The headline idea sounds simple. But it lands with weight: you cannot become what you cannot see. In the Philippine context, the author behind the Manila Times’ “Beyond the Binary” column uses that line to challenge a national habit. We talk a lot about women in technology as learners and participants. We talk far less about women as designers of the systems, writers of the rules, and operators of the governance that keep digital services working.
The column explicitly rejects a familiar format. It says it won’t turn women in tech into “token” profiles, corporate-resume content, or diversity checklists. Instead, it spotlights women as leaders and builders whose work often sits behind the scenes. That framing matters because it shifts the reader’s question from “Can women do this job?” to “Can women influence the decisions that shape the job and the industry?”
The piece uses a specific example: Dr. Mary Joy Abueg. It describes her as a certified data privacy specialist and data protection officer who has strengthened information technology education and workforce readiness with institutions including the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. It also says she contributed to national information technology standards through the Bureau of Philippine Standards. Today, the column places her at Palawan State University as associate professor, chief information officer, and data protection officer. It also says she chairs PalwaNXT and serves as a trustee of the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines.
The column’s point is not to worship credentials. It argues that Abueg’s day-to-day focus shows what gets overlooked in public conversation: data protection, technology governance, and digital transformation. Those areas rarely generate “flashy headlines,” but they are positioned as essential to a stable digital economy. In that sense, the column treats privacy and governance work as infrastructure work, not back-office paperwork.
Visibility changes the pipeline, not just the optics
The column claims the real barrier for young Filipinas is not talent. It says the Philippines has “brilliant and capable minds.” The problem is what students can picture for themselves. When women rarely appear in high-stakes roles such as writing technology policy, managing cybersecurity crises, or architecting national data governance frameworks, the author argues the leap of faith grows.
From there, it draws a chain of consequences. Representation, it says, is not about political correctness or quota fulfillment. It is about expanding what the next generation sees as possible. A student who sees someone she relates to succeeding in a technical field changes her internal blueprint. A young professional gains confidence to pursue leadership roles. And organizations, pressured by what they can no longer dismiss, are challenged to rethink assumptions about who belongs in decision-making.
The column also pushes back on a narrow national focus. It says the discussion about women in technology has leaned heavily toward participation statistics. Enrollment numbers, encouragement to pursue STEM, and access programs get credit. But the author argues the urgent question has shifted.
It is no longer whether women belong in technology. The question now, per the column, is whether women get influence over the systems, policies, and innovations that will govern the country’s collective digital future.
Technology is decision-making, and decisions have winners and losers
The argument turns sharply on one line: technology is never neutral. The column claims that the people who design algorithms, secure networks, and write digital policies make decisions that affect how people learn, work, and access essential services. From that perspective, the author treats diversity in technology as a quality issue, not just a fairness slogan.
The column says different perspectives lead to stronger problem-solving and better products and systems that serve the public more effectively. It also notes a common reality. Women doing that essential work can stay invisible outside their professional circles. That invisibility, the author argues, is what keeps the public conversation stuck at participation rather than leadership.
Beyond the Binary, the column’s stated aim, is positioned as a corrective. Not praise for its own sake. Instead, the author says it examines what these leaders’ journeys reveal about the future of the digital society.
The column’s example doubles as a blueprint
Dr. Abueg’s story functions as more than a profile. It is used as evidence for the column’s central claim that some of the most consequential work happens far from the spotlight, in state universities, regional tech hubs, government agencies, and professional communities preparing the Philippines for the future.
The piece closes on a broader framing. It suggests the country’s advantage will come less from purchased technology and more from intentionally developed, supported, and empowered talent. The logic is straightforward. When more people can see themselves in technology, more people step forward to build it.
The author also discloses her own context and affiliations: Gail Macapagal is described as the 2025 TOWNS awardee for information technology and entrepreneurship, executive director of Qadena Foundation, head of external and government affairs at Traxion Tech, founder of Women in Blockchain Philippines, and co-founder of Cyber S|Heroes and Lakambini ng Kalayaan. The column states she writes Beyond the Binary, exploring technology, leadership, innovation, and the people shaping the digital future.
No market metrics, no price talk, no hype. The argument is about who gets to see the work and who gets to steer it.