Meet the Founder
Dr. Rica Cruz
Changing how Asia talks about sex, love, and relationships.
First Filipino Diplomate in Clinical Sexology
Consulting Editor, Journal of Sex Research
Founder & CEO, Unprude
For more than 15 years, Dr. Rica Cruz has brought science, clinical practice, and public education together to make conversations about sex, love, and relationships more informed, responsible, and respectful across Asia.
Watch / Listen to Her BBC Interview
A career built on breaking new ground
Firsts That Open Doors for Many More
Dr. Cruz is the first Filipino Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Sexology — a major milestone for the professional practice of sexology in the Philippines.
She is also the first person from the Global South to serve as a Consulting Editor of the Journal of Sex Research, one of the world's leading scientific journals on sexuality.
Trained at World-Leading Institutions
She holds a PhD in Psychology and has pursued advanced training through these institutions. Her research explores sexual satisfaction, sex guilt, and women's pleasure, with a focus on sexuality within culturally conservative societies.
From science to social impact
Bringing Sexuality Into Real Life
Dr. Cruz translates complex conversations about sex, love, and relationships into language people can understand and use, from the therapy room and classroom to television, radio, podcasts, conferences, and community programs.
She has worked with UN Women, leading NGOs, healthcare organizations, schools, and corporate partners on sex education, reproductive health, and gender-based violence prevention.
Through Unprude, she is also helping address the shortage of trained sexuality professionals in the region by training the next generation of sexologists and sexuality educators.
“We were never silent about sex. We were just taught to talk about it with shame or reduce it to something lewd. It’s time we learn to talk about sex from a place of love, care, and respect.”
Dr. Rica Cruz
In the media
A Familiar Voice in the Conversation
She started talking about sex publicly as the regular sex therapist of a popular radio show, Boys Night Out on Magic 89.9. In 2020, she pioneered the first sex podcast in the Philippines, Conservative Ako. Since then, she has hosted several TV and radio shows including Love and Sex in the Metro, The Sexy Minds, Feelings on OnePH, and Private Convos with Doc Rica.
Through her shows, guestings, and talks, she brings conversations about sex, love, and relationships to wider audiences — making trusted information more accessible and mainstream.
Recognized for leadership and impact
Awards and Accolades
Her work in sexual health, research, education, and entrepreneurship has received recognition across Asia and internationally.
Cosmopolitan Women of Influence Award, 2026
Tatler Asia Front & Female Award for Well-Being, 2024
Femtech Asia Stars Award, 2024
KMC Solutions Emerging Leader of the Year, 2024
Under her leadership, Unprude was named Grand Champion of the Philippine round of She Loves Tech 2024 and placed third in the Southeast Asia regional competition.
Her research has also received international recognition. Her study, The Wife, the Mother, and the Slut, received the inaugural award and travel grant for early-career professionals from marginalized groups from the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the Journal of Sex Research.
Dr. Rica has been featured by Tatler Asia, MEGA, Cosmopolitan, Metro, Rappler, South China Morning Post and the BBC, among other media platforms. She also serves on Smart Parenting’s Board of Experts, contributing her expertise in psychology, relationships, and sexual health.
A stronger why
Turning Resistance Into Purpose
Building a career around sex, love, and relationships in a conservative culture has meant facing criticism, censorship, and resistance.
These experiences only reinforced what her work has shown: when informed conversation is restricted, misinformation and shame have more room to grow.
Instead of backing down, the pushback fueled her commitment to create more spaces for honest, informed, and respectful conversation.
The founder behind Unprude
Making Access Possible
Dr. Cruz founded Unprude to close the gap between the questions people have and the support they need.
Unprude brings together trusted information, professional support, healthcare services, education, and sexual wellness products — all in one place.
It's the next chapter of a mission to make sexual health and well-being more accessible across Asia.
Read more about her
Her mission
Make trusted sexual health and well-being accessible to everybody.
And ultimately, build sexually respectful, unprude societies.
Rica