News that Atty. Margarita Gutierrez, 43, is set to marry FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe Llamanzares, 34, on September 8, 2026 has sparked public curiosity about the accomplished lawyer behind the headlines.
While many know Brian as the son of former Senator Grace Poe and businessman Neil Llamanzares, Margarita has quietly built an impressive career in public service, law, media, and advocacy long before their engagement became public.
Following in her mother's footsteps
Public service runs in Margarita's family.
She is the daughter of former Department of Justice secretary and former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, one of the country's most prominent legal figures.
Like her mother, Margarita pursued law at Ateneo de Manila University before embarking on a career in government.
Today, she serves as an Undersecretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ), where she is currently the only woman holding the position.
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From the runway to the courtroom
Before establishing herself in the legal profession, Margarita also ventured into modeling and pageantry.
She once worked as a ramp model and eventually became president of the Professional Models Association of the Philippines (PMAP).
In 2004, she finished second runner-up in the prestigious Bodyshots competition.
Four years later, at age 24, she competed in the Binibining Pilipinas 2008 pageant, where Jennifer Barrientos was crowned Bb. Pilipinas Universe and Janina San Miguel won Bb. Pilpinas World.
Although she eventually chose a different path, her experiences in modeling and pageantry helped shape the confidence she now brings to public service.
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Lawyer, TV host, columnist, pAGEANT
Despite her demanding responsibilities at the DOJ, Margarita has remained active in media.
She hosts Attorney On Air, a legal affairs segment on IBC-13's morning program Treze Mornings, where she simplifies legal issues for ordinary Filipinos.
She also appears on PTV4's Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.
She is also the author of Ad Meliora, her regular column in the Daily Tribune, where she writes about legal, social, and public policy issues.
Margarita also serves as chairperson and chief advocacy officer of the newly launched national beauty pageant, The Miss Philippines.
On its official Facebook page, The Miss Philippines greeted Margarita on her birthday, which she celebrates today, July 13.
A promise that became a lifelong advocacy
Beyond her professional achievements, Margarita is perhaps most passionate about helping incarcerated mothers.
Her advocacy traces back to an experience she had as a third-year high school student, when she and her classmates visited the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City.
In a January 2025 interview with Esquire Philippines, she recalled being deeply affected after learning that many of the inmates had resorted to theft because of extreme poverty.
"One thing that stuck with me was that most of them are moms," she said.
"Many of them said they stole because they had nothing to feed their families. I know it doesn't justify what they did, but I couldn't help thinking that if they weren't living in such poverty, they might never have resorted to stealing."
The experience stayed with her long after she left the prison gates.
She made a personal promise that one day, as a lawyer, she would return to help women like them.
Years later, she fulfilled that commitment by providing free legal assistance and championing programs for mothers behind bars.
As she told Esquire: "Some people think I have political ambitions. But the truth is, I promised the women in CIW when I was in high school, 'When I become a lawyer, I'll help you.' This is my commitment."
Today, whether serving as a DOJ undersecretary, educating the public through television and print, or advocating for vulnerable women, Margarita Gutierrez has built a career defined not only by legal expertise but also by a promise she made as a teenager—one she continues to honor even as she prepares for a new chapter in her personal life.
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