Category: Marinduque Education

Let us not forget about one of the famous ladies of Gasan, Asuncion Arriola.

Asuncion Arriola-Perez was born on August 15, 1895 in the Gasan, Marinduque province of the Philippines. She was the oldest child in a family of six children. Her parents were Quirico Arriola and Severina Mandac. After graduating from high school in 1915, she completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of the Philippines in 1917. In 1926 she completed a master’s degree in sociology at the University of Wisconsin. Arriola-Perez began her career in 1920 as a high school teacher. From 1926 to 1930 she was Executive Secretary of Associated Charities. From 1941 to 1942, she was director of the Bureau of Public Welfare. After the Second World War, she held this position again until she was appointed Commissioner of Social Welfare in 1947. This position was upgraded in 1951 to Administrator of Social Welfare, a position at cabinet level. She was the first Filipino woman at that level. After President Elpidio Quirino lost the election, she resigned from the government. Asuncion Arriola-Perez died in 1967. She was married to Cirilo B. Perez, who was held captive by the Japanese in Fort Santiago during World War II and eventually executed. Together they had two sons and a daughter.

We are lucky to have a paper written by her from 1916 entitled “Primitive Beliefs Regarding Death and the Ceremonies Connected With It In the Island of Marinduque”.

Pilar Hidalgo-Lim as told by Project Say-Say May 2022

On May 24, 1893, educator and civic leader Pilar Hidalgo-Lim was born in Boac, Marinduque. Recognized as one of the leaders of the women’s movement before World War II, she also served as one of the founders of the Girl Scouts of the philippines (GSP).

At a young age, she exhibited exceptional excellence when she graduated as valedictorian in 1910 at Manila High School. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in 1913 at the University of the Philippines (UP), where she was recognized as the first woman to graduate with honors. He taught mathematics at UP and at Centro Escolar University (CEU). She was also active in the women’s movement in the Philippines, where she served as President of the National Federation of Women’s Clubs of the philippines (1931-1941). Under her leadership women earned their right to vote. Like his better half, General Vicente Lim—who would later become a war hero, he supported the scouting movement by helping to establish the GSP.

Hidalgo-Lim was in the United States with his children when World War II broke out in the Philippines in 1941. He helped the war by selling war bonds and by actively participating in Red Cross campaigns. After the war, he continued his civic duties and was appointed by President Sergio Osmeña as a member of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission. He was also part of the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures (now the Move and Television Review and Classification Board) and the Parole Board. As President of the GSP (1957-1963), he led several of its global gatherings, similar to the 1957 Regional Centenary World Camp, and the 1961 Asian Trainers Conference. He also served as President of the CEU from 1963 until he died of cancer on December 10, 1973.

In 1982, in recognition of his achievements, the National Syrian Historical Society (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines) placed a memorial in the hometown of Pilar Hidalgo-Lim in Boac, Marinduque. The former Indiana Street in Manila and a CEU building in Malolos are also named after him. Troop Achievement Award presented by GSP was also followed in his honour. Meanwhile, the Philippine Military Academy continues the tradition of Mrs. Lim started way back in 1967, where General Lim’s descendants award graduating cadets second lieutenant, along with a letter reminding them to live honorably like the late general.

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Oct.26, 1932 A despedida party for Marinduque High School teacher Aurelio Reyes.

Among the attendees : Federico Piedad, Elena Nieva, Josefa Roque, Enriqueta Nepomuceno, Aurelio Reyes, Luis Alifio, Narciso Moreno Enrique, Jose Alino, Rafael Concepcion, Marceliano Lagustan, Artrmio Lagran, Manuel Latorre, Gustavo Sto. Domingo, Concha Leonida, Andrea Cruz, Esperanza Raqueno, Sixta Garnial, Felisa Viray, Balbina Navarroso, Gregoria Jambalos, Rosario Nieva, Raymunda Buenaventura, Josefina Nieva, Tomasa Minay, Dra. Remedios Alino, Paula Lumitao, Salvadora Mascarenas, JulitaIlagan, Ana Ituralde, Exaltacion Manguerra, Felisa Sapungan, Domingo Bugarin Calixto Sadiwa, Guillermo Nieva, Romeo Venturanza, Dominador Mongis, B. Pelobello, Wenceslao Rodil, Amando Marquez, Conrado Mascarenas, Edmundo Bunag, Sancho Tan, Dioscoro Macalood, Delfin Lazarte, Ricardo de la Santa, Lauro Roque, Rustico Navarro

October 26, 1940, Marinduque High School Salacot Dance.

Some of the performers in the picture:

Julieta Madrigal, Milagros Morales, Realina Largado, Emertia Llave, Augusta Castillo, Elisa Luarca, Lorna Leano, Guadalupe Miciano, Catalina Lanot, Luz Salcedo, Presentacion Mogol. Zara Roque, Luz, Narito, Virginia Espino, Rosario Alvarez, Gracia Selda, Anisia Cordero, Merle Maria Coll, Virginia Nieva, Miguela Mangcucang, Regina Ligeralde, Asuncion Lim, Salvatos and Janda Quinto

Pipo Nepomuceno –  Julieta Janda Madrigal…. Mama ni Tito  Pedrito Nepomuceno