Essay: My lady boss’s strength is infectious

By Irish Ann Benjamin

When people ask who shaped me, I usually think of many women. Each taught me something different: practical thinking, quiet courage, or stubborn independence. But if I must choose one person whose life most influenced how I live today, it is Annielyn Ignes - a lawyer, mother, a victorious cancer warrior.

Anne was my high school teacher-adviser and later became my instructor in college. I worked for her as a student assistant, and eventually joined her notarial office staff in 2014 when I was 16.

I see her in multiple lights: the patient teacher in a crowded classroom, the meticulous planner preparing lectures, and the composed professional handling clients and deadlines. Knowing her for many years and seeing her through both good and difficult times made my admiration for her stronger.

Writer Ann (left) and lady boss Anne during a spontaneous trip to Surigao City in 2022. Inset: Lawyer Anne in a photoshoot at law school.

She grew up in a family with limited means. Despite financial constraints, she pursued higher education and persisted until she became a lawyer in May 2022. In 2016, she was diagnosed with cancer. She endured two surgeries within the same year - chemotherapy, long recoveries, and slow, painful rehabilitation before being declared cancer-free in 2020.

I witnessed days when she could barely move and evenings when we would join her family to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet for strength. Even at her weakest, she continued teaching while studying law and managing her food and refreshment business in her hometown of Sto. Niño in South Cotabato.

She still attended her practical court classes, even on days when she was wearing a wig because of her treatment. At the same time, she was raising young children who were also affected by her illness.

Her children were bullied by others who thought their mother was already close to death because she was undergoing chemotherapy. There was a time when she was unable to attend class because of her treatment.

When she returned to her classes, she was expected to fully participate despite her condition. At one point, she became so weak that she almost fainted. Her professor eventually learned about her situation and adjusted her academic load.

Anne models perseverance, responsibility, and dignity under pressure. Her trajectory taught me that achievement is often incremental: studying amid scarcity, taking one exam at a time, working while learning.

Her response to illness taught me how ordinary commitment continues even when life is fragile. She balanced personal suffering with the needs of students, her studies, and family. Watching her prioritize duty without losing tenderness reshaped my idea of strength: it isn’t loud success but consistent, often unseen, effort.

In the Philippines, access to higher education and legal professions can be limited by family income and regional opportunity gaps. Records at Philippine Statistics Authority show that college participation is lower among economically disadvantaged households, and many students must work while studying to stay enrolled (PSA, 2021).

Women aiming for professional careers, such as law, also face cultural expectations around care giving and family roles that can complicate prolonged study or career-building.

Anne was determined to pursue law despite financial struggles and family responsibilities. Her journey reflects the challenges many Filipinos face in getting an education and building a career.

Anne’s health experience showed me how difficult cancer treatment can be, especially when there are financial limitations. There were times when she could not undergo a medical procedure for lack of money.

Her cancer was triple-negative, and chemotherapy was an important part of her treatment. She chose to receive her medication at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and radiation treatment at Tagum Global Medical Center (TGMC), which were far from her hometown and required about a four-hour trip. Despite the distance, the cost, and the difficulty of treatment, she continued with her recovery with the support of her family, friends, and even strangers who willingly offered help.

In our community, teachers are highly respected and often seen as role models. Anne showed me that women can carry many responsibilities at the same time. She is a teacher, wife, mother, and cancer-warrior.

She did this without performing perfection; she asked for help, let others step in, and allowed vulnerability to be visible. For me, this showed that strength does not mean doing everything by yourself. It also means knowing when to accept help.

Other women I admire provide complementary lessons. Angely Dub, who emigrated to Spain and built a travel and tour business, taught me independence and continual self-improvement. Ate Jo taught me courage in parenting and the value of not being overly swayed by others’ judgments.

But Anne remains my central influence because her life intersects education, professional identity, illness, and community in ways that mirror challenges I may face. From her I learned that influence is not imitation. I don’t aim to duplicate her exact path. Instead, I absorb the principles she embodies: perseverance amid scarcity, responsibility when others depend on you, and humility in success. I intend to carry those lessons as I make my own choices, pursuing opportunities carefully, honoring obligations, and allowing room for recovery when life interrupts plans.#

(About the writer: Irish Ann Benjamin is an Operations Coordinator for Pepper Concierge, a professional organizing and lifestyle management company which helps clients organize their physical and digital lives and create systems that make their everyday lives easier and more manageable. She ensures that the company’s day-to-day operations are organized, coordinated, documented, and monitored.

Based in South Cotabato, Philippines, Irish Ann is a pioneering cohort of the Masterclass in Writing and Journalism with Dr. Marivir Montebon under the auspices of the Awesome Media, Ltd. and the Women’s Immigration & Communications Cafe in New York City.)