When was the last time you did your best? Was it when you presented something in front of many people? Maybe it was during the days leading up to an examination. But let’s be generous; perhaps even waking up earlier than usual is the best thing you’ve done recently. Regardless, you explored a new possibility—an opportunity to learn. As we celebrate Women’s Month, let’s recognize our department’s female professors, highlighting the insights of Ma’am Baluyot and Dr. Sabugo in this feature. 

A 2025 World Bank Report, The Gender Gap in Economics, highlights that the field has long been shaped by a specific demographic, with women remaining underrepresented due to various structural and social factors that influence their decisions to pursue economics. However, Ma’am Baluyot’s experience offers a different perspective. During her academic journey, she did not feel a lack of female representation. In fact, women were already well established in the department, with many female faculty members and chairperson positions that were almost always held by women. For her, leadership is not defined by gender but by integrity in one’s work.

“It is not the sex or gender that is of utmost importance to me, but the INTEGRITY of the person." 

In leadership, Ma’am Baluyot emphasized the importance of being a servant leader—someone rooted in service, aiming for the common good and interest of the people. For her, the ideal woman leader is defined not by gender alone but by integrity, virtues, and values. Grounded in faith, guided by empathy and compassion, and strengthened by competence and an excellent work ethic, this is the kind of leader needed in the broader workforce today.

There are no shortcuts to success. For Ma’am Baluyot, a "Go the extra mile" mentality motivates her to do her best and excel in her field. Being a team player, dependable, and responsible for the tasks allowed her to achieve the demands of her mentality. Ultimately, this consistency in effort and discipline will allow us to navigate the industry's professional norms and expectations strategically. 

Traits like collaboration and empathy are often labeled as 'soft,' but for Ma’am Baluyot, they are a winning strategy. "The practice of empathy allowed me to do better class schedules for students, faculty, and companies where students intern,” she notes. In this way, empathy becomes a tool for creating an efficient system that works for everyone under its scope, ensuring that everyone is happy and satisfied.

"Be yourself– the real you, maging totoo ka”

This sense of authenticity, integrity, and an excellent work ethic is a lesson that a textbook can't teach. "There is no substitute for being industrious and hardworking—no shortcuts,” she adds. Truly, growth takes time, as does the practice of compassion and empathy. As we learn, we should always strive for a ‘win-win’ solution and be positive. Most importantly, we should put God first in our hearts and be grateful for what we have.

When was the last time you did your best? Perhaps it was not in a grand moment, but in a quiet decision to keep going, to try harder, or to choose integrity over convenience. Ma’am Baluyot’s insights remind us that success is not defined by gender but by the values we carry wherever we go. As the world continues to evolve, let's strive to open many possibilities for a more meaningful and inclusive future. After all, learning never stops.

Thus, within our lecture halls, we spend so much time searching for the equilibrium point. We are taught to chase that perfect intersection where supply meets demand, a place where everything is balanced, calculated, and still. We are told that if we just find that point, we’ve solved the problem.

But life, much like the markets we study, rarely stays in balance.

Another remarkable woman in the Department of Business Economics, Dr. Sabugo, reminds us of a truth we often forget in our rush to be perfect: a successful career is not a straight line. It is not a static graph. It is a messy, beautiful masterclass in resilience, flexibility, and the quiet, steady power of discipline.

Perhaps the most important thing you can learn this year is that being out of balance isn't a failure; it’s just a sign that you are moving, growing, and becoming.

When she started her academic journey in 2002, she did not enter a room as a female pioneer by default; she entered one where female excellence was the norm. "I wouldn’t say that there was a really big gender gap," she says with a sense of calm confidence. "The department was well-represented by female professors. We were not a minority." 

This is the kind of perspective we must remember, especially as the world continues to evolve towards the ideals of gender equality, while our very institution has long thrived on the intellectual labor of women. Dr. Sabugo’s normalcy in 2002 is our aspiration for 2026, a testament to the enduring excellence of the Filipina social science educator.

"If something is hard, it’s not a sign to give up. It’s just telling you that you have to give it your best. The best rewards are those achieved through hard work." 

Before she became a mentor to hundreds of Thomasians, Dr. Sabugo was in the fast-paced and competitive arena of Makati's business center. She was a bond trader in the bank's treasury department. This industry is often viewed as highly competitive and predominantly male. Yet, her time in the industry is similar to her time in the academe.

"There were men and women in the department, and everybody was just treated the same way," she notes. "I didn’t encounter any gender biases... so long as you can deliver what is needed of you."

It is this ability to deliver that has enabled her to transition from market research to academe. This is a valuable lesson today’s students can take away from this interview: professional status is not given to anyone; it is earned through the quality of one’s work. Whether she is analyzing bond yields or economic theories, one thing is clear: she is doing so to create value that goes beyond gender.

Perhaps the most radical part of Dr. Sabugo’s ideology is her advocacy for what some may consider soft skills. She argues for the power of collaboration and empathy, which are often underemphasized in the discipline. She believes these are the real engines of economic growth.

"When you collaborate, empathize, and listen well to others, it always leads to something productive," she explains. She views economics not as a solitary science but as a social symphony that connects well with HR, marketing, and finance. To her, a woman’s perspective isn't just a different idea but an essential one that makes the invisible parts of the profession explicit. In her eyes, empathy is a strategic tool that allows a leader to see the human faces behind the data points.

If you were to open any textbook in our department, you would find formulas for GDP and market elasticity. But you won’t find the one piece of advice Dr. Sabugo considers essential for a long-term career: The Discipline of Not Giving Up.

As she looks toward the future, her hope is that the next generation of women will have even greater opportunities than the ones she enjoyed over the past two decades. But she pairs that hope with a challenge:

"That DISCIPLINE will lead you to places you probably will not expect." 

So, here is your gentle reminder as you pack your bag and leave the room: 

Don’t be afraid of the hard parts. When the work feels heavy and the equilibrium feels miles away, remember Dr. Sabugo’s words: it isn’t a sign to give up. It’s just life’s way of asking you to give your best.

Ask yourself today: If I stopped worrying about being perfect, what could I actually become?

You are the missing piece of the puzzle. You belong in the room, not because you have all the answers, but because you have the heart to keep looking for them. It’s not a sign to stop; it’s your sign to shine.

As the Department of Business Economics celebrates Women’s Month, we look to Dr. Sabugo and Ma’am Baluyot not only as our professors but also as our blueprint. They are the very essence of the Babaylan concept of modern-day leadership: wise, resilient, and ardently dedicated to the community’s well-being. Their stories are also a testament to the fact that being a professional is an ongoing, continuous process of becoming.