Solita Collas-Monsod, popularly known as Mareng Winnie, is a Filipino
broadcaster, host, economist, and writer. She had been the 5th
Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority and
concurrently socio-economic planning secretary of the Philippines from 1986
to 1989. Educated at the Wharton School of the
University of Pennsylvania, she holds the rank of Professor Emeritus at the
University of the Philippines School of Economics.
Education Monsod graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in Economics degree, Cum Laude at the University of the Philippines in 1959
and is a member of the Sigma Delta Phi Sorority. She obtained a Master of Arts
in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1962 and became a Ph.D.
candidate in economics, having completed all requirements except her
dissertation, in 1963. Academic career
Monsod has been teaching in the University of the Philippines School of
Economics since 1963. In 2005, she was nominated to be the President of the
University of the Philippines System, an office tasked with the management of all
UP campuses nationwide. In October 2010, a video of Monsod's
last lecture in Economics 100.1 became a viral hit online. In her impromptu
remarks, she said: "You're going to be as good and as honorable as you should
be. You are going to stay in the Philippines. And if you leave the
Philippines, you are at least going to try to pay back. And if you don't do any
of the above, this is my last threat to you. Mrs. Monsod is going to haunt you!
From the grave! I intend to go up there and from up there I'm going to look down
on you and I am going to confront you at the worst possible moments in your
life." Winnie Monsod was a member of the UN
Committee for Development Planning from 1987 to 2000 and the Board of Trustees
of the International Food Policy Research Institute on January 1996. She
was also a member of the Board of Advisors of Human Development Report on
1993 and the Board of Advisors of South Centre, which as established to
follow-up the recommendations of the South Commission, organized in 1987 at
the initiative of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad of Malaysia and
chaired by Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, from 1991 to 1995. The
Commission issued a report in 1990 entitled The Challenge of the South
which has since been translated in five languages.
Political career Professor Monsod is best remembered for
her role as the Minister of Economic Planning, and later Secretary of
Socio-economic Planning and concurrent Director of the National Economic and
Development Authority from 1986 to 1989, during the term of President Corazon
Aquino. Monsod ran for the Senate of the
Philippines under the administration party of President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo, People Power Coalition in the 2001 national elections but lost. In
2005, Monsod became an outspoken critic of Arroyo upon massive allegations of
election cheating, graft and corruption. Media career
She was co-host in the GMA Network show Debate with Mare and Pare with former
Pangasinan Governor and 1998 vice presidential candidate Oscar Orbos.
Monsod co-hosted the now defunct show Palaban with investigative journalist
Malou Mangahas and former beauty queen Miriam Quiambao. She also hosted the
weekly segment Analysis in the news program News on Q on QTV Network. She
also writes a bi-weekly column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
She is currently hosting a show entitled Bawal ang Pasaway in GMA News TV.
1974–1976 GMA Evening Report 1976–1986 News at Seven
1989–1995 GMA Balita 1995–1999 Saksi
November 1998–February 2001, July 2001–November 2006 Debate with Mare at
Pare co-host March 2, 2011–present Bawal ang Pasaway
kay Mareng Winnie Awards
Monsod is a recipient of numerous awards for broadcasting and government service.
Broadcaster of the Year, 2000. Award presented by KBP.
Best TV Program Host, Public Affairs Program. Award presented by Star Awards.
Best Public Affairs Program, 2000. Award presented by Catholic Mass Media Awards.
Best TV Program Host, Public Affairs Program, 1999. Award presented by Star
Awards. Woman of Distinction, 1995. Award
presented by Soroptimist International Makati.
Woman of the Year, 1988. Award presented by Perspectives, publication of the
Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines.
Cabinet Secretary of the Year, 1988 and 1999. Award presented by the Philippine
Free Press. Professional Award in Economics, 1987.
Award presented by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association.
Mariang Maya Award. Presented by the Sigma Delta Phi Alumnae Association,
University of the Philippines. Personal life
Monsod is married to Christian S. Monsod, a corporate executive and
one-time Chairman of the Philippine Commission on Elections. They have five
children holding different careers. References
External links 2001 Senatorial Page
GMA Broadcasting Network University of the Philippines Diliman
National Economic Development Authority Audio interview with Winnie Monsod