Emi Rubiano

In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is Gallardo, the birth surname or paternal family name is Calixto, and the marital name is Rubiano.

Imelda Gallardo Calixto-Rubiano (born August 16, 1960), known as Emi Rubiano, is a Filipino businesswoman and politician currently serving as mayor of Pasay since 2019. She previously served as a member of the House of Representatives for the lone district of Pasay from 2010 until 2019, and city councilor from 1998 until 2004, and again from 2007 until 2010.

Emi Rubiano
14th Mayor of Pasay
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2019
Vice Mayor	Noel Del Rosario (2019–2022) Waldetrudes del Rosario (2022–2025) Mark Anthony Calixto (2025-present)
Preceded by	Antonino Calixto
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Pasay
In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2019
Preceded by	Jose Antonio Roxas
Succeeded by	Antonino Calixto
Member of the Pasay City Council
In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2010
In office June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2004
Personal details
Born	Imelda Gallardo Calixto (1960-08-16) August 16, 1960 (age 64) Pasay, Rizal, Philippines
Political party	PFP (2023–present)
Other political affiliations	PDP–Laban (2017–2023) Liberal (2009–2017) LDP (2000–2009) LAMMP (1997–2000)
Spouse	Edgardo Rubiano ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Santo Tomas (BA)

Rubiano is the daughter of former OIC-Mayor of Pasay, Eduardo Calixto, sister of former mayor and incumbent congressman Antonino Calixto, and aunt of Vice Mayor Mark Anthony Calixto.

Early life and education

Imelda Calixto was born on August 16, 1960, in Pasay City as the youngest of the five children of Eduardo Calixto and Leonora Gallardo Calixto.^[1] She was educated at the Malate Catholic School at primary and secondary level and obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioral Science at the University of Santo Tomas in 1982. She took up Fashion Designing at the International School of Fashion in Greenhills, San Juan and the Office Procedure Course at the Cora Doloroso Career Centre.^[2] After graduation, she got involved in her father's business that was involved in marine engineering, pier construction, marine pipe-laying and marine salvaging. She was involved as well as in her own family business which was manufacturing clothes, multi-level marketing and jewelry.^[3]

Career

In 1986, Calixto-Rubiano became a private secretary to her father, Eduardo Calixto, during his term as Officer-in-Charge Mayor of Pasay. She became city councilor for second district of Pasay from 1998 until 2004 and again from 2007 until 2010. During her term as councilor, she made various projects, including feeding programs, free medical and dental check-up, and others.

She also ran for representative for the lone district of Pasay in 2004 under Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino but lost to incumbent representative Connie Dy.^[4] After the loss, she became the head of the Pasay City Social Welfare Department in 2005.^[2]

Congresswoman

Rubiano was elected representative for the lone district of Pasay in the House of Representatives, after she defeated incumbent representative Jose Antonio "Lito" Roxas, who sought for his second term, in 2010. She was re-elected in 2013 and in 2016.

Mayor of Pasay

On May 13, 2019, Rubiano was elected as mayor in the 2019 elections, after she received 125,391 votes. She was sworn in as mayor on June 30, 2019.^[5] She is the first female city mayor in the history of Pasay. She led the Pasay City Government especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was successfully reelected in 2022 after she received 147,661 votes.^[6] She is running for re-election in 2025 and later won.^[7]

Controversies

In January 2019, Rubiano, along with four other officials, including her brother, was charged for being related to alleged fiscal anomalies in 2015, 2016, and 2017.^[8]

Personal life

Rubiano married Edgardo Rubiano on December 18, 1982. They have three children: Nicole, Lesley Anne, and Luigi.^[2] Their son Luigi is also in politics, serving as an incumbent Pasay city councilor from the 2nd district since 2025.^[7]

Rubiano announced on February 9, 2021, that she tested positive for COVID-19.^[9] On January 2, 2022, it was announced that she tested positive for COVID-19 anew; she was an asymptomatic carrier after having a sore throat which she always had.^[10]