Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano is the first female Philippine Ambassador to Japan and has carved a path from corporate law through politics to international diplomacy. Ambassador Garcia-Albano shares how her family's legal legacy, a pivotal pro bono case that led to a murder exoneration, and her philosophy of "doing your best in everything" propelled her through nine years in Congress in the Philippines, to representing 340,000 Filipino citizens living and working in Japan. Ambassador Garcia-Albano explains how legal training provides the perfect foundation for diplomatic success. Listen in to hear the differences between being a corporate lawyer and diplomatic work. ** A special thanks to our Season 2 Ep 9 guest Lani Vinas for introducing us to Ambassador Garcia-Albano.
If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!
In this episode you will hear:
The power of pro bono legal work - How a murder exoneration case as a young lawyer validated Garcia-Albano's career path
Strategic career transitions - Why she views her journey from law to politics to diplomacy as "natural progression" rather than reinvention
Breaking diplomatic barriers - Her experience as the first female Philippine Ambassador to Japan and debunking myths about women needing to "lead like men"
Innovative embassy operations - Inside the world's largest Philippine Embassy, from mobile consular vans to online voting pilots across Japan and three Pacific nations
About Ambassador Garcia-Albano
Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano is a seasoned public servant and lawyer with a distinguished career in government.
Appointed in 2022 as the Philippine Ambassador to Japan, she brings with her decades of experience in public service, law, and legislative leadership.
A trailblazer from the start, she ranked 3rd in the 1990 Philippine Bar Examinations and was the first female president of the Ateneo Law School Student Government. She served three consecutive terms as Congresswoman for Davao City's 2nd District, where she held key leadership positions, including Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. Her earlier roles span the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Office of Senator Mar Roxas, and various legal and administrative posts.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano holds degrees from The George Washington University and Marymount College in the U.S., and is married to the Governor of Isabela, Rodolfo T. Albano III. They have one son.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano enjoys exploring new places, cuisines, and cultures through travel. She loves to read, particularly mystery novels. In her free time, she cherishes moments spent with her family.
Links
Philippines Embassy Japan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PHLinJapan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PHLinJapan/
Connect with Catherine
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair