As we celebrate National Women’s Month this March, eWalkthrough, through its #WomenWednesday series, shines a spotlight on the women of First Balfour. Since 2020, we have highlighted women making a difference across departments and disciplines by sharing their stories, insights, and journeys.
Kicking off this year’s series is Atty. Aleezah Gertrude R. Regado, REB, REA, Associate Legal Counsel of the Legal and Contracts Department, whose path reflects courage, curiosity, and a commitment to excellence—both in her professional life and beyond.
Tell us about your role. My role as Associate Legal Counsel in the Legal and Contracts Department extends beyond traditional legal practice. We provide strategic support to the various departments and subsidiaries of First Balfour. Acting as an empowerment hub, the legal department ensures the company’s ambitions are built on a solid foundation through legal advice, contract reviews, and collaborative problem-solving.
What’s a typical work day like for you? My day begins with a moment of intentionality, starting with a cold cup of coffee and a guided meditation followed by agenda setting. At work, my first priority is our team, I check in to manage workloads and to foster a culture of support. Considering that we are a supporting department, much of my day is spent in cross-departmental collaboration. I usually end my day fter work with either football, bouldering, or tennis, treating my physical health with the same discipline as my professional duties—believing that a strong body fuels a sharp mind.
What inspires and empowers you in your work? I am deeply inspired by my parents, who taught me that hard work drives personal and professional growth. As an only child, they have always been my north star. What truly empowers me is the embrace of the unknown. I operate under the philosophy that “I don’t know everything, and therefore there is so much to learn.” I have been taught to approach life with the curiosity of a child. I thrive in the discomfort of not being “the best” yet, because that is where growth lives.
What challenges (personal or professional) have you overcome that made you who you are today? In college, I hit an unexpected wall. As a grade conscious student with a lot of extra curricular activities, I thought I had life figured out—until I failed a subject and was told I “just wasn’t bright.” That moment could have defined me, but instead, I chose to hold onto it as a compass. I realized that while brightness might be a gift of birth, grit is a gift of the will. I obsessed over the truth that life favors those who outwork the narrative, and carried that fire through law school, graduating with Second Honors. Being “gritty” became my horizon, not a ceiling.
My character was further forged by loss. I grew up mostly with my grandparents, thus, their sudden deaths left me reeling with grief, yet I had to rise to the occasion—coordinating funerals, supporting my grieving family, while striving to live a life well lived. These losses stripped away the illusion of “later,” teaching me to live with radical intentionality; I work hard, love hard, and live fully, knowing that a single moment is all we truly own.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a woman in your career? The legal and construction industries can feel built for a different kind of voice—one that is traditionally loud and male. Walking into those spaces as the exception can be intimidating, but I’ve learned that being the exception is exactly why our voice is needed. A woman’s strength doesn’t have to be forceful; it can be quiet, resilient, and authentic. I’ve watched the women I admire move mountains not by being the loudest, but through grit, passion, and compassion. I’ve learned that while an “edge” may open a door, it’s persistent kindness and heart that build a legacy. I’m proud to prove every day that softness and strength can live in the same person.
What vision do you have for women at First Balfour? My vision is for women of First Balfour to lead with radical confidence in their authentic selves. We are part of an organization that values excellence, and I see a future where excellence is fueled by a diverse tapestry of leadership where no woman feels the need to mimic traditional, rigid archetypes of power to be heard or to be influential. May we all find the courage to try, the room to grow, and the freedom to discover that our best version isn’t just a destination–it is a journey to be lived.
Aleezah’s path was set early. When her grandfather asked what she wanted to be, she boldly asked which path was the hardest. When he said it was probably law, her fearless childhood confidence led her to promise that she would conquer it. She began at San Beda University with a degree in Legal Management and later graduated with her Juris Doctor degree at Ateneo Law School. After passing the Bar in 2022, she earned a degree in Real Estate Management from iAcademy and is now also a real estate licensed broker and appraiser. Today, as a government scholar pursuing a Master’s in Public Safety Administration, she continues to bridge her knowledge in the corporate field with national policy development.
Aleezah Regado with her parents, Mr. Alex Regado and Mrs. Emilie Regado, at San Beda University for her graduation.
Outside the office, Aleezah’s life mirrors her professional ethos: fearless, curious, and wide-ranging. She scales rock walls, hikes trails, dives into the deep, and soars through the skies in ultralight planes or paragliders. She’s even learning to ride horses and pilot a Cessna. “I don’t just try new things,” she says. “I immerse myself in them to remind myself that life, and leadership, can be perceived through a thousand different lenses.”
These experiences are more than hobbies, they shape how she lives and collaborates. Years spent as a working student after law school taught her radical time management and discipline, proving that human capacity is expandable. Sports like football have honed her communication skills, while her perpetual beginner’s mindset keeps her humble and attuned to the unique pace of others. “Maintaining balance allows me to contribute better, to work better,” she says.
A seeker of new horizons and experiences, Aleezah has learned to fly a Cessna and enjoys hiking, horseback riding, playing football, and many other activities.
For Aleezah, every challenge—on the field, in the skies, or at work—is an opportunity to grow, to see the world through new perspectives, and to inspire others to do the same. Her journey is a vivid reminder that ambition, curiosity, and courage are not just traits, but guiding lights toward a life richly lived.
