Manila – As the Philippines continues to redefine its identity in the regional and global arena, three Filipina leaders are reshaping narratives around gender, youth, and empowerment through sports and design. Honored as Rising Champion nominees at the 2025 Front & Female Awards, these women are leading impactful work in diverse fields while pushing Southeast Asia toward greater equity and representation.
Organized by Tatler Philippines, the second annual Front & Female Awards celebrates women who are not only succeeding in their respective industries but are also actively paving the way for others. This year’s shortlist for the Rising Champion category spotlights the next generation of changemakers helping elevate communities in sports and design.
Alex Eala: The Trailblazer on the Tennis Court
Currently ranked world No. 56, Alex Eala is the highest-ranked Filipina in WTA history and the first from the country to defeat Grand Slam champions. After her breakthrough win at the 2022 US Open girls’ singles, Eala’s steady rise reflects both exceptional talent and strong resolve.
A product of the Rafa Nadal Academy, Eala made her Wimbledon debut in 2025 and reached the finals of the Eastbourne Open. Her advice to young athletes underscores resilience: “It’s important to surround yourself with good people and to give yourself time.” She’s proving that with grit and humility, a Filipina can hold her own in the global tennis arena.
Jack Animam: Defying Borders, Inspiring Hoops Dreams
For Jack Animam, playing basketball abroad was never just about career growth—it was about rewriting what’s possible for Filipinas in the sport. From Serbia to China to Australia, Animam has taken Philippine women’s basketball to the international stage, challenging the stereotype that Filipinos can’t compete at elite levels.
A six-time UAAP champion and vocal advocate for a professional Philippine women’s league, she recently launched her own basketball camp for boys and girls in Bulacan. “I carry with me not just my aspirations,” she said, “but the dreams of thousands of young girls back home.”
Natasha Tanjutco: Designing Change, One Story at a Time
At the intersection of sustainability, culture, and design is Natasha Tanjutco. A National Geographic Young Explorer and co-founder of Kids for Kids Philippines, she has led climate resilience and creative advocacy campaigns that center Filipino youth.
As the creative director of TAYO Studio, she leverages Filipino visual identity to address global crises, from climate adaptation to cultural equity. “We are cultural bearers and storytellers,” she shared. “The stories we tell today will define what home means tomorrow.”
Tanjutco’s work blends indigenous knowledge, community storytelling, and design innovation—positioning the Philippines as a thought leader in sustainable and culturally grounded activism.
Together, Eala, Animam, and Tanjutco represent a vibrant, forward-looking generation of Southeast Asian women. As the Front & Female Awards ceremony takes place in Manila, their stories stand as a powerful testament: that beyond talent, it is courage, compassion, and community that shape true leadership.
