In celebration of International Women’s Day today, I would like to honor my grandmother, my inspiration for my coming book, “The Iron Butterfly”. It’s my grandmother’s life story – how as a single mother, she managed to survive supporting 9 children all by herself and amidst all difficulties, she became a successful businesswoman in the 1930s without compromising her ideals of a true Filipina in a male dominated business world in the Philippines where men ruled everything. She proved that hard work and unshakable faith in herself were the keys to breaking the barrier. A true feminist before the word “feminist” came into being.

“Iron Butterfly” will be published in late April so stay tuned.