Pinays Manitoba celebrates 10 remarkable years!

Honouring the Pinays Manitoba Trailblazers 2026

Join the Pinays and community on May 9 at the Viscount Gort Hotel as we celebrate these outstanding women. For ticket information: pinaysmbinc@gmail.com

Dr. Alysa Almojuela, MD, MSc, FRCSC

Dr. Alysa Almojuela is a trailblazer in every sense of the word, reshaping the landscape of neurosurgery in Canada while inspiring a new generation of Filipino-Canadian youth to dream boldly and pursue paths once thought out of reach. Born and raised in Winnipeg, she stands today as the first female Filipino-Canadian spinal neurosurgeon in the country, and one of only a few women in Canada specializing in this highly demanding field.

Her journey is marked by a series of historic firsts. Dr. Almojuela was the first female and the first Filipino to graduate from the neurosurgery residency program in Winnipeg. She later went on to perform the first endoscopic (ultra minimally invasive) spine surgery in Manitoba and remains the only surgeon in the province currently offering this advanced procedure. Through her work, she is not only transforming patient care but also pushing the boundaries of what is possible in modern spine surgery.

At the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, Dr. Almojuela provides specialized care as a neurosurgeon and spine surgeon, combining technical excellence with compassion. She is deeply committed to improving outcomes for her patients by integrating cutting-edge technologies and innovative surgical techniques. For her, the most meaningful aspect of her work lies in the impact she has on the lives of those she treats, helping them regain mobility, independence, and quality of life.

Beyond the operating room, Dr. Almojuela is a respected academic leader and mentor. She serves as an Assistant Professor in the Section of Neurosurgery at the University of Manitoba’s Department of Surgery, Chair of the Competency Committee for the Neurosurgery Program, and Co-Director of the Winnipeg Spine Fellowship Program at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. In these roles, she helps train and guide future neurosurgeons, shaping not only their technical skills but also their values as compassionate and ethical practitioners.

As a Filipino-Canadian in a field where women and minorities remain underrepresented, Dr. Almojuela brings a unique and important perspective to her work. Her background has strengthened her ability to connect with patients from diverse communities with empathy and understanding. It has also given her a powerful platform to mentor trainees who see themselves reflected in her journey, proving that representation matters, and that barriers can be broken.

Dr. Almojuela is especially passionate about mentorship and giving back. She finds great fulfillment in teaching students, residents, and fellows, and in encouraging young people, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to pursue careers in medicine. Her presence alone challenges stereotypes and opens doors, showing Filipino-Canadian youth that they belong in spaces where they have historically been absent.

Outside of her demanding career, Dr. Almojuela finds joy in the outdoors and in exploration. She enjoys hiking, backcountry camping, running, and travelling, activities that reflect her adventurous spirit and resilience.

She credits much of her success to the unwavering support of her family. She offers heartfelt gratitude to her parents, Melodia and Rene, whose journey as immigrants instilled in her the values of hard work and integrity; to her siblings, Rezan and Loren; to her sister-in-law Anne for the nomination; and to her husband, Jorden, whose constant support has been a source of strength through every challenge.

Through her groundbreaking achievements, dedication to mentorship, and commitment to excellence, Dr. Alysa Almojuela continues to blaze a path forward, proving that Filipina-Canadian women can lead, innovate, and thrive at the very highest levels of their profession.

Dr. Bon Abigail Castillo, MD, FRCPC

Dr. Bon Abigail Castillo is an emerging leader in Geriatric Psychiatry whose work reflects both clinical excellence and a deep commitment to compassionate, culturally responsive care. As the only Filipina geriatric psychiatrist in Manitoba, she brings not only expertise to her field, but also a powerful sense of representation for Filipino patients and aspiring healthcare professionals alike.

Born in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Castillo spent her early childhood in the Philippines before immigrating to Canada at the age of 10. Her journey is one shaped by resilience, adaptability, and the enduring influence of family. She credits her path to the sacrifices and values instilled by her parents and grandparents, who taught her that success is not defined by titles, but by finding meaningful work and striving to be the best version of oneself for others. Inspired by her mother’s dedication as a nurse and shaped by her family’s own health experiences, Dr. Castillo found her calling in medicine, grounded in empathy, service, and understanding.

In 2024, she began her clinical practice at Victoria Hospital, where she provides comprehensive psychiatric care across inpatient, outpatient, consultative, and emergency settings, including electroconvulsive therapy. She also serves as a consultant at Riverview Health Centre. Her leadership quickly became evident, and by 2025, she was appointed as one of the Unit Medical Leads at Victoria Hospital, an impressive milestone early in her career.

Dr. Castillo’s impact extends beyond patient care into education and mentorship. As Assistant Program Director of the Geriatric Psychiatry Subspecialty Residency Program and Postgraduate Education Site Coordinator at Victoria Hospital, she plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of physicians. Her dedication to teaching has already been recognized with the Educator of the Year award from the Psychiatry Residents Association of Manitoba in her very first year of practice. She is known for fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment that prioritizes both professional growth and personal well-being.

For Dr. Castillo, some of the most meaningful achievements are found in the relationships she builds with her patients. She considers it a privilege to care for older adults, to listen to their life stories, and to honour their experiences with dignity and respect. Her ability to communicate in Tagalog, combined with her understanding of the immigrant journey, allows her to connect with patients on a deeper level, often leading to more nuanced diagnoses and culturally informed care. Through this, she not only improves outcomes but also ensures that Filipino seniors feel seen, heard, and understood.

Outside of her professional life, Dr. Castillo embraces curiosity and growth. She has travelled to over 20 countries and enjoys exploring new skills, from DJing to cake decorating to golf. For her, learning is a lifelong pursuit that extends far beyond medicine.

Grounded in her Filipino heritage and guided by the strength of the women in her life, Dr. Castillo continues to blaze her own trail. She offers heartfelt gratitude to her mother, Maria, for her resilience; her godmother, Ninang Berna, for her tenacity; and her grandmother, Inay Gloria, for her kindness. Their influence lives on in her work and her purpose.

Through her leadership, compassion, and dedication, Dr. Bon Abigail Castillo stands as an inspiring example of what Filipino-Canadian women can achieve, breaking barriers, uplifting others, and transforming lives through care.

Engr. Aimee Intac-Leung, P.Eng., PMP

Engr. Aimee Intac-Leung is a visionary leader in the field of engineering, breaking barriers and redefining what is possible for women, especially Filipino-Canadians, in a traditionally male-dominated industry. From her beginnings in Batangas, Philippines, to leading major energy infrastructure projects across North America, her journey is a powerful story of resilience, ambition, and purpose.

Aimee immigrated to Canada at the age of 21, bringing with her a strong educational foundation in engineering and a determination to succeed. Like many newcomers, she faced the challenge of building a career in a new country, but through perseverance and dedication, she steadily rose through the ranks. At Manitoba Hydro, she became one of only a few female technical engineering section heads and later served as Project Manager for the province’s largest multi-billion-dollar transmission project, an achievement that placed her at the forefront of Manitoba’s energy landscape.

Today, as Principal for Transmission Procurement and Project Delivery at Invenergy, Aimee plays a key role in advancing some of the largest transmission initiatives in North America, contributing to the global transition toward renewable energy. With her specialization in High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) systems, she brings both technical expertise and strategic leadership to complex, large-scale projects that power communities and shape the future of energy.

Her commitment to excellence extends beyond the workplace. While working full-time, Aimee pursued advanced professional development at the Stanford University School of Engineering, the University of Manitoba, and the Schulich Executive Education Centre, continually strengthening her leadership and technical capabilities. Her contributions have been recognized nationally with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, honouring her impact in the energy sector and her advocacy for women in STEM.

Aimee’s influence also reaches the global stage. As Chair of the Women in Energy Committee of CIGRE Canada, she leads initiatives that empower women in the energy sector, organizing conferences and events across Canada and internationally, including in Paris and the United States. Through this work, she collaborates with global leaders, contributes to technical publications, and amplifies the voices of women in engineering worldwide.

Deeply grounded in her Filipino heritage, Aimee believes that Filipino women bring a unique balance of ambition and empathy to their work, qualities that foster strong relationships and meaningful impact. She has made it her mission to give back and uplift others. Early in her journey, she volunteered with ANAK, supporting youth in the Filipino community. She has since mentored countless students and young professionals through Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba and its Filipino Members Chapter and has served for over a decade as an external panelist and lecturer at the University of Manitoba.

Her commitment to education led her to establish the A. Intac-Leung Scholarship and Bursary at the University of Manitoba to support engineering students, particularly women and those from underrepresented communities.

Beyond her professional and community work, Aimee enjoys travelling and exploring different cultures, cuisines, and natural landscapes, experiences that continue to inspire her curiosity and broaden her perspective.

Grateful for the support of her family, friends, colleagues, and community, Aimee carries their encouragement with her in every step of her journey.

Through her leadership, generosity, and unwavering determination, Engr. Aimee Intac-Leung stands as a remarkable role model, proving to Filipino-Canadian youth, especially young women, that no dream is too ambitious and no barrier is insurmountable.

Venus Ramos, MPM

Venus Ramos is a dynamic Filipina-Canadian leader whose work is rooted in community, shaped by lived experience, and driven by a deep commitment to expanding access, representation, and opportunity for Filipino-Canadian youth. Born in Guagua, Pampanga, she immigrated to Winnipeg at the age of five, carrying with her the values that would later define her path, especially pakikipagkapuwa, the Filipino spirit of shared identity and collective care.

Growing up in Winnipeg, Venus witnessed the power of community firsthand. Her family opened their home to more than 17 newcomer families, offering support as they found jobs, secured housing, and rebuilt their lives in Canada. That early experience of generosity and solidarity left a lasting imprint on her. At the same time, she became aware of systemic barriers faced by immigrants, including the deprofessionalization of highly skilled individuals. These experiences shaped her understanding of equity and sparked her commitment to public service and systems change.

Venus is a co-founder of Kabangka, Canada’s largest youth-led leadership organization for Filipino-Canadian youth, which has engaged over 3,000 participants nationwide. Through mentorship, leadership development, scholarships, and anti-racism programming, Kabangka empowers young people to find their voice and step into leadership. She is also a co-founder of Pinoys on Parliament, the first national conference of its kind for Filipino-Canadian youth, bringing together hundreds of young leaders from across the country to connect, learn, and see themselves as active participants in civic and political life.

She holds a master’s in political management from Carleton University and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Ottawa. Venus also played a key role in launching the Filipino-Canadian Internship Program through the Canada-Philippine Interparliamentary Friendship Group, creating meaningful pathways for youth to gain experience on Parliament Hill and engage directly with public institutions.

Professionally, Venus serves as a Parliamentary Affairs Advisor in the Senate of Canada. Her earlier work focused on supporting young Filipino-Canadians through mentorship, connection, and the creation of pathways that help them navigate new spaces and step into leadership roles.

Venus’s leadership extends beyond program development into mentorship and nation-building. She has helped establish the Filipino-Canadian National Scholarship Program, supporting students across the country in pursuing higher education. Through her work, she continues to mentor young Filipino-Canadians, encouraging them to pursue careers in public service, policy, and leadership.

For Venus, leadership is not only about creating opportunities, but about ensuring they are sustainable and inclusive. She finds meaning in seeing young people step into spaces once considered out of reach, and in knowing that the work continues beyond any one individual or organization.

Outside of her professional life, Venus enjoys creative pursuits such as music, pottery, photography, and caring for her plants. She also finds joy in travel, hiking, swimming, and discovering new places and experiences.

Venus extends deep gratitude to the founding members and current leaders of Kabangka and Pinoys on Parliament, as well as to the many mentors and peers who have supported her journey.

Through her leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to youth empowerment, Venus Ramos continues to inspire the next generation of Filipino-Canadians to lead with purpose, courage, and compassion.

By Emmie Joaquin for Pinays Manitoba, based on submissions and interviews.