Take Five with MGA's Marietta Latonio

In our latest interview, where we invite you to get to know the staff of Mercy International Association, we feature Marietta Llanos-Latonio from our Mercy Global Action team. Marietta sat down with MIA's Brenda Drumm to respond to our Take Five Questions.

Brenda: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and where you are in the world?

Marietta: I am Marietta Llanos-Latonio from Cebu, Philippines. Professionally, I am a registered social worker and finished my Masters studies with a thesis entitled Therapeutic Responses of Government and Non-Government Organizations to Women Victims of Human Trafficking in Cebu City: A proposal for Comprehensive and Integrated Approach.

I finished my undergraduate education as Cum Laude and topped the government licensure examination for social workers as the sixth placer.

In 2017, I was awarded as the Woman of Courage by the UNANIMA International at the United Nations.

I have co-edited a book with Sr Angela Reed RSM in 2024, entitled I Have A Voice: Trafficked Women in their Own Words.

I have also been a lead researcher and a co-researcher for quite a few research activities locally and internationally. I presented the findings of some of the research in the United Nations as representative of Mercy Global Action and a government representative. I also presented the research findings in the Embassy of the Philippines in DC, USA, Canberra, Australia and Bangkok, Thailand.

I have worked with the Government of the Philippines in different capacities of being a social worker. I have also authored a Manual of Operations for community projects for the Philippine government and for non-government organizations. I have also been a speaker to different events locally in relation to the issue of human trafficking.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I organized a couple of webinars to uplift the relationship amongst people as I am also a board member of the Philippine Mental Health Association-Cebu Chapter.

Recently I have been involved in organising a movement of like-minded people to help street children in Cebu City to influence them to finish education.

Personally, I am married and have three grown-up children and two grandchildren.

Brenda: What is your role/job with Mercy Global Action and what motivates you to be involved in the world of mercy and justice?

Marietta: Early in 2015, I volunteered and participated in the different activities of Mercy Global Action.  One of these was to co-present with Sr Angela Reed RSM at the United Nations during the Commission on the Status of Women on the findings of the research on the vulnerabilities of women to human trafficking in the Philippines which I also co-researched with her in Cebu City in 2011.

I was there during the conception of the project of the MGA on “Extending Mercy Women’s Sphere of Influence” which was later known as the Mercy Emerging Leaders Fellowship (MELF) Program and became Program Facilitator in 2019, a role I held until 2022 when I became its Program Coordinator/Manager.

From 2022 until the present I have been a staff member doing mainly the activities for the MELF Program but at the same time working as a team member contributing to the efficiency of the office.

As a MELF manager, I oversee the whole operation of the program from planning, collaboration with stakeholders, its implementation and evaluation. I have facilitated all the MELF Cohorts from 1-5.

From my experience of being in the program, year by year, my curiosity grows and I feel more deeply engaged in providing and opening avenues for enriching women of mercy using mercy lens in their leadership style.

I am most grateful for the transformation I feel from being involved in a program that engages with diverse women from different cultures and traditions.

This transformation led me to strive hard to make the program valuable to the Mercy World and achieve its main objective of providing a supportive space for women to harness their Mercy leadership at their own pace thus, leading them to become the leaders that Catherine McAuley had always dreamed of.

Brenda: The MELF Programme is such a wonderful initiative of MGA - what has your experience of it been over the last numbers of years?

Marietta: The MELF program has contributed to me becoming a strong leader, yet doing it in gentle ways.

It is a huge privilege to work with ten diverse women every year on the MELF Programme.

I have always placed myself in the shoes of women who have already gotten some leadership skills and are leaders of their own but are still seeking for more, to be doing it using the mercy lens and values.

I have loved my role and work as a MELF program manager as it has taught me to be humble. Having worked in an international setting is something to be proud of yet it is to be cared for and nurtured and for that, I have to be alert to whatever the program or job requires of me.

MELF has inspired me to be merciful in my own way, cultivating my inner desire to be living in humility and giving praises to the Higher One in every step of my way.

Brenda: What's happening for you at the moment in Mercy Global Action?

Marietta: At the moment my work is focusing on the final preparations for the presentation of Research by MELF Cohort Four and for their Graduation – all of which will take place in Dublin as part of their final Immersion Experience with us in late August and early September.

I am also busy with lots of finalizing of all of the pieces that have to come together for the Dublin Immersion Experience.

I would encourage you to check in on the research topics that MELF COhort will present on 1st and 2nd September and to attend in-person or online. Registration is open now on the www.mercyworld.org website.

Looking ahead to later in the Autumn, I am keeping a close eye on our first Immersion Experience for MELF Cohort 5 which takes place in Cambodia in September.

It is a busy time but the work is engaging and fulfilling.

Brenda: What is your favourite quote and why?

A quote from Catherine McAuley which says “We must strive to do ordinary things extraordinarily well” always strikes a chord with me.

I am a person who tries to make things better and sometimes doubts whether what I have done is enough.  For years I have clung to the idea that humility is a virtue, and I do things with good intention.

I must be reminded of Catherine McAuley’s instructions that whatever we do, no matter how small it is, when it is done with compassion and love, it becomes great.

Marietta Latonio

Thanks Marietta for your generous sharing - it's been great to let our Mercy Family get to know you a little bit more.