By: Christian John Calimbas, Budget Information and Training Service 

Earning her seat at the table, the newly minted director of the Information and Communications Technology Systems Service (ICTSS) dedicates her public service endeavor to giving back to the community that helped shape her journey.  

Embodying the ‘para sa bayan’ mantra, Director Maria Ana “Maan” Espinosa aims to advance digitalization and budget modernization as her core mission in the DBM—recognizing its intersectionality with broader national priorities, such as gender and development and the protection of human rights.  

“Pera ng taong bayan ‘yung nagpa-aral sa akin at nagbigay ng diploma ko, and it was really a promise na isinapuso ko ang pangako ng ‘iskolar ng bayan, para sa bayan.’ When there’s already that call to serve my country again, I can’t turn my back on that,” Director Espinosa proudly said.  

Building Blocks 

Director Maan, as people fondly call her, began her leadership experience at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where she served as a student leader while pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Economics.  

In 2013, while juggling law studies, she joined the Office of Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. She worked on significant legislative reforms, including reproductive rights, same-sex marriage, and human rights protection—which eventually led to her appointment as Assistant Committee Secretary for the Committee on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law at the Supreme Court (SC).  

Prior to her appointment at the DBM, Director Maan founded and led the Urgent Reforms for Development, Unity, Justice, and Advancement (URDUJA) Inc., from July 2021 to December 2025. As its president, she spearheaded a mentoring program for emerging women leaders from conflict-affected regions. She also served as a consultant for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) – Philippines and the Commission on Human Rights—both of which further nurtured her passion for advocacy lawyering.  

“I am excited to merge my background on advocacy lawyering and technology—looking on the new perspective on how we can use technology as a tool to bring the [national] budget closer to the people”, Director Maan shared.  

Women in Tech 

Drawing from her advocacy work and prior government experience, Director Maan is determined to continue advancing digitalization reforms in the DBM, building on the groundwork already laid by ICTSS. Moreover, she strongly advocates for women entering the information technology (IT) field—to take up space and earn their seats at the table.  

“I’d like [to see] more women in IT. There are many different aspects of IT like cybersecurity, [program] management. Anyone should not be afraid to enter it and understand it better,” she emphasized.  

Recognizing cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) as defining trends of the future, Director Maan likewise intends to incorporate gender-responsive budgeting and tagging into public financial management, ensuring that “every peso of the government will really go to the sector who needs it most.” 

Managing a team of nearly a hundred personnel, Dir. Maan is determined to building a more empowered ICTSS through various capacity development initiatives, such as trainings, courses, and conferences. She emphasized the importance of “learning more beyond the office” to become more effective public servants.  

Beyond Work and Advocacy 

Beyond her work and advocacy, she is an empowered mother of two. She enjoys reading, weight training, Pilates, and adult ballet in her free time.  

Despite more lucrative career options, Director Maan remains steadfast in her promise to serve the Filipino people. She encourages the younger generation to bring their enthusiasm and vision into public service.  

“I think with their energy and idealism, they could be part of the government and push for the reforms they want while learning from those with institutional knowledge,” Director Maan ended.