She graduated at the top of her Philosophy class at the University of the Philippines in 1989. In 1995, she earned a Master’s degree in Philosophy from the same university, where she also received her law diploma in 1999.
That essentially sums up the inspiring academic profile of Darlene Marie Berberabe, widow of the late basketball legend Samboy Lim.
A natural risk-taker, Berberabe considered teaching law at her alma mater after graduation. Eventually, she became the dean of the UP College of Law.
According to her, she has embraced risk throughout her life. “I knew I wanted to be a lawyer, but by the time I graduated [from the Philosophy department], UP did not have any female teachers. So I applied, and they hired me.”
Her first job after law school, however, was with Baker McKenzie in Manila as an associate lawyer specializing in labor law. Later, she joined Procter & Gamble Philippines as senior counsel, a role she held for about six years.
Berberabe served as a senior lecturer at the UP College of Law and the Philippine Judicial Academy.
In 2010, then-President Benigno Aquino III appointed Berberabe as president and chief executive of the Home Development Mutual Fund, also known as the Pag-IBIG Fund.
Saying “yes” to the President wasn’t easy because P&G also offered her a lucrative role in Singapore. Ultimately, Berberabe chose to stay in Manila, where she believed she could make a meaningful difference in the lives of fellow Filipinos.
She admitted she was initially apprehensive because she had no experience in housing. But she trusted her ability to learn on the job.
“I said to myself, I know that I am hardworking, that I could learn on the job; I know that I’m not corrupt—and that was very, very clear to me, so I thought, okay, maybe government could make good use of the skill set that I have.”
Berberabe stayed at Pag-IBIG for six years before deciding to return to the private sector. On Feb. 29, 2017, just a day after stepping down from Pag-IBIG, she joined Philab Industries, a service provider in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, education and research.
She served as president and chief executive of Philab until Oct. 9, 2017.
In April 2021, Berberabe was elected an independent director of the board of SM Prime Holdings. In addition to her legal and academic achievements, she has held leadership roles in Joy-Nostalg Solaris Inc., Palm Concepcion Power Corp., P.A. Alvarez Properties, Katapult Digital, and UnionDigital Bank. She is also a faculty member at the Philippine Judicial Academy.
In 2023, she became dean of the UP College of Law.
Berberabe’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. Her accolades include being named Outstanding CEO in Asia by ADFIAP, Outstanding CEO in the Public Sector by Asia CEO, one of the Ten Outstanding Women in Nation Service in 2013, and one of the 100 Most Influential Filipino Women in 2014.
Berberabe said she was grateful to have been there for Samboy Lim during his most challenging moments, particularly following a heart attack that left him hospitalized.
Helping Samboy in a life-or-death situation, she said, was “not a burden but a grace.”
