When she won the mayoralty race via a landslide victory in 2004, she gauned leadership of no ordinary city.

Before her helm, Las Piñas is already a multi- awarded city, ran on world- class standards by no less than her husband, the former Mayor Vergel "Nene" Aguilar. But then Mayor Mel is herself no ordinary woman. And she is taking on this new role in the same manner she had taken on all the other roles and challenges that came her way- with flourish and grace.

She was born Imelda Tobias to parents Andres V. Tobias and Angelina Tolentino, both residents of Las Piñas. She took up BS Education at the University of Sto . Tomas. After graduation in 1967, she taught for seven years at the Zapote Elementary School . On July 26, 1969, she married Nene Aguilar. They have 4 children- April, Aivee, Alelee and Ann Vigil.

In 1995, when Nene Aguilar was elected City Mayor, Mrs. Mel Aguilar had to take on the dual role of President and Chief Executive Officer of the family-owned realty business, Veraville Development Corporation and First Lady of Las Piñas City.

The first became proof of her sterling management skills as well as her ability to weather even the most trying of times. Her dedication and hard work had won her the approval and admiration of her peers. Her concern for employees' welfare had gained her the respect and loyalty of her subordinates. Her combination of keen business sense and exemplary people skills made VAA Builders the largest housing developer in the Southern part of Metro Manila.

In her second and more daunting role as the First Lady of Las Piñas, being mother of a city just discovering its possibilities, Mrs. Mel Aguilar found her hands full of various projects aimed at supporting Mayor Nene's vision for the highly urbanized city.

She first took on the stewardship of the Clean and Green project of the city. Only after one year, her efforts were rewarded when Las Piñas was adjudged the Cleanest and Greenest City in the National Capital Region in 1996, the award consistently won the three years that followed. Now, Las Piñas is permanently installed in the Clean and Green Hall of Fame. The city was also awarded by the United Nations Environmental Program in 2000 for its efforts in protecting the environment.