She was a woman ahead of her time鈥攁 homemaker who found time for humanitarian work and an astute but generous player in the stock market, who knew when to sell to ensure that both she and the buyer made a profit.
The Philippines鈥� first First Lady, Aurora Quezon, led a life generations of Filipino women would try to emulate. She established an identity separate from her husband鈥檚, the Philippines first president, Manuel Luis Quezon, simply by being herself鈥攁 woman of humility, compassion and genuine concern for her people.
The story of the woman Time Magazine once hailed as a 鈥渃ombination mother and patron saint鈥� is poignantly recalled in words and images in a coffee table book simply titled 鈥淎urora Aragon Quezon.鈥�
The book was launched on Friday, as part of the observance of Women鈥檚 Month this March.
鈥淪he was an extraordinary woman who lived in the shadow of a very great man and yet established her own identity,鈥� said Senator Edgardo Angara, a native of the province of Aurora, which was named after Quezon鈥檚 wife in 1979 when it became a full-fledged province.
Angara conceptualized and coauthored the book with Sonia Pinto-Ner.
Current and relevant
鈥淢s Quezon was far more advance than her generation because (her) advocacies鈥攚omen鈥檚 rights, suffrage, the Red Cross鈥攁re even now very current and contemporary. Many of the causes she fought for are even now still current鈥攚omen are still being abused, exploited,鈥� said Angara at the book launch.
In her introduction to the book, Aurora鈥檚 Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo echoed the senator鈥檚 sentiments.
鈥淗er (Aurora鈥檚) many sociocivic activities also aimed to promote literacy among the young and education even for adults.聽 Though living largely under the shadow of a great man, she proved that she also had her own great vision as a woman,鈥� said Castillo.
The governor pointed out that the late First Lady put highest priority on people.
鈥淪he believed in the value of the individual, in every single Filipino, whether man or woman, ally or rebel, rich or poor,鈥� Castillo said.
Great irony
Calling attention to a great irony, Castillo said Ms Quezon even provided medical care to insurgents in her province, 鈥渞ebels in whose hands she would meet her eventual death.鈥�
The book launch, held at the Manila Polo Club, was attended by some of the women who made a mark in Philippine history, one way or another: former First Ladies Imelda Marcos and Loi Ejercito, former Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Chair Patricia Licuanan of the Commission on Higher Education and former University of the Philippines president Emerlinda Roman.
The 208-page photobiography, published by the Rural Empowerment Assistance and Development Foundation, is a companion book to last year鈥檚 鈥淢anuel Luis Quezon,鈥� which was about the late Commonwealth President.
The book traces Ms Quezon鈥檚 life from her birth in Baler, now the capital of Aurora, in 1888, to her marriage to the future president. It also talks about her countryside work before World War II, the tough times her family went through during the war, the death of her husband on Aug. 1, 1944 and her own tragic death in a rebel ambush at the border of Aurora and Nueva Ecija on April 28, 1949.
It is the fourth book project of Angara and Ner, art consultant and prolific writer on Philippine history, culture and art.
Proceeds from the sale of the book, available in stores for P2,800, will go to public service projects in Aurora.
Humanitarian work
Asked why they did a separate book on Aurora, Ner said: 鈥淏ecause we discovered she was very much her own person. She looked like she was the typical mother, housewife at that time. But, as we went on, we found out she was a formidable woman.鈥�
Ner said the Commonwealth President鈥檚 wife pushed for women鈥檚 right to vote, declaring: 鈥淲hy shouldn鈥檛 women be allowed to vote when they are subject to the same laws as men?鈥� Her husband signed the Women鈥檚 Suffrage Act in 1936.
In her nine years as First Lady, Aurora devoted her time to humanitarian work.聽 She was an avid supporter of the Red Cross, the Asociacion de Damas de Filipinas (an orphanage) and made frequent visits to hospitals to comfort patients.
She was also a fan of art and literature, sponsoring concerts and writing her own songs and stories.
The late First Lady had another, perhaps little known, side鈥攕he was a savvy businesswoman.聽 She bought stocks during the 1930s boom and established, with two friends, a mining firm in Zambales. The company name, Acoje, was a combination of the partners鈥� first names鈥擜urora, Consuelo, Jesusa.
But her business ventures were not just about making money. Ner said Aurora was already mindful of corporate social responsibility (CSR) even before the phrase became popular.
鈥淲hat surprised us was that even at the time鈥攁nd this was before the war鈥攕he was already into what we call CSR now,鈥� Ner said.
鈥淚magine, she organized the women (for) sewing classes so they (could earn). At that time, nobody thought of those things,鈥� Ner added.
Quezon鈥檚 surviving daughter, Maria Zeneida Quezon-Avance帽a, said her mother sold her stocks before they peaked so buyers would also make a profit.
People often tried to stop her mother from selling her shares, telling the First Lady their prices would continue to rise, recalled Avance帽a.
鈥淎nd you know what her answer was?聽 鈥榃ell, I鈥檝e made my profit. If I wait until it gets to the top, kawawa naman yung bumili sa akin, hindi na tutubo.聽 Tumubo na ako, tama na (it would be a pity if the buyer does not make money. I already made a profit and that鈥檚 enough for me),鈥欌�� Avance帽a said.
Ner said it would be tough to follow Aurora鈥檚 example. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone can compare with her,鈥� Ner said.
The book鈥檚 coauthor said, from Aurora Aragon Quezon鈥檚 example, the message was that women could do so many other things and be accomplished like her. Nothing could or should hinder a woman from doing the things she wants to do.