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 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
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
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
Trainings
EMERGING LEADERS
Harvard Kennedy School
INFRASTRUCTURE IN A MARKET ECONOMY
Harvard Kennedy School
LEADERS IN DEVELOPMENT
Harvard Kennedy School
Career Summary
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