Esther Asuncion Vibal—a woman of many hats

By Dine Racoma and Noemi Lardizabal-Dado

It must have been the year 2007 when Dine and I first met Mrs. Esther Asuncion Vibal during the launch of Wikipilipinas.org or was it the joint project with Filipinaimages.com and WikiPilipinas. These days, I often see her at the cafeteria during my weekly visit at the Vibal Publishing house where I hold office once a week. And yes, I’m proud to be part of the Vibal Foundation as features editor of the Philippine Online Chronicles . I am amazed that she takes an active role with the management of Vibal Publishing House. I tell my husband that I want to be like Mrs Vibal, still sharp even at 85 years old (She turns 85 on March 25). She starts work at 7:30 AM and I can’t even imagine waking up at that time. I wonder what her secret is but maybe taking a peak at her life explains this.

Dine Racoma and I believe that her life is worth sharing here at Filipina Images.

Here is a profile of a woman we both admire.

Mrs. Esther Asuncion Vibal is a woman of many talents and accomplishments. It is difficult to describe this multi-awarded lady under one label as she has achieved and contributed so much throughout her life. Success seems to follow her wherever she goes and whatever she applies herself to.

From her humble beginnings in Camiling, Tarlac, Mrs. Vibal has relentlessly pursued her love of writing and learning to become an accomplished writer, publisher, educator, businesswoman, feminist and philanthropist. Born on March 25, 1925, Mrs. Vibal’s life is an example of how hard work, perseverance and a strong faith in God can lead one to tremendous success. She is a Journalism graduate of the University of the Philippines and started with the Manila Times and later ventured into publishing and real estate with her husband.

Mrs. Vibal is a known force in Philippine publishing, having helped establish and run Vibal Publishing House with her husband Hilarion Vibal since 1957. Their publishing house has been influential in Philippine education with the publication of science, social studies, English and mathematics textbooks, magazines and periodicals. Under Mrs. Vibal’s leadership and after more than 60 years in the industry, Vibal Publishing has established itself as multi-million peso corporation that continues to produce textbooks and other instructional materials used by private school in the country. The publishing house now has several offices located all over the country.

Today, Mrs. Vibal continues to achieve excellence in real estate, having established Pacifica Realty Development Corporation. This venture has also produced tremendous financial success for the Vibal family.

Despite her busy professional life, she has managed to carve out time for her husband, whom she married in 1950 and their five children: Stella, Aida, Rosauro, Nila and Gus.

She also devotes much of her time to her socio civic work. In the 1960’s she was one of the founders of Inner Wheel Club of Quezon City, which is composed of wives of Rotary Club members. In 1983, she later became the first Asian president of the International Inner Wheel, after serving as the Philippine representative to the international organization.

Since 1971, her work in behalf of Filipino women has brought her to different parts of the world such as China, London, United States, Canada, Indonesia, Thailand, Kenya, Russia and Japan. Mrs. Vibal has served as an advisor to the UN Commission on the Status of Women and has been a member of the Philippine delegation to several World Conferences on women.

Mrs. Vibal has not only been active in women’s advocacy work internationally, She has also been influential in women’s work in the Philippines. She has been president of the National Council of Women of the Philippines, which is the main organization for all women’s groups in the country such as the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, ZONTA and the Catholic Women’s League. She serves a Board of trustees of the UP Center for Women’s Studies Foundation. She is also a board member of the Philippine National Red Cross- Quezon city council and a life member of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.

In 2007, Vibal Foundation was established as an advocacy for education, women and community outreach. The foundation has so far produced two Internet based knowledge sharing initiatives. The first is the digital library Filipiniana.net and the second is Philippine’s largest online encyclopedia, wikipilipinas.org.

In 2010, Mrs. Vibal was one of nine women awarded by Go Negosyo “Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship and the Philippines Commission on Women Inspiring Women of the Year”, for her tremendous achievements in business and contribution to Philippine society.

It seems that whatever hat Mrs. Vibal Vibal dons, be it writer, publisher, educator, wife, mother, businesswoman, feminist or philanthropist, this energetic and intelligent Filipina always put in the best of herself in all her pursuits and endeavors. Even in her golden years, she remains active in Philippine education and women’s advocacies.