Atty. Charito L. Planas is an environmentalist, (a Jardinera at heart); a lawyer and a former government official. She has been an active socio-civic, government and political figure for the last 70 years.
She was elected Vice Mayor of Quezon City in 1992 – 1995. She served as Undersecretary in the Office of the President in 2010-2011 and was also Executive Director and Trustee of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation from 2001 to 2011. Atty. Planas is as passionate as her passion to serve. Without consideration for the perks and benefits of the position, she serves with all her heart, mind, body, not to mention her voluntary use of her own resources, if needed, and works even beyond the normal office schedule. She is a known graft-buster and an action lady, and famous for her quite unorthodox manner of running her office insofar as expenditures are concerned, always looking for measures to save funds and doing things with dispatch and eradicating red tape in the government. In her years of service, Atty. Planas have received awards and constant commendations from prominent figures in government.
She was the President of the QC Parks Development Foundation (an NGO) from 1988 to present and was the prime mover in developing that once jungle-looking Quezon Memorial Circle and transforming it into a wholesome family park complete with various amenities for wellness sports family recreation continuing education arts & culture. She is still active with the Girls Scouts of the Philippines, QC Council for the past 40 years, active member and past official of the YWCA, she first founded the Soroptomist Club of Greater Manila, IBP 1st Secretary-Treasurer and first woman Director of Phil. Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands.
Atty. Planas enjoys hosting in radio programs and actively participating in a weekly forum of various media groups. By January 2012, she joined the UNTV family as a programs host and can be heard in UNTV Radio La Verdad 1350 in her program “Bakit?” which tackles current events and issues in our country. Despite the fact that she came from a privileged background, Atty. Planas grew up to be a natural people-person with a soft heart for the poor and the children of poor families who are deprived of a better chance at life. She goes out of her way to help our less-fortunate fellowmen, always thinking of ways, projects, etc for the benefit of the poor. These and more, she continuously performs without any fanfare or publicity.
