Isabelita Manalastas-Watanabe

After graduating from JASHS, Lita proceeded to finish her B.S. Business Economics at the University of the Philippines in Diliman in 1974. She then joined the NEDA as an Economic Researcher. She left on a research scholarship from both the NEDA and the Japanese Government, and later on proceeded to take her M.A. in Economics at Tsukuba University.

She returned to NEDA to serve in 1980, but less than a year later, took up the post of Deputy Director for Investment at the ASEAN- Japan Centre in Tokyo. She did Japanese promotions to the ASEAN countries until 1990. Afterwards, Lita was asked by the Philippine National Bank to set up PNB’s Tokyo Representative Office, which she later upgraded to a full bank.

She resigned from the bank as First Senior Vice President, and set up her own money transfer company in Japan and a consulting firm in the Philippines which she still heads as President. Retirement is not yet an option for Lita, but if she does, it will be as a farmer in Lanang, Candaba, where she plans to convert her farm into a Learning Farm, and a place for silent retreats, medical missions, even gathering of friends.

She continues her mission to give back, writing a Dear Tita Lits advice column for more than 20 years for OFWs in Japan. Lita has received many awards during her professional career, including Most Outstanding UP Alumni (Banking and Corporate Responsibility) in Nov. 2022, but most precious to her is the Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award she received last Dec. 2023. For Lita, retirement is not yet an option.