MEET THE TEAM
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Philippines Director
Jonna Eleccion
Jonna has been involved in the development sector for fourteen years. She joined PTI in 2010 as Training Manager, overseeing soft skills training and managing trainers from other shelters. She then became Deputy Director handling the operations for the economic program, and in 2014, started serving as Director overseeing the Philippines operations. Prior to joining PTI, Jonna worked for the Philippine government and other non-profit organizations focusing on poverty alleviation, health care, and social development. She completed a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Public Management.
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Deputy Director Philippines
Janice Ubaldo
Janice is currently the Deputy Director of PTI in the Philippines. She has been with the organization for nine years managing admin and finance and various programs such as soft skills training, work immersion, scholarship, and job referral assistance. Prior to joining PTI, she had seven years of experience working in the field of Human Resources particularly in talent management and organizational development. She received her BA in Psychology and Master in Management from the University of the Philippines. She is passionate about helping individuals achieve their goals and live fuller lives. She likes traveling, gardening, baking, handcrafting, and dogs.
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Clinical Team Manager
Rhea Baylosis
When Rhea answered an online job ad, she didn't think it would lead to a meaningful opportunity to help other people. She was one of the few who was there when PTI first opened its doors in Metro Cebu. Rhea's background is in Psychology and has previously worked with young adults in the school. Her decade-long experience as a guidance counselor served as preparation as she transitioned to her work with survivors of violence and exploitation. Her work with PTI is her way of making a difference in this world. She lives with her husband and two daughters. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and watching videos.
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Education Program Manager
Leah Larida
Leah has been a volunteer tutor before joining PTI in 2019. She has worked in a school setting as a guidance counselor, teacher, and Human Resource Development officer. Her 15 years working in a Catholic school have given her a lot of opportunities to work with people from all walks of life through their community outreach activities. As a teacher in a public school, she has been advocating for her students to value learning and hold on to their dreams of finishing school. Leah holds a degree in Psychology and has earned her Master’s degree in Guidance Counseling which enabled her to become a licensed Guidance Counselor. When she is not working, she enjoys watching sunsets, seeking out new places, reading books, and most of all the beach.
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Education Program Coordinator
Chriscelle Bustillo
Chriscelle Bustillo is the Education Program Coordinator of the PTI ALIVE Scholarship for 3 years now. She works alongside her colleagues to facilitate clients who aim to transform their lives through education. She has a degree in Psychology from Cebu Institute of Technology – University and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology at Cebu Doctor’s University. If she’s not at her working desk, you’ll find her reading through fictional books.
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Work Immersion Program Counselor
Celia C. Ferrater
Before joining PTI, Celia was a Provincial Education Officer in a local non-profit organization in Cebu. She has been involved in the Child Labor Education Initiative whose clientele were children who were sexually exploited and involved in child labor. She was exposed to non-profit work for six years. Her main focus is working with sexually exploited children on case management, group dynamics, community organizing, partnership building, and stakeholder networking. She is a Registered Social Worker from South Western University and is currently taking a master’s degree in Guidance and Counselling.
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Career Counselor
Luz Bibat
Luz has been in the helping profession for over 10 years. She is a graduate of B.S. in Psychology and an M.A. candidate in Guidance and Counseling. Prior to her works in PTI she was a University Guidance Counselor. Her work with clients involves helping them in the areas of academic achievement, career, and social or emotional development, ensuring that they become productive, well-adjusted individuals. She believes that counseling is a calling, more than a profession. In her spare time, she loves to travel and explore new places and cultures.
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Career Counselor
Dian Lapingcao
Dian is a staunch advocate for the protection of children’s rights. Before joining PTI, she has a 5-year experience in a Cebu-based NGO where she closely worked with child victims/survivors of commercial, sexual exploitation. While there, she also held a variety of roles in the fields of education, research, and advocacy and has been actively involved in anti-trafficking efforts in the province. Dian holds a BA in Psychology at the University of the Philippines and is currently taking her MA in Counseling Psychology at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
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Career Counselor
Sue Ann Vergara
Sue Ann before joining PTI has been working with children and adolescents as a School Counselor and Psychometrician for about 17 years in two private schools in Cebu City. She is passionate about organizing community immersion activities for the students as well as supporting initiatives that promote sustainable agriculture locally. She holds a degree in Psychology and is currently taking her MA in Guidance at the University of San Carlos. When she is not in the office, she likes to spend time with her family and friends in an outdoor activity.
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Career Counselor
Riza Lea Inoc
Before joining PTI, Riza worked as a school guidance counselor for 14 years. She was in charge of the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the guidance programs in the university. She holds a degree in Psychology and completed her academic requirements for MA in Education specializing in Guidance and Counseling at the Cebu Normal University bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of San Carlos. She is a licensed Psychometrician and secondary teacher with a specialization in Values Education. Outside the office, Riza is a member of a fandom supporting local celebrities.
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Social Worker
Glory Mae O. Ceniza
After almost 6 years of working as a residential social worker, Glory Mae finally joins PTI. She has the heart of working towards the marginalized sector of the community. Her expertise lies in assisting clients in the legal process, facilitating case conferences, and supporting clients’ referrals to other services. She holds a degree in Social Work at the Mindanao State University and is an active participant of the Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. In her free time, she loves to do household chores, hang out with friends and attend Sunday Service Fellowships.
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Employment Partnership Manager
Maryeal Barcoso
Maryeal has a diverse career background from working in the corporate world for several years to finally joining local disaster and emergency responses. Prior to joining PTI, she has worked with various organizations championing and advocating for the most vulnerable members of the society especially out-of-school youths, young women, and children including persons with disabilities. She is passionate about working with marginalized and disadvantaged youths to unlock their potential to secure decent work and have a sustainable income for themselves and their families. Maryeal is about to take a Master’s Degree in Career Guidance and Counselling and a Diploma in Social Work.
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Monitoring and Communications Coordinator
Loricar Orais
Elle moved to Cebu in 2016 to pursue becoming a Psychometrician and follow her passion to work in a non-profit organization. She joined PTI in 2016 as a Human Resource and Administrative Officer after her 2-year stint in the restaurant industry. In 2019, she became the Monitoring and Communications Coordinator responsible for the safe-keeping of clientele data and implementing communication strategy. Elle holds a degree in Social Science major in Psychology at the University of the Philippines and is currently taking her Master’s degree in Public Administration. When she’s not at her working desk, Elle loves to cook, travel, and do some adventure.
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Finance and Administrative Officer
Ma. Hyacinth Anatihan
Hyacinth spent the twenty years of her career life focusing on finance, accounting, and administrative functions working with non-profit organizations serving people for poverty alleviation programs, social development and, victims of injustice. She feels the passion for helping the vulnerable, the less fortunate, and the poorest of the poor in the community and making a difference in one’s life. She feels a different kind of accomplishment that no monetary denomination can compensate. When she is not in the office, she takes care of her three children and finds time to serve her spiritual community and travel and unwind.
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Finance and Admin Assistant
Vivian Benting
After Vivian’s work experience as an HR Assistant in the manufacturing food industry for a year, she joined PTI in 2017. Currently, she is the Finance and Administrative Assistant performing accounting, administrative and reportorial tasks. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of Cebu. Outside of her clerical works, Vivian loves to travel and hike to the mountains. She spends most of her free time watching Korean dramas that made her plan a trip to South Korea.
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Company Driver
Hector Abella
Hector joined PTI in 2011 as the Company Driver. For almost 8 years, he was able to transport clients, staff, and visitors in a comfortable, safe and timely manner to different destinations. On top of his day-to-day work schedule, he gives priority to doing the ministry of God in the mountain areas of Cebu. During his free time, he does household chores and eats out with his loving wife and his three children.
Training Manager
Rosa Gabriela Beñares
After graduating BA in Psychology at the University of the Philippines Cebu, she found her career passion in Social Development work. Spending the first 5 years of her career advocating for children's rights through a series of Anti-Child Trafficking projects, she was exposed to the culture of child exploitation and vowed to continue her work by helping trauma survivors. Now as PTI Training Manager, she learned a new concept in helping survivors reach economic empowerment. With the knowledge that true change comes from the individual's will, she enjoys teaching the soft skills using the MI approach. The STEP Program serves as each client's foundational training and is developed to help create good habits that can be of good use as clients persevere to become the best version of themselves.
Work Immersion Program Coordinator
Takako Kalinisan Koyanagawa
Takako has a strong-willed drive to serve young individuals in pursuing their goals since she believes that everyone has the ability to change their path. Through proper guidance and support, nothing seems impossible to have a better life ahead. She is a Registered Social Worker in the Philippines and planning to continue her 3rd year in Master of Science in Social Work at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation. She also had experience working as a Public Health Associate in a public hospital here in Cebu with direct engagement with other helping professionals in case management. She also worked in a business process outsourcing related to customer service for several years. Working in different fields helped her become flexible in working with different people and gained other working skills.