Susan Pineda
Woman Advocate
Executive Director - Founder of Ing Makababaying Aksyon
01.
Susan is a human rights activist and a feminist.
worked as a non-government (NGO) staff in a disaster agency to help rebuild her city
from the devastation caused by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, a dormant volcano in
Pampanga. At the height of her efforts for relief and rehabilitation, she was abducted,
tortured and almost killed.
After her ordeal, she organized community women as a response to the calamity and
founded the Kapisanan para sa Kagalingan ng Kababaihan sa Angeles (KKKA) and
later on the Ing Makababaying Aksyon (IMA) Foundation to provide various
programs and services for the empowerment of women victims of gender-based
violence, like her.
(1995-2001) in Angeles City. As a City Councilor, Susan authored the first Gender and Development (GAD) and
various cities and provinces in the country. Her experience in GAD policy advocacy
was published by the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women
(NCRFW). She authored the book: Moving Forward with GAD! which was published
by NCRFW and UNICEF. The book was intended for GAD policy advocacy for the
local committee on women in local governments.
of the organization to achieve its mission, vision and goals. She has been a project
consultant for various private & public agencies, national and international nonprofit
organizations. She represented the country in various UN conferences on women and
environment and acted as resource person or adviser to the government panel on these
endeavors.
Susan has been recipient to various awards from both local and international
organizations. She was a recipient of Outstanding Kapampangan Award under the
Women Category by the provincial government. She has been a radio commentator at DWGV-FM,
a newspaper columnist at the Angeles CIty Observer and a contributor to the EK online newspaper.
In the US, she worked as a Bilingual Advocate for survivors of domestic violence, Senior Paralegal in private immigration law firms and a Program Manager for a nonprofit organization. She has been a Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Legal Representative for National the Korean American Service Education Consortium (NAKASEC) based in Virginia, USA. As an accredited legal representative, she represented victims of human trafficking with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). She also assisted the Asian communities in filing for their Green Cards and US citizenship. As an immigration specialist, helping transform victims of human trafficking into survivors/advocates has become one of her missions and inspiration to fight for migrant/immigrant human rights in the United States.
She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Bachelors of Laws and an undergraduate of Master’s Degree in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines. She was a Scholar of the Women in Management Program of the Swedish International Development Agency
(SIDA), in CENTEK University, Lulea, Sweden.an NGO worker, intertwined with the demands of family life in a very challenging society.
02.
Leader
She doesn’t just follow the path—she creates it, guiding others toward a more equitable society.
Humanitarian
Behind every statistic is a woman with dreams, fears, and a name. She is someone’s mother, sister, daughter, friend—or simply someone who deserves to live in peace and safety because she is human.
Visionary
With her strategic leadership and long-term commitment, she continues to create meaningful opportunities for women’s social and economic development.
Defender
She stands firm against inequality, fighting for the rights and recognition of women in all spaces.
Activist
Because women are not punching bags. Because no one—NO ONE—deserves to live in fear inside their own home, relationship, workplace, or community.
Champion
She fearlessly advocates for women’s rights, ensuring they have access to opportunities and resources.