By Kenneth Marcos 
In many rural communities in the Philippines, women quietly work behind the scenes—sewing clothes, tending crops, and supporting their families. Their skills and voices often go unnoticed. For Bernadette B. De Los Santos, these women represent strength, creativity, and untapped potential that deserve recognition and opportunity.
From the quiet town of Baao in Camarines Sur, De Los Santos has built a career that connects community empowerment with national development. Today, she serves as Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), where she helps ensure that the voices of farmers, fisherfolk, and rural workers are included in shaping government policies and programs.
De Los Santos believes that real development begins at the grassroots level. Her journey from social enterprise to public service reflects a long commitment to giving rural communities a stronger voice in decision-making.
She studied at Ateneo de Manila University as a scholar of the Philippine Coconut Producers Federation Inc. (COCOFED), a program established during the administration of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. Her education opened doors, but she chose to focus her work on communities that often lack access to economic opportunities.
One of her most notable contributions is the creation of BidiBidi Enterprise, a social enterprise that supports rural women by transforming traditional hand embroidery and upcycled textiles into sustainable sources of income. Through this initiative, women in rural areas are able to earn livelihoods while preserving Filipino craftsmanship and promoting environmentally responsible production.
BidiBidi Enterprise highlights how traditional skills can become powerful tools for economic empowerment. The enterprise combines Filipino artistry with modern design, creating products that celebrate local culture while generating income for communities. For many women involved in the program, the project has provided both financial stability and renewed confidence in their abilities.
De Los Santos later brought this same community-centered approach into public service. As Executive Director of PCAF, she works to strengthen participatory governance in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. The council serves as a bridge between government agencies and stakeholders such as farmers’ groups, fisherfolk organizations, cooperatives, and private sector partners.
Her leadership aims to ensure that policies affecting agriculture and fisheries are informed by the real experiences of those working in the fields and along the country’s coastlines.
Before joining PCAF as Executive Director, De Los Santos served as Chairperson of the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) in the Bicol Region. During her leadership, the council strengthened community consultations and expanded grassroots participation in agricultural planning.
Her work earned her the National Outstanding RAFC Chairperson recognition for three consecutive years from 2022 to 2024, highlighting the impact of her efforts to improve collaboration between government and local communities.
Over the years, De Los Santos has also received recognition for her work in both social enterprise and community development. In 2008, the Department of Agriculture named her National Outstanding Rural Woman. In 2017, BidiBidi Enterprise received the APEC Best Efficiency and Success Target (BEST) Award for Best Green Economy Project during a regional event in Hue, Vietnam.
She was also among the beneficiaries of the Great Women Project 2 in 2017, an international initiative supported by Canada that promotes women’s economic empowerment. During the visit of Canadian Prime Minister Justin P. Trudeau to the Philippines that year, she had the opportunity to briefly share her story as part of the program.
In 2022, she was recognized under Glenfiddich’s “Where Next?” campaign as the first Filipino recipient of the Breakthrough Maverick recognition. Most recently, in 2024, she received recognition from the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network in Phnom Penh, Cambodia for her contributions to women’s entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
Despite these honors, De Los Santos continues to focus on grassroots work. Her goal remains clear: to empower women, strengthen rural livelihoods, and ensure that farmers and fisherfolk play an active role in shaping the future of Philippine agriculture.
Her story reflects how leadership rooted in community service can create lasting change. By connecting creativity, entrepreneurship, and public service, De Los Santos continues to inspire a new generation of Filipinos to support inclusive and sustainable development.
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