we are researchers, policy advocates, data analysts, designers, teachers, strategists.
we are movement makers
Kenneth Isaiah Ibasco Abante President
Ken is a globally and nationally recognized policy researcher, teacher, and organizer, who co-founded and now leads WeSolve as its president. He led and now advises social movements, such as the Move As One Coalition (sustainable transport), People’s Budget Coalition (budget transparency and accountability), and Tarabangan Naga (COVID-19 operations). Ken was recognized as The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM 2023) honoree for socio-civic and voluntary leadership. Ken holds a master in public administration in international development from Harvard Kennedy School.
Paula Britta Castro Apines
Executive Director
Pau manages growth and development for WeSolve, and supports strategic initiatives within the coalitions we incubate. As a project manager and team coordinator, she is passionate about building spaces for teams to push their advocacies. She graduated from Ateneo de Manila with a masters in Social Psychology.
Najeb Salic Hadji Ali
Associate
Jeeb is a devoted development worker and peacebuilder in Lanao del Sur with an unwavering commitment to fostering informed communities. He works across various advocacies, including peace and development, supporting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and empowering indigenous people with discernment and critical thinking.
Reycel Hyacenth Nacario Bendaña
Manager
Hya does coalition building, execution, and crisis response. In the last five years, she has built communities of trust for policy reforms (Move As One Coalition, People's Budget Coalition), implemented programs with full budget utilization and milestone completion (Young Budget Leaders Program, Safe and Sound Cities Naga Youth Innovation Component, Strengthening Budget Coalitions for Sin Tax Reforms Program), and supported crisis mobilizations (Make It Safer Movement, IlogPasiglahin Movement). She graduated valedictorian from Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Management Economics.
Daniel Joseph Pano Benito
Manager
Daniel is a mathematician, instructor and research analyst. Passionate about the power of data, Daniel’s research involves quantitative studies in education, finance, economics, and health. Daniel holds a masters in Applied Mathematics with Specialization in Mathematical Finance from Ateneo De Manila University. He is also the Executive Director of The Storytelling Project.
John Albert Marqueses Caraan
Associate
Jam is a young scientist specializing in agricultural biotechnology. He is committed to addressing the challenges in the Philippine food systems through sound, sustainable, and scientific innovations. Jam holds a masters degree in Horticulture from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, and is also a Global Fellow of the Alliance for Science based at the Boyce Thompson Institute.
Riz Supreme Balgos Comia
Senior Associate
Riz bridges people and possibilities to co-create a future where all Filipino children can choose their own dreams and have the support to make them happen. Equipped with her experience as a development practitioner, community teacher, grant writer, data analyst, and sign language interpreter, she works to ensure every child is counted, included, and educated. Her academic background includes social development, communication, marketing, technology, and management.
Jaime Lopa
Internal Treasurer
Jim is a lifelong volunteer and advocate, serving the poor and marginalized. He currently sits as a board member of various foundations including the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation, the Philippine Jesuit Prisons Service Foundation, Project Pearls, and the Philippine Toy Library. He has a masters degree in Business Economics from the University of Asia and the Pacific.
Rafael Lopa
Chairperson
Rapa has spent the last 30 years working with business, government and civil society leaders to catalyze collective action for positive social change and sustainable development. He is a management and development consultant and leads various private and non-government organizations that serve as platforms for nation-building. He served as a senior adviser to Former Vice President Leni Robredo for her flagship anti-poverty project Angat Buhay and now sits as a Trustee of Angat Pinas, Inc.
Zaira Mae Gamil Dehing
Associate
Zaira is a development communicator and public servant working with serving the youth through the Cagayan de Oro City local government and local civil society organizations. She advocates for youth empowerment, education, and agriculture. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Development Communication from Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, where she worked as the Volunteer Formation Officer after she graduated under the university’s Student Social Involvement and Advocacy Program.
Hamiñia Charlothe Garcia De Leon
Associate
Hams is a community teacher and a life-long learner. Her passion lies in co-developing communities where members are empowered to act collectively. She has four years of experience in leading empowerment sessions, producing a tele-radio show, crafting monitoring and evaluation tools, and writing academic contents, research, and policies. She graduated from the University of Perpetual Help System-Laguna (Jonelta Branch) with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
Maria Cynthia Jesa Quitain Gutierrez
Finance and Admin Associate
Jesa handles the day-to day finance management of the foundation, ensuring that obligations are timely disbursed and follow existing spending and auditing rules and requirements. She has a decade of experience in government accounting, finance and procurement prior joining WeSolve team. She graduated with Bachelor’s Degree in Office Administration and earned units of Master’s Degree in Business Administration major in Financial Management from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
Jan Mae Musico Sagdullas
Development Associate
Jan is an advocate for sustainable and safe spaces in development. Her work in WeSolve centers on supporting people and teams development, creating and managing contracts, and general administrative tasks aimed towards sustaining the organization’s operations and advocacies. Jan is currently an undergraduate taking a Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies degree in the Ateneo de Manila University.
Jodit Marie Virginia Santander
People and Culture Associate
Jodit leads the foundation’s culture management and fellow wellness alongside the corp team. The range of experiences she has revolves around design and community building in online spaces. At the core of it all, she’s most proud of enabling others to do what matters to them and the world around them. Her academic background involves visual communication, design thinking, and sustainable business strategy.
Lyonel To Tanganco
Managing Director for Program Strategy
Lyonel helps steer WeSolve while also leading civil society groups in malnutrition and public finance. He previously served as a Director in the Department of Finance where he worked on the government's priority economic legislation and COVID-19 recovery programs. He graduated with degrees in Management Engineering and Economics-Honors and is taking up masters-level courses in data, economics, and policy development.
Eunice Gayle Ybanez Tanilon
Associate
Eunice Tanilon, a sustainability advocate, champions circular economy, information transparency, and ESG adoption. Co-facilitating training programs in sustainable practices for large corporations in the Philippines, Eunice fosters collaborative solutions, driven by a vision for a future where a thriving economy and a healthy environment coexist. Eunice holds a degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in Economics with a Minor in Urban and Regional Development.
Maria Blanca Ynez Ferreria Ventura
Communications Associate
Ynez assists in creating and managing content and communication projects needed by the foundation. With experience as a marketing head for Lokal Lab, alongside several past volunteer roles, she is passionate about elevating platforms for storytelling and change-making. Ynez holds a Life Sciences and Management degree from Ateneo de Manila University.
Jeshamar Calinao Villasis
Manager
Jesha is one of the action researchers and project managers of the foundation. Aside from research, she has more than ten years of experience in facilitating programs and projects and building partnerships with civil sector organizations and local governments. She is also currently teaching under the Department of Political Science at the University of Santo Tomas and serves as a policy consultant of the Sangguniang Bayan of Mariveles, Bataan. Jesha holds a masters in public administration from the University of the Philippines - National College of Public Administration and Governance.