IN THE Philippines where democracy is vibrant, women power is giving male chauvinism a run for its money in the corporate ladder of government bureaucracy and the private sector.

Currently being governed by a woman in the person of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the newly named Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process is a woman, Prof. Annabelle T. Abaya, who for many years is a member of the government peace panel negotiating with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF).

Abaya is the second female since Teresita Q. Deles to occupy the highly-sensitive post as secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), and the third female since Haydee B. Yorac was appointed to head the National Unification Commission (NUC), the predecessor of OPAPP.

There were 11 previous peace czars since 1986.  They were Dr. Alfredo Bengzon who was named as head of the now defunct Office of the Peace Commission (OPC), the forerunner of OPAPP; Yorac, who headed the NUC, also a forerunner of OPAPP; Oscar Santos; Ambassador Manuel Yan; retired Gen. Eduardo R. Ermita, now the executive secretary; Deles; Rene Sarmiento, presently a commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec); former Congressman Jesus Dureza, now the presidential adviser for Mindanao affairs; former Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr., now the head of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS); retired National Police Director General Avelino I.Razon Jr. and Undersecretary Nabil A. Tan as OPAPP officer-in-charge (OIC).

All have one common denominator: to achieve lasting peace for the whole country.

Abaya’s appointment as OPAPP secretary caught many by surprise because her name was not in the list of contenders to replace Razon who resigned last October 19 to prepare for his bid to run for mayor in Manila in next year’s election.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde announced last October 23 that the President has named Abaya as the new OPAPP secretary.  The appointment of Abaya came eight months before President Arroyo bows out from office on June 30, 2010.

The last remaining eight-month period will be crucial for Abaya, especially in jumpstarting the stalled peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the CPP/NPA/NDF.

Nevertheless, her experience as peace negotiator in resolving conflict issues will play a vital role that may yet help resolve peacefully the long-drawn insurgency war in the country, the second longest in the world.

While signing separate peace accords with two main rebel groups is a tall order, there is always that possibility.  Abaya’s marching order from President Arroyo is to “do what we can in the next eight months and prepare the transition program for the new President,” that is to revive the stalled peace talks.

During the next eight months, Abaya said she will continue to pursue for a lasting peace with Muslim and communist rebels.  “We’re looking at social integration programs. I want issues of women and indigenous peoples to be part of the agenda in a big way.  We’re also looking at the effect of global climate change as a factor that will affect the conflict,” Abaya said adding that “if there is global climate change there will be a lot of changes that will be upon us.  What we need to do is think about how we will adapt.”

She admitted that “the challenge of the next eight months will be difficult but we are hoping to have some breakthrough or an agenda to the peace program that the President can work on.”

Abaya is not new to public service.  She was a former spokesperson of former President Fidel V. Ramos and worked as a college professor of La Salle University’s Graduate School of Business and Asian Institute of Management.

She is a committed teacher with extensive experience in private and public conflict management systems.  Her forte is on training and practice of mediation.

Abaya has also a strong corporate experience in marketing and strategic management.  Broad practice in direct mass marketing communications, using radio and television media and large public forums and has a wide experience in international business consultancy for multinational planning in Asia.

Likewise she is proficient in media and politics, in teaching and presentation of ideas.  She has a strong background in formulation of public policy and influence of public opinion.  Special skills in business, political essay, and speechwriting are also her forte.

Abaya took her Doctor in Philosophy Degree in Program in Conflict Resolution from Tufts University – Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, a Masters Degree in Dispute Resolution from University of Massachusetts Boston, and Masters in Public Administration and Management from Harvard University – Kennedy School of Government, all in the United States.

She is also an Edward S. Mason Fellow, recipient of Josephine Vernon Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership.  Abaya graduated from St. Theresa’s College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies with concentration in Social Psychology.  She was a consistent honor student and a writer for the school publication.

She is the president of the Conflict Resolution Group Foundation Inc., a non-profit, non-stock organization whose purpose is to celebrate human diversity through training, research, and advocacy in alternative dispute resolution.

She is also a professor – Negotiations and Conflict Resolution at De La Salle University – Graduate School of Business; adjunct professor – Mediation and Conflict Resolution at the Asian Institute of Management; and professor – Conflict Resolution at East Asian Pastoral Institute.

Abaya, who was a former television and radio host and a newspaper columnist, is a consultant to various international and local agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and World Bank (WB); the National Institute of State Courts; US Institute for Peace of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Department of Justice (DoJ); the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection; the Intellectual Property Office (IPO); the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC); the Board of Investments (BoI); and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), among others.

At one time, Abaya was the former spokesperson of former President Fidel V. Ramos.

Abaya is married to businessman Anthony L. Abaya with whom they have three children – Victor, Margaux and Ramon, all residing and working in Boston.