Strong Governance. Trusted Partnerships.
Collaborative Governance Model
Mary's Cradle is delivered through a collaborative governance model that combines strategic leadership, academic oversight, community partnerships and local implementation. Each partner has clearly defined responsibilities, creating a transparent and accountable framework that supports effective program delivery, continuous learning and sustainable community impact.
MCHN Executive Leadership
Strategic direction, governance, donor stewardship and international partnerships
Philippines Leadership Team
Country operations, local partnership development and implementation oversight
Angat Buhay Foundation
Community engagement, program coordination, volunteer mobilization and implementation reporting
Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU)
Monitoring, evaluation, implementation learning and evidence generation
Local Implementation Team
Local program delivery, participant engagement, nutrition education, field monitoring and participant surveys.
Community Partners
Local government units, local health units, barangay leaders and community organizations supporting local coordination, participant engagement and community ownership.
United in Purpose
Behind every program is a team committed to improving nutrition for women, adolescent girls and children while strengthening the capacity of communities to create lasting change.
Combining expertise in international development, nutrition, food science, governance, education and community implementation, MCHN provides strategic leadership while working with Philippine-based teams and proposed collaborators to build practical, evidence-informed and locally led solutions.
MCHN retains overall program governance, strategic direction, donor accountability, financial oversight and performance monitoring. Philippine-based teams and collaborating institutions are intended to lead local implementation, community engagement and evidence-generation activities.
Executive Leadership
Francis Andres
Founder & Executive Director
Francis brings more than 30 years of international experience, including six years based in the Philippines, ten years of assignments in the Middle East and North Africa, and three years in the United States, together with broader leadership and oversight experience across Asia-Pacific, Europe and Latin America. His experience spans agrifood systems, nutrition, functional foods and nutraceuticals, regulatory affairs, product innovation, international market development and multi-stakeholder partnership development.
As Founder and Executive Director of the Maternal & Child Health & Nutrition Society, Francis provides strategic leadership in governance, partnership development, resource stewardship and evidence-informed program design. His international experience includes engagement with Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service and work on behalf of a Canadian non-profit producer organization that contributed to securing approximately CAD $10 million in federal support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. His professional development includes Lean Six Sigma Black Belt training, Contract Law studies and Global Health - HarvardX (EdX).
Cristina Andres
International Development Advisor
Cristina is an award-winning communications strategist with expertise in international development, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications. She holds a Certificate in International Development from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a Certificate in Public Relations and Communications from Mount Royal University.
Her experience spans partnership development, donor engagement, and public communications, helping organizations build trusted relationships across governments, academic institutions, foundations, and community organizations. She works to ensure that Mary's Cradle remains community-centered, culturally responsive, and aligned with international development best practices while effectively communicating its mission, impact, and long-term vision.
Jet Parma
Country Operations Advisor
Jet is a community development leader with expertise in sustainable agriculture, food systems and local partnership development. Working closely with community organizations, local leaders and implementation partners, he translates strategy into effective community action.
His leadership strengthens operational planning, local coordination and long-term community capacity, ensuring programs remain responsive to local priorities and sustainable over time.
Bella Javier
Nutrition, Food Science & Innovation Advisor
Bella has an extensive leadership & international experience in food science, research and product innovation. Her expertise spans consumer research, formulation, manufacturing processes, quality systems and product commercialization.
She provides technical guidance that helps ensure Mary's Cradle delivers fortified nutrition support that meets internationally recognized standards for safety, nutrition and quality, believing that innovation achieves its greatest value when it improves the lives of families and communities.
Benjamin Barretto
Community Engagement Advisor
Benjamin is an educator and community development leader with extensive experience in higher education, civic leadership and volunteer engagement. His background includes leadership roles in academia, local government and faith-based volunteer organizations.
He strengthens relationships with local governments, universities and community organizations, building collaborative partnerships that support effective implementation, community participation and long-term sustainability.
He supports relationships with local governments, universities and community organizations to strengthen community engagement, participation and long-term sustainability.
Community Implementation Team
Working directly with families, barangay leaders and community partners, our Community Implementation Team brings Mary's Cradle to life. Through participant recruitment, nutrition education, household engagement, surveys and day-to-day field operations, they build trusted relationships that strengthen community participation and ensure the program is delivered with compassion, consistency and accountability.
Herminia Gapuz
Community Implementation Lead
Herminia will lead local field coordination, participant engagement and volunteer coordination. Her finance background will also support implementation tracking and local expenditure monitoring within MCHN’s overall financial oversight framework.
Gavina Balakit
Community Outreach & Education Coordinator
Gavina will coordinate adolescent engagement, participant outreach and community education activities and support the development of locally adapted communication and educational materials.
Lilibeth Donato
Community Engagement Coordinator
Lilibeth will support participant outreach, family engagement and community surveys. Her experience working with persons with disabilities (PWD) will help strengthen inclusive community participation and attention to vulnerable families.
