Heart Of Gold

Easily one of the most admired businesswomen and philanthropists in the country today, Alice Eduardo balances the demands of working in the construction industry with the joys of living life to the fullest, surrounded by family and friends

- Bambina Olivares

Hardhats look great on Alice Eduardo. So do elegant couture gowns and dazzling diamonds. One could say—and forgive the pun—that it’s in the construction; after all, Alice is as comfortable in a dusty construction site as she is at a glittering event in a luxurious hotel. But as any builder will tell you, it’s really all about the foundation. Beneath the hardhat and the glamorous lifestyle is a woman whose foundations are solid, unwavering, and authentic.

Alice Eduardo is a driven mother of three and the dynamo who founded and runs Sta Elena Construction and Development Corporation, a highly successful construction and engineering company. Sta Elena has grown into a serious player in the market: an AAA and Large B firm, which means it qualifies to bid for any billion-peso project.

She’s been dubbed “Woman of Steel” by many, a reference to both the nature of her business and the strength and resilience that has allowed her to reap today’s rewards.

In work as in life, she conducts herself with grace, intelligence, and compassion; not to mention grit and determination.

She has always been fascinated by bridges, tunnels, and subways. In fact, she wanted to take up engineering in college, but was persuaded by her parents to pursue management instead. While still in school, she helped with the family businesses in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, which included a bowling centre, rice milling and trading, and their Manila-based garment exports.