“Here’s to strong women: May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”
The words of author and poet Maya Angelou come to mind as we celebrate Women’s Month, a time not just for flowery tributes but for real stories of women using their voice, their power, and their platforms to uplift others.
Women like Mrs Mary Rose Marbil — a woman who stands quietly but resolutely at the intersection of influence, compassion, and action.
For Mrs Marbil, influence was never about standing in the spotlight. Yet somehow, her work — from charity drives to environmental initiatives — keeps shining exactly where it’s needed most.
The Heart of Service
Mary Rose Marbil is known to many as the wife of PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil, but reducing her to that title barely scratches the surface. As the Adviser of the Philippine National Police – Officers’ Ladies Club Foundation, Inc. (PNP OLC FI), she has redefined what the role can — and should — be.
“I didn’t want to just attend events and smile for the camera,” she says. “I wanted to create something that lasts — something that matters to the people who rarely get seen.”
And that’s exactly what she’s done.
At the heart of her leadership is the “LAB Virus” (Love and Blessings Virus) initiative — an aptly named program designed not to spread disease, but hope. The foundation identified over 500 critically ill PNP personnel, many battling chronic kidney disease and needing long-term dialysis. Medical and financial assistance was extended to help cover daily needs and medical costs, offering families a lifeline during their most difficult moments.
The LAB Virus also reached the youngest members of the PNP community through Bahay Bulilit Day Care Center, where children received school supplies and support for their early education — ensuring that even in hardship, learning continues.
“We wanted to be proactive,” Marbil shares. “To stop waiting for regional visits or emergencies to help. It had to be constant. It had to be sustainable.”
The Power of a Woman’s Influence
But where does that strength and resolve come from? Mary Rose often points to the influence of her mother — a woman she describes as objective, level-headed, and always present during challenging moments. Growing up, she witnessed how her mother handled conflicts with quiet grace, choosing to be there for her children rather than asking questions or assigning blame.
That steady example of strength shaped Mary Rose’s own approach to family, leadership, and the way she balances her many roles today — especially as she takes on advocacies close to her heart, including her growing commitment to the environment.
A Personal Awakening to the Planet’s Pain
Marbil’s environmental advocacy was born not in conference rooms or seminars, but from a personal wake-up call. In 2022 and 2024, two consecutive typhoons — Paeng and Kristine — battered their family property in Batangas. But it wasn’t the wind or water that shocked her most — it was the mountains of plastic waste washed ashore from Taal Lake.
“We collected 50 to 100 sacks of plastic — enough to destroy fences, light enough to float endlessly,” she shares. “That’s when it hit me. The environment is not an abstract issue. It’s literally crashing into our homes.”
Instead of turning away, she acted. Mrs. Marbil led zero-plastic initiatives, encouraging communities to collect plastic waste in exchange for cash — transforming what was once waste into a resource.
She also launched tree-planting drives around Taal Lake and even on Crater Island itself, planting 200 native trees like Narra and Talisay, with hopes of restoring what storms and neglect had stripped away.
Transforming Waste into Livelihood
Among her most impactful initiatives is a program that marries environmental advocacy with livelihood — the soap-making workshops.
Originally piloted in Cebu, the program teaches PNP families and even street sweepers in Camp Crame how to craft handwash and laundry soaps using locally-sourced, eco-friendly ingredients. What seems like a simple DIY activity is, in fact, a powerful tool — one that fights poverty, reduces waste, and restores dignity through work.
“We all buy soap. Why not learn to make it? Why not earn from it? And while we’re at it, help the environment too,” she explains.
The vision is to eventually establish refilling stations, reducing single-use plastics and expanding the project to more regions. “It’s livelihood with a conscience,” she adds. “And it’s scalable — that’s what excites me.”
Redefining What It Means to Be a Woman Today
As Women’s Month shines a light on the many hats women wear, Mrs. Marbil stands as proof that influence is best used to uplift others. She rejects the notion that being a wife or a woman should limit one’s capacity to lead, to build, to create lasting change.
“There’s always something you can do. We’re not just wives or mothers,” she says, her voice steady but warm. “We’re women. And there is so much power in that — power to move, to make things happen, to change lives.”
In a world often fixated on titles and power plays, Mary Rose Marbil reminds us that true leadership is measured by impact, not accolades. It’s in the quiet work, the sustainable projects, the way she plants not just trees but seeds of change — for her community, for the planet, and for the women who come after her.
Mrs. Marbil’s Key Initiatives:
✅ LAB Virus Medical Aid Program — providing medical and financial support to over 500 critically ill PNP personnel, many requiring dialysis.
✅ Bahay Bulilit Educational Support — ensuring children of PNP personnel receive school supplies and early education support.
✅ Soap-Making Livelihood and Zero-Waste Program — empowering families and marginalized workers to generate income while reducing plastic waste.
✅ Tree-Planting Drives around Taal Lake — restoring environmental balance with 200 native trees planted, and promoting climate resilience.
“The true measure of influence isn’t how many people know your name — it’s how many lives change because you chose to care.” John C. Maxwell.
This Women’s Month, Mary Rose Marbil reminds us that leadership is not always about who stands in front — sometimes, it’s about who works quietly behind the scenes, making sure no one gets left behind.
Because in the end, the world doesn’t just need more women in power — it needs more women like her.
