In an industry full of steel, grit, and hard labor, seeing a woman stretch her limits, unveil her capabilities, and take charge of is nothing short of amazing. The 20th century woman broke the monotony of traditional female role in the society with her career ladder shifting from being a mere support system to being the source of calm and influential leadership.

Merle Jimenez-San Pedro, president of the Women in Maritime Philippines (Wimaphil) and WIMA Asia, epitomizes such modern-day woman. For her, empowerment is not about identifying who’s the better gender or has independence from the other. Merle believes in striking a balance with male counterparts especially in the manly world of maritime.