From adversity to action: Get to know the Pinoy changemakers honored at CIMB Advancing Societies 2026

(Left to right) CIMB Bank Philippines Head of Marketing Communications Nikki Constantino, Empower and Transform Founder Salve Ibañez, and Promoting Awareness and Victors Empowerment Founder Phoebe Fructuoso.

Many people want to make a difference, but only a few choose to turn that desire into action. For two social advocates in the Philippines, however, helping others became more than an aspiration – it became a lifelong mission shaped by their own experiences.

Their stories were recently honored at the first-ever CIMB Advancing Societies 2026 program, an initiative that recognized individuals and organizations across Southeast Asia that are making a positive and lasting difference in their communities. CIMB believes that meaningful progress is also measured by the strength of the communities it serves, which is why these two organizations truly bring to life the Group’s commitment to Advancing Customers and Society.

This year, two Pinoy organizations were recognized: Empower and Transform, founded by financial literacy champion Salve Ibañez, and Promoting Awareness and Victors Empowerment (PAVE) Philippines, led by Phoebe Fructuoso, a gender-based violence survivor advocate.

Though their advocacies may differ, both women share a common belief: that no one should be defined or limited by the circumstances they were born into or the hardships they endured. 

Empower and Transform: Advancing financial inclusion through education

For Ibañez, inspiration came early in life. Growing up in a small town in Bicol, she was supported by her single mother who worked hard to stretch a public school teacher’s meager salary to make ends meet and provide for her five children. She and her siblings were taught by their mother not to let their financial situation prevent them from pursuing a good education and career. From then on, she worked tirelessly to become a prominent figure in the Philippine financial literacy industry and established EAT. 

Through EAT, Filipinos of all income levels both here and abroad are provided access to financial education and affordable financial advisory. EAT has also partnered with CIMB Bank PH in the past for a community outreach event and free financial literacy webinar as part of the Bank’s corporate social responsibility efforts. Their advocacy to help ordinary Filipinos handle their money better earned them a nod in the Education and Financial Inclusion category.

PAVE Philippines: Empowering survivors of sexual violence

For Fructuoso, the conviction grew from a dark chapter in her life. As a gang rape survivor, she chose not to let her story end in silence. Instead, she turned her painful experience into a platform for healing, education, and advocacy, helping other survivors find their voices while challenging rape culture and raising awareness about gender-based violence through PAVE Philippines.

Fructuoso has become a beacon of hope and resilience, transforming personal trauma into a powerful force for social change. Her story also inspired many when she became one of the winners of CIMB Bank PH’s inaugural Pinoy Mavericks Awards back in 2024. Through the organization’s inspiring efforts, PAVE Philippines was honored under the Social Inclusion and Equity category.

Turning adversity into action

Their journeys demonstrate that meaningful social change often begins with deep personal experiences. Rather than allowing hardship to define them, both women chose to let it shape the way they uplift others, creating a ripple effect that aids in strengthening communities.

Through the positive impact they bring to the communities they serve, PAVE Philippines and EAT both embody what the CIMB Advancing Societies program aims to honor and celebrate. Anchored in CIMB’s core purpose of advancing customers and society, CIMB Advancing Societies is a manifestation of CIMB Group’s commitment to empowering individuals and communities across ASEAN to continue moving forward in their lives and enable them to achieve their ambitions.