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From nurturing future leaders to exploring neuroplasticity, Filinvest Alabang’s HR Head believes growth begins when people are given the inspiration, ownership, and opportunities to realise their potential.
For Evangeline Viola-Herrera (pictured above), the meaning of HR can be found in what happens when people are given the opportunity to grow.
Currently Human Resources Head, FAI Property Business at Filinvest Alabang, Viola-Herrera brings more than 26 years of experience across real estate, shipping, customer service, operations and human resources. For more than a decade, she has led people strategies across more than eight Filinvest Group companies, spanning talent management, leadership development, employee engagement, organisational effectiveness, learning and development, and HR and Admin operations.
A lifelong learner and leadership advocate, Viola-Herrera is particularly passionate about unlocking human potential and creating opportunities for people to grow. Her own interests extend into neuroscience and neuroplasticity, which have reinforced her belief that people can continue learning, adapting, and discovering new possibilities throughout their lives.
Ahead of her session at Transform Talent 2026 – Philippines, Viola-Herrera speaks with Mary Ann Budunkin about finding purpose in HR, helping employees see a future they can be excited about, the three principles that shape her leadership philosophy, and why combining people data with genuine care is key to building a future-ready culture.
Check out the full interview below.
Q What does a great day at work look like for you, and how does it remind you why you love HR?
I love translating ideas into strategies, but what makes my work truly meaningful in Human Resources is knowing that every strategy ultimately impacts people. When people are inspired, developed, and empowered, they create a culture of excellence that extends far beyond HR, shaping the projects we deliver, the communities we build, and the legacy we leave as an organisation.
A great day at work actually begins long before I arrive at the office. It starts with waking up happy at home, having a quick morning catch-up with my college kids before they leave for school, sharing a simple conversation with my husband, spending time with my fur and feather babies - being an animal advocate too, and carpooling with my eldest son as we begin the day with positive conversations during our one-hour drive to work.
Over the years, I have learned that a fulfilling life outside of work fuels the energy, purpose, and passion I bring to work each day. For the past 14 years, Filinvest Alabang, Inc. has been a place that has enabled me to thrive both professionally and personally. At Filinvest, we live by the value of Filinvest Family - investing in bringing out the best in ourselves and in one another, while championing work-life integration.
Inspired by Filinvest Family at our core values, the most exciting part of my role as Human Resources Head is making a real difference in people's lives. It may mean sharing good news with employees from management, congratulating newly promoted leaders, celebrating my team's success after a major event, or launching innovative people development programmes that help individuals realise their full potential. I love my job in HR because I see the long-term impact of the Company's efforts to our employees.
Employees who joined us as fresh graduates are now managers and executives leading teams of their own. HR professionals I once mentored have become HR leaders across the Filinvest Group.
"Their success stories are living proof that investing in people creates ripple effects that extend far beyond any single programme or initiative."
Growing leaders, unlocking potential, and creating opportunities that change lives is what Human Resources is about. When people succeed, organisations thrive. And perhaps the greatest blessing of all is knowing as a leader that while helping others grow, I have also been able to fulfill my most important role to my family - as a wife and a mother to my children.
Q What's one strategy you've found most effective in keeping employees engaged and committed?
Our employees are inspired by the projects, developments, and communities we have built together at Filinvest Alabang, Inc., not only in Filinvest City but across our high-end residential and township developments of the Filinvest Group. They see firsthand how their work shapes communities that elevate everyday living, foster economic growth, and create meaningful experiences for generations to come. More importantly, they are part of a culture and organisation they can genuinely be proud of and excited about. That sense of purpose is why the most effective engagement strategy I've found is helping employees see a future they can be excited about.
When people understand the impact of their work and feel connected to the organisation's vision, they become more invested in their own growth and development. A recent example of this was our historic achievement at the 2026 FIABCI World Prix d'Excellence Awards in Vienna, Austria, where Filinvest City received Gold in the Master Plan category, while the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel earned Gold in the Purpose-Built category, marking a major milestone for the country’s real estate industry. The awards were received by our President and CEO making Filinvest Alabang, Inc. the first Philippine developer to earn recognition at this prestigious global real estate competition.
Celebrating milestones like these helps employees see that their work contributes to projects that are recognised not only locally but on the world stage. It reinforces the idea that each employee, regardless of role, helps create developments and communities that leave a lasting impact on people's lives. When employees can connect their daily work to a larger purpose, engagement becomes more than commitment. It becomes pride, ownership, and a shared belief in the future we are building together.
Q In three words, how would you describe your leadership philosophy?
Inspiration. Ownership. Growth.
These three words define my career journey and have become the foundation of my leadership philosophy. Over the past 26 years, I've been fortunate to build my career across different industries, from shipping and real estate to customer service, operations, and ultimately Human Resources. Looking back, I was once an employee who was simply given a chance because my leaders saw my hardwork, willingness to learn, and openness to stepping outside my comfort zone. Those opportunities, combined with the guidance of leaders who believed in my potential, shaped both my career and the leader I am today. I was fortunate to have leaders who inspired me to aim higher, challenged me to grow, and entrusted me with meaningful responsibilities. Their mentorship helped me see possibilities beyond what I thought was achievable and gave me the confidence to pursue them.
That journey continued at Filinvest, where I have had the privilege of learning from inspiring leaders who empowered me to take ownership of my ideas and turn them into reality. Their trust and support shaped not only my professional growth but also my perspective on leadership. Today, I strive to pay that forward. I aim to inspire people to see their potential, encourage them to take ownership of their development, and create opportunities for continuous growth. I believe that when we inspire people, empower them with ownership, and invest in their growth, we do more than build careers, we change lives. And to me, that is the true purpose of leadership.
Q Could you tell us one thing about you that people might be surprised to know?
I am a neuroscience enthusiast. What fascinates me most about this field is understanding how the brain shapes our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and ability to learn. Neuroscience explores everything from learning and memory to stress, resilience, decision-making, and human potential. It reminds me that the brain is not fixed. This led my fascination with the concept of neuroplasticity, the brain's incredible ability to grow, adapt, and rewire itself throughout life. Inspired by this, I embarked on what I often consider my own personal science experiment, challenging myself to keep learning, exploring, and experiencing life beyond work. It became my way of proving that regardless of age or circumstance, we always have the capacity to grow, change, and discover new possibilities.
Just two years ago, I learned to paint and even had the opportunity to exhibit my artwork at work, proving to myself that it is never too late to learn something new. I learned how to grow and propagate plants despite believing I lacked a green thumb, and I overcame a childhood fear of dogs after being bitten by one. Today, I find immense joy in caring for my dogs and cat, so much so that I even helped bring five puppies into the world. I am also fascinated by my talking parrots, an African Grey and a Sun Conure, who mimic sounds and words and often join me in what I fondly call our karaoke nights after work.
How does this relate to my work in HR? More than people might think. These experiences reinforce the same principles I share with our employees: that growth is always possible, our limitations are often self-imposed, and we are capable of learning far more than we imagine. I often talk about the power of the brain to adapt, learn, and create new possibilities in our learning programes at work. I've seen employees transform their perception of what they can achieve, pursue dreams they once thought were beyond their reach, and discover strengths they never knew they had. For me, that's the beauty of neuroscience and HR. Both are ultimately about helping people realise their potential.
They say the meaning of life is to enjoy the passage of time, and I couldn't agree more. Through these experiences, I am reminded that life is not measured by how busy we are, but by how deeply we learn, love, connect with our inner selves, and grow, whether at work, within our communities, or through our relationship with nature. Every new experience, meaningful connection, and lesson learned becomes part of who we are. For me, that is what makes life meaningful, by becoming the best version of ourselves.
Q As a speaker at #TransformTalentPH, what is the #1 call to action you hope for attendees to take away from your session?
There is tremendous power in the people data we capture every day in Human Resources. Throughout my career, I have used data not just for reporting, but as a catalyst for meaningful management discussions, strategic decision-making, and breakthrough interventions that have delivered measurable results. To me, being truly data-driven means allowing numbers, insights, and employee feedback to speak to what matters most in the organisation and using those insights to guide management decisions. Data helps us identify priorities, uncover root causes, and focus our efforts where they can create the greatest impact. It serves as a compass in a complex landscape, providing clarity on where to focus and confidence in the decisions we make.
This is what makes HR intentional.
With that clarity, we can focus on the initiatives that matter most. The most meaningful HR programmes are those rooted in real business priorities and employee needs. That is one of the things I am most proud of at Filinvest Alabang, Inc., as reflected in our recognition as one of the Best Places to Work in the Philippines. We make thoughtful people and organisational decisions with precision, guided by both experience and data-driven insights. Through the HR systems Filinvest invested on, the people analytics we continuously monitor, employee engagement and learning data, insights gathered from employee surveys, meaningful dialogues between employees, leaders, and management, career conversations with us in HR, as well as talent management initiatives led by our HR Center of Excellence and trusted HR partners, we are able to make better decisions and design more relevant programmes, rewards, and interventions for both our people and our business to succeed.
"By listening, measuring, and acting on what matters most, we create solutions that not only address current needs but also strengthen our culture, develop our talent, and support the long-term success of the organisation."
For me, that is the future of HR: combining data-driven insights with genuine care for people. That is how we build a future-ready culture.
I want to attend the conference: If you're keen to attend this closed-door conference, kindly register your interest here. For speaking opportunities, please write in to Mary Ann Bundukin. We look forward to welcoming you!
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