Volume 22 • No. 6 • March 16 - 31 , 2026 Publication Mailing Account #41721512
Breaking barriers
Elle Villanueva
Credit: Elle’s IG
Pinays Manitoba’s 2026 Trailblazers
Elle Villanueva is on fire! Story on page 10
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In celebration of International Women’s Month and Pinays Manitoba Inc.’s 10th anniversary, the organization proudly announces its 2026 Trailblazer Awardees. These exceptional Filipino women are redefining what’s possible, excelling in their fields, mentoring the next generation, and inspiring the Filipino-Canadian community with their leadership, vision, and resilience. Through their achievements, they show that determination, talent, and passion know no boundaries. Meet the 2026 Pinays Manitoba Trailblazer awardees (in alphabetical order): Dr. Alysa Almojuela, MD, MSc, FRCSC, Neurosurgeon and Spine Surgeon Dr. Alysa Almojuela made history as the first female FilipinoCanadian spinal neurosurgeon in Manitoba. She serves as a Neurosurgeon and Spine Surgeon at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. Excelling in one of medicine’s most demanding and underrepresented specialties, she breaks barriers, challenges longstanding stereotypes, and redefines what Filipino women can achieve in a field traditionally dominated by men. Beyond her clinical excellence, Dr. Almojuela is deeply committed to academic leadership and mentorship. She is an Assistant Professor in the Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery at the University of Manitoba; Chair of the Competency Committee for the Neurosurgery Program; and Co-Director of the Winnipeg Spine Fellowship Program at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. Through these roles, she plays
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Dr. Alysa Almojuela Pinays Manitoba Trailblazer
Dr. Bon Abigail Castillo Pinays Manitoba Trailblazer
Engr. Aimee Intac-Leung Pinays Manitoba Trailblazer
Venus Ramos Pinays Manitoba Trailblazer
a pivotal part in shaping and training the next generation of neurosurgeons. Dr. Almojuela also dedicates her time to mentoring high
school students with aspirations in medicine, inspiring youth, particularly within the Filipino community, to pursue careers in See PINAYS p6
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