Mary Anne may have started her roots in the financial world, being a former bank executive from the Bank of the Philippine Islands, but her current business interests are far from just churning out numbers!
Her experience with the Bank, which spanned two decades, covered the many phases of Consumer Banking including heading the Bank’s Credit Deparment,Marketing Services and the set up of Direct Marketing which was emulated by all other banks.
She was also responsible for launching its new technologies - Internet and Mobile Banking (www.bpiexpressonline.com), the first full internet bank in the country.
She has been a Director of the Direct Marketing Association of the Philippine since the mid 90s.
Her exposure to this interrelated areas of her profession, led her to pursue various businesses, including, consultancies in the field of Internet, E-Commerce and Social Media, PCT Immigration Australia Consultancy Inc., TLV Outsourced Services Inc., Niches Worldwide Inc., an online marketing and content company (http://www.proudlyfilipina.
Currently, Mary Anne is the chairperson of the Philippines Internet Commerce Society (PICS), a non-profit organization representing the Internet Industry of the country, and was a five-term President.
PICS was instrumental in the passage of the E-Commerce law in the Philippines and has since then strived to improve the industry through various literature and landmark activities such as the SME Awards, E-Commerce Forums, business workshops, and the prestigious National Internet and eCommerce Congress.
It was during her term that the annual national conferences started as well as the publication of the E Business Made Easy book for SMEs wishing to embrace eCommerce.
She is currently VP and Director of the Direct Marketing Association of the Philippines (DMAP), and was responsible for introducing the now Annual Conferences of both the Internet and Marketing organizations.
Direct Marketing Association is the leading global trade association of business and nonprofit organizations using and supporting multichannel direct marketing tools and techniques.
She is also a founding member of the Philippine Chapter of theInternational Women’s Forum, a “by invitation only” international organization of women leaders across careers, cultures and continents which connects the world’s most preeminent women of significant and diverse achievement.
In 2003, she was awarded as one of The Most Powerful Women in IT in 2003 by no less than Senator Ramon Magsaysay, Jr.
Mary Anne graduated at the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Bachelor of Science major in Businss Management and pursued her MBA at the Ateneo Professional Schools.
Her eyes opened to the new realm of natural wellness after the passing away of her parents. She dreams of spreading the use of natural cures especially to those who can least afford it.
She caught the travel bug since age 5 and started her globe-trotting days right after college when she assisted her dad, taking organized tours to Holy Places and Europe. A few years after her dad passed away, she felt that he wanted her to continue what he was doing. It was an opportune time as she found two trusted long-time friends who equally had the passion and vast experience in the Travel and Tours trade, and together they set up MBM Classic Travel.
Gregarious and fun-loving Mary Anne is synonymous with the Internet. She has been immersed in the field of social media and maintain a couple of blogs but the currently active ones are:
