them as rare exceptions, token success stories or boxes to be checked on a corporate diversity checklist. Instead, I wanted to highlight them as leaders, builders, educators and innovators who are shaping the digital infrastructure of our country from the ground up.