Guest of Honor and Speaker’s Profile: Lilia B. de Lima

Bachelor of Laws, Manuel L. Quezon University

Doctor of Laws LLD (honoris causa), Manuel L. Quezon University

Fellow, Academy of American & International Law, Southwestern Legal Foundation, Dallas, Texas, USA

Atty. Lilia B. de Lima was appointed by President Fidel V. Ramos as Director General and Chairman of the Board of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority in 1995. She has been reappointed by Presidents Joseph Ejercito Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno S. Aquino III. Serving 4 Presidents of opposing political parties is a feat for a public official like her. Her name is a by-word in foreign direct investments.

Commissioner of the National Amnesty Commission from 1994-1995

COO, World Trade Center Manila from 1989-1994

Delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention representing the then 2nd District of Camarines Sur (1 of only 13 women out of 320 elected delegates)

She is a multi-awarded Public official, to mention a few:

The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, the highest award given to a non-head of state by the Government of Japan (*the first foreign recipients of the award were the three astronauts of the Apollo Space Rocket in 1969), for bringing hundreds of Japanese investors to the Philippines

“Management Man of the Year 2010” by the Management Association of the Philippines, the first and only woman to date given such award by this prestigious organization in 68 years, other awardees include the country’s leading tycoons and captains of industry

The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS), in the field of Law

Medal of Merit for Outstanding Achievement in the Promotion of Philippine-Japan Relations by The Philippines-Japan Society, the first woman to receive the award in 36 years, August 2014

The Robert G. Storey International Award for Leadership by the Center for American & International Law, Dallas, Texas, USA, June 2013

2011 Government Service Award by the Ateneo De Manila University

Pearl Awardee given by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, May 2008

Arangkada-Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines, February 2014

Asian CEO Award, November 2012

For her tremendous contribution to the economic development of the country in creating hundreds of economic zones nationwide, the University of the Philippines Los Baños named a flower after her: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Lilia B. De Lima’

President Aquino in his State of the Nation (SONA) address and in previous speeches wants her cloned.