February 19 is the celebration of the 122nd Birth Anniversary of Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon. With this, we will honor a model Filipina and will let the Filipino youth be aware of the great role she played in shaping the history of the Filipino people.

Doña Aurora Quezon, was born in Baler, Tayabas Province (now Quezon Province), on February 19, 1888. She was the only Filipina honoured by her countrymen. She was given a lifetime pension by the Philippine Congress but she refuse to accept it. She knew that there were so many war widows and orphans suffering at that time.

Her husband, President Manuel L. Quezon, family, and friends described Mrs. Quezon as:

• dignified and portly
• a devoted wife
• strict but understanding mother
• friend, companion, and partner (to her husband)
• religious
• with an intense feeling for the dignity of her people and country

During the Philippine Revolution, she and her family were imprisoned by the colonial authorities so Aurora Quezon decided to move to Manila in 1911 to continue her higher studies.

When she married Manuel L. Quezon in 1918, she focused on socio-civic activities, like the campaign to allow the women in the Philippines.

The following are her affiliations:

• honorary Chairperson of the National Federation of Women's Clubs of the Philippines
• Girl Scouts of the Philippines
• the Associacion de Damas Filipinas
• the Philippine Red Cross became the separate entity of International Red Cross.
• first Chairperson of the Philippine National Red Cross when this was established as an independent Red Cross organization.
• served as the The Maryhill University in the United States and the University of Santo Tomas
   
  During World War II, she and her family moved to the United States and they became volunteered nurses of Red Cross. On August 1, 1994, she was widowed.

She earned her honorary doctorates while the Ateneo de Manila University gave her the prestigious Ozanam Award. The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross award was granted by Pope Pius XII.

Doña Aurora died in the service of her country when she and her party were ambushed by the Huks in Bongabong, Nueva Ecija, on April 28, 1949. Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City. [via ph.news.yahoo.com]