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My Story

Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo’s young age was never a hindrance for her passion to serve the people. At 23 years old, she became the chairman of the Build, Build,Build (BBB) Committee of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under Secretary Mark Villar. She was also the youngest Filipino appointed as the Undersecretary in the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Lamentillo rose from the ranks — starting her career in government service when she was 19 years old. She believes that young people should have a seat at the table. By actively involving young people in discussions and decision- making processes, she is convinced we can ensure that our voices are heard and that our future is shaped in a way that reflects the needs and aspirations of all Filipinos.

Now, she is the founder and Chief Future Officer (CFO) of Build Initiative Foundation Inc.
Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo Night Owl Podcast Cover in Tagalog
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Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo is a Filipina Juris Doctor, academic, author, opinion columnist, philanthropist, and civil servant. Her career in government service spans over eight years across four administrations, culminating in her role as Undersecretary for the Department of Information and Communications Technology. In the course of her tenure, she was also the Department’s spokesperson and focal person for presidential and cabinet directives.

She graduated cum laude at the University of the Philippines Los Baños in 2012 with a degree of Development Communications, where she garnered the highest General Weighted Average for Development Journalism Majors and received the Faculty Medal for Academic Excellence. She completed her Executive Education in Economic Development at Harvard Kennedy School in 2018 and her Juris Doctor program at the UP College of Law in 2020. Currently, she is furthering her education with an Executive MSc in Cities at the London School of Economics.

In 2023, she became an officer of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) with the rank of Auxiliary Commodore (one-star rank).

She has been awarded Natatanging Iskolar Para sa Bayan and Oblation Statute for the Virtues of Industry and Magnanimity. In 2019, the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association bestowed upon her the Veritas Medal. She was named by BluPrint as one of 50 ASEAN movers and shakers, by Lifestyle Asia as one of 18 Game Changers, and by People Asia as one of 2019’s Women of Style and Substance. She maintains a column in the Op-Ed section of Manila Bulletin and Esquire Magazine.

She authored a book titled "Night Owl: A Nationbuilder's Manual," which was published by Manila Bulletin. This book has been translated into four languages, namely Tagalog, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, and Ilokano.

Completed Projects

29,264

Kilometers of Roads

89

TIKAS Projects

5,950

Bridges

11,340

Flood Control Projects

150,149

Classrooms

214

Airport Projects

497.33

Kilometers of Cycling Lanes

222

Evacuation Centers

1

Subway Project

451

Commercial and Social or Tourism Seaport Projects

1

Subway Project

653

COVID-19 Facilities

5

New Rail Routes

Awards

Night Owl: A Nationbuilder's Manual book cover

Awards

IMPACT AI SCHOLARSHIP

One Young World

Palais des Congrès de Montréal, September 18, 2024

OUTSTANDING ADOPTED LAKAN AWARD

Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association

PNPA Gymnasium, Camp General Mariano N Castañeda, Silang, Cavite, March 8, 2024

RISING STAR

Wedu

October 2023

YOUNG INSPIRING FILIPINO

Lazada

MOA Concert Grounds, July 2, 2023

HEROES' NOTABLE FEMALE GOVERNMENT LEADER OF THE YEAR

Asia’s Modern Hero Awards 2023

Grand Ballroom, February 17, 2023

PEOPLE TO WATCH 2023

Rising Tigers

Manila Hotel, February 10, 2023

VERITAS MEDAL

Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association - Philippines

New World Hotel, November 30, 2019

WOMEN OF STYLE AND SUBSTANCE 2019

Stargate People Asia

City of Dreams, September 7, 2019

UNDER 38

BluPrint

April 2019

2019 GAME CHANGER

Lifestyle Asia

February 2019

ASEAN MOVER AND SHAKER

BluPrint

October 2018

NATATANGING ISKOLAR PARA SA BAYAN

University of the Philippines Los Baños Student Union

December 2014

Education History

Night Owl: A Nationbuilder's Manual book cover

Education History

MSC IN MAJOR PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT

Said Business School, Oxford University

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CITIES

London School of Economics

JURIS DOCTOR

University of the Philippines Diliman

EXECUTIVE CERTIFICATE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Harvard Kennedy School

BS IN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

University of the Philippines Los Baños

- Cum Laude
- Faculty Medal for Academic Excellence
- Highest General Weighted Average for Development Journalist Majors

Trainings

Night Owl: A Nationbuilder's Manual book cover

Trainings

EMERGING LEADERS

Harvard Kennedy School

INFRASTRUCTURE IN A MARKET ECONOMY

Harvard Kennedy School

LEADERS IN DEVELOPMENT

Harvard Kennedy School

Career Summary

Night Owl: A Nationbuilder's Manual book cover

Career Summary

FOUNDER

NightOwlGPT

September 2024 - Present

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

London School of Economics International Development Review

September 2024 - Present

HEAD FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS

Manila Bulletin

January 2024 - Present

CHIEF FUTURE OFFICER

Build Initiative Foundation

November 2023 - Present

UNDERSECRETARY FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN RELATIONS

Department of Information and Communications Technology

November 2022 - October 2023

SPOKESPERSON & ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN RELATIONS

Department of Information and Communications Technology

August 2022 - November 2022

CAMPAIGN MANAGER

Mark Villar for Senator

October 2021 - May 2022

CHAIRPERSON

Build Build Build Communications Committee DPWH

December 2016 - October 2021

ACTING SPOKESPERSON

Department of Public Works and Highways

January 2018 - October 2021

CHIEF OF STAFF

Office of DPWH Secretary Mark Villar

July 2016 - October 2021

LEGISLATIVE AND COMMUNICATIONS CHIEF

Office of Las Piñas Representative Mark Villar

April 2015 - July 2016

NATIONAL PROJECT COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

May 2014 - March 2015

Memberships

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Memberships

AMBASSADOR, ONE YOUNG WORLD
MEMBER, ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AAAI)
MEMBER, OXFORD UNION
MEMBER, LSE STUDENT UNION
PHILIPPINE ARMY RESERVE COMMAND
PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
GAMMA SIGMA DELTA HONOR SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURE
ROTARY CLUB OF THE PHILIPPINES
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND CUSTOMS LAW COMMITTEE, IBA
INT'L COMMERCE AND DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE, IBA
Night Owl: A Nationbuilder's Manual book cover

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