Leading Filipino Women: Aurora Aragon Quezon

Aurora Aragon Quezon

Mother of the Philippine Red Cross

(1888 - 1949)

           Aurora Aragon Quezon was the wife of President Manuel L. Quezon. She devoted many years of her life in welfare work especially with the Red Cross here. Her life was rich with acts of thoughtfulness and service for the poor and the needy.


Dona Aurora and the Red Cross
         When you see our Red Cross anywhere you should think of Aurora Aragon Quezon. For Dona Aurora was like Florence Nightingale, the self-sacrificing Lady with the Lamp who nursed the soldiers.
         Aurora Aragon Quezon was the daughter of the Aragons, an old and respected family of Tayabas (now Quezon). She was born in Baler on February 19, 1888. As a young girl she went to a Catholic school.
         She intended to become a teacher and went to Manila to study in the Philippine Normal School. But the fate had other plans for her. She met again the attractive Manuel L. Quezon, whom she knew as a child in Baler. They fell in love with each other, and in 1918 were married in Hong Kong, where she had gone for a summer vacation.


As A Wife
         The years that followed were busy ones for the young wife of the rising statesman. Manuel L. Quezon called his wife a model wife. She cheered him when he was worried with his problems. She offered helpful suggestions to him. She helped her husband carry out plans for the welfare of the poor and the needy.


As A Mother
         Aurora Aragon Quezon made a happy home for her husband. Three of their four children Maria, Aurora, Zenaida, and Manuel grew up to be healthy and intelligent members of this famous family. One of the Quezon children died at the age of two. Mrs. Quezon was a gentle and loving mother who taught her children to be kind, religious, and thoughtful of others.


The First Lady
         In 1935 Manuel Quezon was elected the first President of the Commonwealth. Dona Aurora thus became the First Lady of the Land. She continued to work for the welfare of everyone. Even high officials of the government went to her to help or advice when they disagreed with the President.
        She thought of different ways of helping the poor. Every Christmas Dona Aurora threw open the grounds of Malacanan palace (the official residence of the Philippine president) to them. She established the custom of giving a Christmas party at Malacanan for the poor children of the city. At the party, the children received gifts of food, clothes, toys and other things.


In World War II
        When World War II came, the Quezon family had to leave Manila. They first went to Bataan with the Filipino army. Later on they were taken safely to America by the United States forces. This was done so that President Quezon could continue being the head of the Philippine Commonwealth government. Mrs. Quezon and her daughter spent the war years in America doing welfare work with the American Red Cross. She served in American hospitals as a volunteer.
        This experience was to lead to her important role in setting up an independent Philippine Red Cross later on.


Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross
        In 1945, after the Americans had freed the Philippines from the enemy, Mrs. Quezon and her children returned home. The body of her famous husband, who had died in 1944, followed later on and was buried here with great honors.
       Mrs. Quezon now devoted her remaining years to serving the Philippine Red Cross and other charitable organizations. She was appointed its chairman. She was active in the campaign to rebuild churches and hospitals. She reported at the Red Cross headquarters regularly for work without receiving any salary. She used her influence to win support and friends for the newly independent Philippine Red Cross. She attended its meetings and guided its work. Under her wise guidance the Philippine Red Cross became a strong organization which could serve well the people.
       Then on April 28, 1949, she went on a trip to Baler. She was accompanied by many officials and her eldest daughter, Maria Aurora, and her son-in-law. A historical marker was going to be placed to mark the birthplace of President Quezon in Baler. The marker was to be unveiled by Mrs. Quezon.
       As Mrs. Quezon’s party was nearing Baler, a group of lawless men came out on the road and shot them. Mrs. Quezon, her daughter, and many others were killed. The whole country was shocked to hear of the death of Mrs. Quezon. A great and noble lady who had served her country well was lost to the people.

Leading Filipino Women: Maria Ylagan Orosa

Maria Ylagan Orosa

Food Preserver

(1893 - 1945)

           Maria Y. Orosa worked hard to improve the health of our people. She studied how to preserve different kinds of food in a scientific way. She taught people how to preserve food and fruits in cans for home use and for export. She is remembered and honored for her work in food preservation.


Maria’s Training
       Maria Y. Orosa was born in Taal, Batangas on November 29, 1892. Her parents were Simplicio Agoncillo Orosa and Juliana Ylagan. She had seven brothers and sisters.
       Maria studied in the public schools of Batangas. In 1915 she enrolled in the University of the Philippines to study pharmacy. She was not able, however, to finish the course in Manila. She was sent to the United States by the government to continue her studies. She finished her pharmacy course in America in 1918. Then she studied food chemistry.
      While studying in the United States, Maria had to work in order to have enough money for her expenses. She washed dishes in the restaurants, scrubbed floors, picked fruits, and worked in canning factories. The United States government paid only part of her expenses.


Teaching Food Preservation
      Maria returned to the Philippines in 1922. Upon her return she taught home economics in the Centro Escolar University. Then in 1923 she transferred to the Bureau of Science.
       It was in this Bureau that she worked out different methods of preserving fruits, foods, and fruit juices. She also found a way to make darak edible. Darak is a valuable food element that can help cure patients suffering from beri-beri.
      With her helpers Maria then taught many housewives how to preserve such native foods as adobo, mechado, dinuguan, and to convert our fruits as guavas, mangoes into jelly. Maria gave lectures on food preservation in the provinces.


Maria Improves Her Work
      When the government saw her excellent work, Maria Orosa was sent back to America in 1928 as a scholar. She was asked to study the best methods of food preservation. After studying again in the United States, she visited China, Hawaii, Holland, England, Germany, Spain, Italy, and France to observe their ways of preserving foods.


Improves Communities
       After her return in 1929, Maria devoted her time to teaching home making to other women. She encouraged them to form rural improvement clubs. The purposes of these clubs were:
1. To learn and teach home making.
2. To learn and teach childcare.
3. To learn and teach meal planning.
4. To learn and teach food preparation and preservation.
5. To learn and teach poultry raising.
6. To learn and teach gardening.
       Maria worked hard to organize such clubs all over the country. She had organized 537 clubs by 1941.
      Maria encouraged the members to engage in home industries such as making slippers, rugs, and baskets.
      Maria hoped that through her work she would improve the health of mothers and children of the country. She also believed that homes with gardens would be better places to live in.


Maria’s Work in World War II
      World War II came. Everyone suffered, for food became scarce. Maria Orosa’s food preservation became noble work. The food that she canned were sent to many American prisoners in Capas, Los Banos, Dao, and Santo Tomas.
      She made demijohns of fruit juice from calamansi. She sent the fruit juice to the prisoners so that they could have their vitamins. In this way Maria saved the lives of hundreds of prisoners. Throughout the war, Maria worked on without fear and without stopping.
      During the fighting in Manila in 1945, Maria was at work at the Bureau of Plant Industry in San Andres. She was hit by shrapnel during the bombing. Her friends rushed her to the Remedios Hospital in Malate. Then the hospital itself was hit by bombs. The bombs killed Maria and other patients on February 13, 1945.
      By the death of Maria Orosa, the country lost a woman who had devoted all her life to the service of the people. One of the buildings of the Bureau of Plants Industry where she worked has been named after her. It is called the Maria Y. Orosa building.
     The great work which Maria Orosa started goes on today. Many people whom she trained and taught carry on the work of improving the life of the common people.

Leading Filipino Women: Josefa Llanes-Escoda

Josefa Llanes-Escoda

Social Worker

(1898 -1944)

          Josefa Llanes-Escoda was among our first women to engage in social work. This work aims to help the poor, the sick, and other unfortunate people. She also started Girl Scouting in the Philippines. She lost her life during the war while helping hungry prisoners and wounded soldiers in prison.


Parents and Education
          Josefa Llanes was born in Dingras, Ilocos Norte, on September 20, 1898. She was the eldest daughter of Gabriel Llanes and Mercedes Madamba. She finished her elementary and high school studies in Laoag. Then she went to Manila and studied in the Philippine Normal School, where she graduated with honors. She next entered the University of the Philippines and got a high school teacher certificate.
         The young teacher was soon chosen to go to America on a scholarship. In 1922 she was sent by the government to study in a school for social work in New York City. From there she went to Columbia University to get her Master of Arts degree.
Josefa readily made friends. She loved to help other people. This trait fitted her to be a social worker.


Public Service
         Upon her return to the Philippines, Josefa Llanes was appointed head of the home service of the Philippine branch of the American Red Cross. Her work was to know the problems of people who were in need and to help them.
         She also served with the Philippine Anti-Leprosy Society and in the tuberculosis section of the Bureau of Health.
         Josefa was soon recognized as a leader in welfare work. This energetic woman started the Girl Scout movement in the Philippines. She became the editor of the Child Health Magazine. She successively became the secretary and president of the National Federation of Women’s Clubs. She also found time to work for women suffrage.


Service Projects
         Josefa planned and carried out different projects for the welfare of women and children. She organized schools for women who wanted to learn handicrafts. She started health clinics for children. She asked the government to put up playgrounds for them.


Josefa and World War II
        Josefa married a newspaperman, Antonio Escoda. He was one of the editors of the Manila Daily Bulletin. When World War II began, all Americans in the Philippines were captured and kept in prison camps by the enemy. As the war dragged on from year to year, the prisoners suffered. They lacked food, medicine, and clothes.
        It was dangerous to help the Americans, for the Japanese authorities imprisoned those who helped them. But Josefa Llanes-Escoda was not afraid. As social worker, she was not allowed to visit the Santo Tomas prison camp. She secretly brought food and medicines to prisoners.
       Josefa had helpers who also brought food, medicines and money to prisoners in their camps in Los Banos and Capas. The Japanese authorities suspected her of helping the prisoners. They watched all her movements.
       Josefa also cheered the prisoners with news of the victories of the Americans in the war. Her husband was a leader of the guerillas. She got the news from him.
       Then in 1943 her husband was arrested by the Japanese secret police. He was thrown into prison. Friends advised Josefa to hide, but she refused. She said, “Who will help the poor prisoners now that my husband is in prison? I must stay here to carry on our work.”
       So she stayed in Manila. In August, 1943, she was also arrested by the Japanese police and imprisoned in Fort Santiago. During her last days, she shared her prison cell with a nun who came out of the prison alive. To this nun Josefa told her dreams and plans for the future after the war had ended. Among her plans was to extend the Girl Scout movement, to organize more clubs for women, and to build more community kitchens.
       Fate did not allow Josefa to realize her dreams. She never left her prison cell alive. She was killed there in bombing of Manila in 1945.
      After the Americans freed the Philippines, the American Red Cross awarded a silver medal to Josefa Llanes- Escoda. This medal was to honor her even after her death. It is the highest honor given by the American Red Cross to men and women who have best served their country and fellowmen.

Leading Filipino Women: Gregoria De Jesus

Gregoria De Jesus

Lakambini (Muse) of the Katipunan

(1875 - 1943)

          Gregoria de Jesus was the wife of Andres Bonifacio. She helped him in his great work of leading the Filipinos in their fight for liberty in 1896. She shared his dangers and hardships. Gregoria de Jesus was as brave as any soldier who fought in the battlefields.


Early Life
          Gregoria de Jesus grew up in Caloocan, formerly a town under the province of Rizal but now a city, where she was born on May 9, 1875. Her father, Nicolas de Jesus, was a master mason and carpenter. He was very active in the town. He was first teniente de barrio, or barrio lieutenant, and then gobernadorcillo, or town mayor.
          In the public schools Gregoria proved to be a bright student. She won silver medals for excelling in different subjects. However, she was not able to finish her studies. She had to help her older sister in the latter’s business. Gregoria had to work so that she could help support her brothers and sisters.


Gregoria Meets Bonifacio
         When Gregoria was 18 years old, she met Andres Bonifacio in Binondo. Her marriage to Bonifacio led her to join the Katipunan.
The Katipunan was a secret society that Andres Bonifacio formed. Filipinos who wanted to fight for their country joined the Katipunan. The names of the members were kept secret because the government officials imprisoned the members who were discovered.


The Lakambini
          Gregoria de Jesus was called the Lakambini of the Katipunan. She kept important papers of the secret society. In August, 1896, the Katipuneros sounded the “Cry of Balintawak.” This was the start of the revolution, or fight, of the Filipinos to free themselves from the unjust rule of Spanish officials.


Gregoria’s Dangerous Life
          The life of Gregoria was now in danger. The secret police of the Spaniards learned that she was the wife of Andres Bonifacio. They tried to capture her. Gregoria gathered all the important papers of the Katipunan and fled. She often stayed in the homes of her friends.
          Sometimes Gregoria would learn that the police were looking for her nearby. Then she would get into a quiles, a vehicle drawn by a horse, and drive away as fast as the horse could run.
         At one time she stayed in the house of her sister-in-law, Esperidiona Bonifacio, in Clavel, San Nicolas. Gregoria was known there as Manuela Gonzaga. But she had to leave this place in order not to place her sister in danger.
         She followed her husband to the mountains. Andres Bonifacio fought with his brave men from province to province. In Cavite, however, he had fight with some soldiers and was killed. After the death of Bonifacio, Gregoria returned to her family.
        She settled down to a quiet life after having fought bravely side by side with her brave husband-hero, Andres Bonifacio. She married Julio Nakpil and settled a prosperous, comfortable living and died on March 15, 1943.

Leading Filipino Women: Josefa Abiertas

Josefa Abiertas

A Great Leader

(1894 - 1929)

          Josefa Abiertas was a famous woman leader. She worked to make her country a better place to live in. She tried hard to improve her community and the lives of people around her.


Josefa’s Early Education
        Josefa Abiertas was born sometimes in 1894 in Capiz. She and her brother became orphans when they were young. A kind aunt, Guillerma Aday, took care of her.
        Josefa studied in Capiz. She was always at the head of her class, for she was very bright. She was always reading good books. She finished her studies in the high school as the valedictorian.
Josefa then studied law in the Philippine Law School. After graduating, she took the examination for lawyers. She was the only woman in a big group of five hundred graduates. To the surprise of many people, she received the highest grade in the examination.


Josefa Improves The Community
        As a lawyer, Josefa worked day and night to improve the condition of the people and the place where she lived. She worked to have gambling places and dance halls closed. She did this so that there would be no places for men to go and throw away their money. She also joined a society whose work was to stop young people from taking alcoholic drinks.
        Josefa helped poor farmers. The poor farmers did not own any land. They planted land owned by rich people. Josefa protected their rights. She prevented landowners from cheating them.
Josefa was offered a position with a big salary in a factory. She refused the position because the workers there well not well treated. She said to the owner: “If you wish me to accept the position, you will have to treat your workers better.”


Josefa, the Leader
        Josefa was always the best in everything she tried. She could make a speech very well. When she finished law in the Philippine Law, she delivered a speech called “The New Age For Women.”     This speech is still recited today by students.
       Josefa became a leader in the movement to allow women to vote. She gave speeches in many places and talked about this right. She was able to convince people that women should be allowed to vote.
      Her active life was cut short by death. As a child she was sickly. Her continuous work affected her health. She contracted tuberculosis and died on Christmas Day in 1929.
      Today there is a welfare home named after her. This home is called the Josefa Abiertas House of Friendship.
      Josefa Abiertas will always be remembered as a woman leader who worked to improve the conditions in our country.

Leading Filipino Women: Olivia Salamanca

Olivia Salamanca

The Unselfish Doctor

(1889 – 1913)

          Olivia Salamanca was a doctor who studied and worked hard in order to cure people of tuberculosis. She made many lives better and happier because of her unselfish service to those around her.


Her Training For Her Work
         Olivia Salamanca was from San Roque, Cavite, where she was born on July 1, 1889. Her parents were well-educated, so Olivia grew up in a home where she could do much reading and studying. Her father, Jose Salamanca, was a pharmacist. He encouraged his daughter in her studies.
         In the Cavite High School, Olivia was brightest student. She won the admiration of her teachers. She was so bright that she was asked to continue her studies in America, with her expenses paid by government.
        She first enrolled in St. Catherine’s College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Then she studied medicine and finished this course in the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania.


The Tireless Doctor
        When she returned to the Philippines, Olivia at once started to cure people sick of tuberculosis. She was appointed secretary of the Anti-Tuberculosis Society in 1911.
        Olivia helped many sick people. She was pleasant and thoughtful with her patients. She always had a smile for them even in her busiest hours. Her parents often said that her smile alone cured them.
        This unselfish doctor worked so hard with her patients that she herself got sick. She contracted tuberculosis. She fought bravely to cure herself. Her parents sent her to Baguio hoping she would recover there. But it was a losing fight.
       On July 19, 1913, at the early age of 24, the young and tireless doctor died. She had sacrificed herself to make other people well.

Leading Filipino Women: Maria Carpena

Maria Carpena

The Singer

(1887 - 1915)

Maria Carpena was one of our early good singers. Her sweet voice brought happiness to many people. Read the story of how she overcame many difficulties to become a great singer. Included below is a Youtube recording of her actual voice singing the first Filipino recorded music single Ang Maya making Carpena the first Filipino recording artist. 


Maria’s Childhood

Maria Carpena was born on the farm of her father, Camilo, in Santa Rosa, Laguna on January 13, 1887. Her mother, Maria Evangelista, was a very industrious woman. She took good care of her eleven children.

But Maria did not have a very happy childhood. Her father was very strict. He did not like Maria to sing, especially before other people. He wanted Maria to get a good education and stay at home.

After little Maria learned her caton, or alphabet, she entered the Santa Rosa College. She paid for her education by working for the Sisters. The Sisters were fond of her as she was industrious and could sing well. She learned to speak Spanish after six months.

Maria wanted to improve her voice. The parish priest of Laguna, who had often heard her sing, gave her singing lessons. Then he asked Maria’s father to let her sing in the church during the mass.

The people who went to church soon grew to love and admire her singing. Many visitors came from neighboring towns to hear her sing. Seeing her growing fame as a singer, her father permitted her to take higher singing lessons. Maria then studied under an Italian music teacher named Capucci.



Maria Sings for the Public

During a visit to Malabon, once a territorial town in Rizal province, Maria attracted the attention of Don Severino Reyes, who was then director of a dramatic company. This company gave zarzuelas, or musical plays. Don Severino offered Maria a part in a zarzuela, which she gladly accepted.

Maria was soon singing in such plays as Walang Sugat (No Wound) and Minda Mora in the famous Zorilla Theater in Manila. People crowded to the theater to hear her sing. They also went on Sundays to the Luneta to hear her sing in the public concert given by the Philippine Constabulary Band.

Although busy in her career as a singer, Maria did not neglect her family life. She married Jose Alcantara and had four children to whom she was a good mother.

In 1908, she was invited to come to the United States by former Philippine civil governor William Howard Taft who was then running to become United States president.  

She recorded the song, Ang Maya accompanied by the Molina orchestra in a makeshift studio in Manila Hotel around 1913. She recorded songs under Victor Recording Company. 

For many years, Maria continued to sing for the public. But at last her health broke down. On March 14, 1915, after several days of illness at the San Juan de Dios hospital, she died.

She died poor, but she left many beautiful memories behind her.One of her friends said this of her: “Maria Carpena is gone, but her works remain. Her beauty, her sweet nature, and her wonderful voice made her a famous artist. She became great although she met many difficulties.”

Maria Carpena deserves her place among famous Filipino women.

Maria Carpena's actual voice singing Ang Maya circa 1913-1914