She previously served as a member of the House of Representatives for South Cotabato's 1st district from 1992 to 2001.

Antonino served as the representative of the 1st district of South Cotabato for three consecutive terms (9th to 11th Congress) from 1992 to 2001.

In September 2010, Antonino was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), making her the first woman to hold that post.

[2] Antonino was born in Upi (now in Maguindanao del Norte) and raised in Kiamba (now in Sarangani)—back then, both towns were in the undivided Cotabato province.

After obtaining her master's, she was hired as an economic and statistical analyst at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in New York City.