Body of Work in Privacy and Data Protection
LIGHTS consultants work extensively on privacy and data protection as evidenced by the following prior and current engagements:
-
Development of a sustainable Privacy Program for the Ateneo de Manila University (ongoing), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (ongoing), a remittance company (ongoing), a non-life insurance provider, and car dealership companies
-
Conduct of a privacy impact assessment on specific data processing systems, including a national health expenditure survey, tuberculosis information systems, and related monitoring and evaluation activities
-
Conduct of a Data Privacy Act Compliance Workshop to various regional units of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, a universal bank, a global digital solutions provider across mobile, web, cloud, and legacy platforms, a medium-sized law firm, a private university and its adjunct level 3 medical center, and numerous non-profit organisations
-
Expert advice at consultations by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, World Bank, Facebook, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Meta, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Health, and other government agencies
-
Speaking engagements in various international forums such as the 2021 Stockholm Internet Forum, 2015 Internet Governance Forum (Brazil), 2016 Asia-Pacific Internet Governance Forum (Taiwan), 2016 and 2019 The Citizen Lab Summer Institute (Canada), and at side events to the 2019 Human Rights Council 37th ordinary session (Switzerland) and the 2017 International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners (Hong Kong)
-
Speaking engagements in various domestic forums such as those organized by the National Privacy Commission, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Bureau of Internal Revenue, EU-Philippines Business Network, UP Law Internet and Society Program, Association of Municipal Health Officers of the Philippines, and the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates
-
DPA Lectures at various teaching and educational institutions such as the University of the Philippines Law Center, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law, San Beda University College of Law, the Ateneo de Naga School of Law, University of Santo Tomas, and the Lyceum of the Philippines University
-
Expert opinion to various media outlets, such as the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, Rappler Philippines, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN News, GMA News, PhilStar.com, Interakyson, MSN News, SPOT.PH, and Reportr World
The Team
Privacy Advocates
.png)
Jamael Jacob
Executive Director
Jam is a recognised authority in data protection. He is an IAPP Fellow of Information Privacy (CIPP/E, CIPM, FIP) and an ISO Privacy Information Management System - Senior Lead Implementer. He has over 13 years of experience in the field and 16 years of practicing law. Today, he is the Data Protection Officer of the Ateneo de Manila University, and acts as Policy and Legal Advisor of the Foundation for Media Alternatives.
A former policy unit head of the National Privacy Commission, he is now a regular resource person at various forums and to news organisations, both domestic and foreign. He maintains a column at GMA News Online and has also contributed to Rappler Philippines and Newsbytes.PH.
He has degrees in Sociology and Law from the University of the Philippines, an LL.M from the University of Auckland, and has taken the Summer Course on US-EU Privacy Law and Policy at the University of Amsterdam.
Jihan has played a key role in the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights through legal and advocacy strategies in Asia. She has worked on issues like abortion, maternal health, and assisted reproduction. In her previous role at the Center for Reproductive Rights, she ensured technical excellence and coherence in the Center’s strategic litigation and innovation in legal strategies in the region. She also gained extensive experience working with international actors, including donors, UN bodies and agencies, and organizations working in different countries.
​
Her articles have been published at the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics and at the Canadian Woman Studies. She also co-authored a book chapter for a research handbook on international abortion law in 2023.
​
Jihan is a Steering Committee member of the Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network. She obtained her LL.M under the International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Programme at the University of Toronto. She has also worked as a law professor at the San Beda University, and a government lawyer representing indigent clients. She has been practicing law for over 15 years.
Senior Privacy Advisor
Ivy Patdu
on leave
Ivy D. Patdu is a physician, a lawyer, and a privacy practitioner. She served as Deputy Commissioner of the National Privacy Commission, providing her expertise in the development of the Implementing Rules of the Data Privacy Act, other agency issuances, and the DPO ACE Training Program.
​
She also practices as medicolegal, handling risk management for healthcare providers, and serves as lawyer for doctors and hospitals.
She earned her degrees in medicine and law from the University of the Philippines-Manila and the Ateneo law school, respectively. She also completed her Masters in Hospital Administration from UP Manila. She is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional.
Maristela Miranda
Senior Associate
Maris is a Senior Associate at the LIGHTS Institute. She regularly assists organizations and their data protection units with the development and implementation of their respective privacy programs. Her current areas of focus are privacy impact assessments and data subject engagement.
She was a former member of the National Privacy Commission’s Privacy Policy Office. She conducts research and helps write articles on data protection, including briefing papers, primers, and other guidance documents. She occasionally contributes op-eds to GMA News Online and serves as a trainer and resource speaker in various forums and events.
Maris is an IAPP Certified Information Privacy Manager, an ISO Certified Lead Implementer of Privacy Information Management Systems, an ISO Certified Lead Risk Manager, an alumna of the Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy, and a former Fellow of the Asia Pacific Region Internet Governance Forum. She has a degree in Community Development from the University of the Philippines, where she also earned her post-graduate units in Urban and Regional Planning.
Shari Datu Tambuyung
Junior Privacy Advisor
Shari is an IAPP Certified Information Privacy Manager and an ISO Certified Lead Implementer of Privacy Information Management Systems. She is currently the Deputy Data Protection Officer of the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU). Prior to her current role, she worked as a former Development Management Officer of the National Privacy Commission, serving under its Policy Development Division, and as overall sectoral champion for the retail industry.
​
She occasionally writes for GMA News Online and for the website of AdMU’s University Data Protection Office. She has organized and conducted orientation sessions relating to privacy and data protection. At the same time, she has attended various activities taking up human rights issues, with many focusing on privacy rights and other civil liberties.
Shari completed her undergraduate studies at Miriam College, where she earned a degree in Business Administration.
Jen Paguntalan-Balane
Trainer
Jen works as a Senior Legal Counsel for the Ateneo de Manila University. A lawyer by profession, she has been in practice for twelve years, initially as in-house counsel for private companies and later as a partner in her law firm. Outside of data protection, she also specializes in general corporate law and banking. She also handles labor, compliance, and corporate housekeeping issues as counsel for various corporations.
Jen earned her degrees in Economics and Law from the University of the Philippines.
Jihan Jacob
Senior Advisor
