JOSEFA LLANES ESCODA
(1898 - 1945)
Great civic leader, social worker, suffragette
and war Josefa Llanes Escoda or Pepa, as she was affectionately called, was on
September 20, 1898 in Dingras, Ilocos Norte. She was the child of Gabriel
Llanes, a music teacher, and Mercedes Madamba, sweet and loving woman who
instilled in the minds of her children true Christian idea of service. Her only
brother was Florencio, and five sisters were Luisa, Elvira, Rosario, Purita,
and Eufrosina.
As a child, Pepa was gay, naturally
active, and precocious. In her school days, she never let a day pass without
reading her books studying her lessons. At the time Josefa was in the grade
school, strong typhoon hit her hometown. Although the townfolks had forewarned
of the impending calamity, Josefa insisted on going to school that day. Her
mother stopped her, but she stubbornly said, "I'll not let the weather
keep me away from school."
She finished her elementary grades as
valedictorian. From Dingras, she went to Laoag where she obtained her secondary
certificate. After graduation from high school at the age of 16, she persuaded
her parents to allow her to study in Manila at the Philippine Normal School
(now Philippine Normal College), where she became popular for her energy
firmness and determination. Two years after, she graduated with honors.
In 1918, her father died during the
influenza epidemic swept the Philippines and killed thousands of Filipinos.
Knowing difficult it would be for her mother to take care of the six Josefa
took them to Manila. She studied in the evening for a high school teacher's
certificate which she acquired in 1922 from the University of the Philippines.
For a short white, she taught at the Jose Rizal College, University of Manila,
Far Eastern University, and Philippine Women's University.
Immediately after graduation
from U.P., she gave up teaching joined the American Red Cross (Philippine
Chapter) as a social worker. Before long, the Amesican Red Cross granted her a
scholarship to United States where she enrolled at the New York School of
Social Work to undergo intensive training in social welfare. For satisfactory work, the school awarded
her the social worker's certificate in 1925.
In the United States, Josefa's hard work,
intelligence, and model behavior earned praise for her and for her country. She
showed her leadership anew when she joined a group of foreign students who
supported wholeheartedly an International House project in New York. During her
free time in the International House, she accepted speaking engagements. She
spoke with eloquence. On her lecture tours to many states; it was her practice
to wear Filipina dresses to arouse interest in the Philippines.
Pepa represented the Philippines at the
Women's International League for Peace in 1925. Here, she met Antonio Escoda, a
good looking and capable reporter from the Philippine Press Bureau whom she
married later. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Maria Teresa and
Antonio, Jr. In the same year, Columbia University conferred on her a master's
degree in social work.
Upon her return to the Philippines in
1926, she resumed her teaching duties as a lecturer in sociology at the
University of the Philippines and at the University of Santo Tomas. She entered
government service by working at the Tuberculosis Commission of the Bureau of
Health. At the Bureau, she was the editor of the Health Messenger. She also
served in the Textbook Board, the Board of Censors for Moving Pictures, and the
Labor Board. In the Philippine Anti-Leprosy Society she served as its executive
secretary. She was also with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.
Mrs. Escoda was an active member of the
suffrage movement in the Philippines. Being best prepared in the tremendous job
of binding together the clubwomen of the Philippines she was elected secretary
of the General Council of Women which was created to coordinate the activities
of the women suffrage workers. As a suffragette, she believed that "The
modern woman is no longer the wife that chugs; she now helps the husband The
women's demand. for independence is motivated by their desire to help their
husbands in governmental affairs which always required mans moderation and
wisdom of women
All the labor and efforts of the
organized women and the help of so many meu were crowned with su;aoass: on
December 7, 1933 when Act 4112 was. approved granting the right to vote to
Filipino women
Through the intiative of the Boy Scouts
of the Philippines officials and the approval of Dr. Jose Fabella, then Commissioner
of Health and Public Welfare, Mrs. Escoda was sent to the United States for
girl scout training. On her return to the Philippines in 1937, she founded the
Girl Scouts of the Philippines. Despite all the initial articles which Mrs.
Escoda had to meet, her efforts were rewarded on 1940 when Pres. Manuel Quezon
approved Commonwealth Act No. 542 creating the GSP as a national organization.
Mrs. Escoda was also a moving spirit
behind the National Federation of Women's Clubs during its formative stage, She
was the elected treasurer of the federation, and was later promoted to
executive secretary, a position she held for nine consecutive years. In 1941
she succeeded Mrs. Pilar Hidalgo Lim as the federation's national president, a
position she held until her death.
In the field of social work, Mrs.
Escoda's devotion, responsibility and unquestionable leadership were shown in
her great accomplishment. She founded the Boy's Town for the under-previleged
boys of Manila. She initiated a successful campaign which called for the
provision of lunch and rest rooms for women workers and the installation of
other facilities for their convenience. She worked hard for establishment of
free nursery classes in Manila where children were served free soup and a glass
of milk. She worked for the improvement of health and sanitation in rural
areas, the modernization of the prison and penal system, the suppression of
vices and the extension of benefits of adult education to the rural folks.
Her innate courage and deep devotion to
duty was put to a supreme test when World War II broke out. She and her husband
associated themselves with the Volunteer Social Aid Committee or VSAC enlisted
aid for the prisoners of war. She witnessed the Death March, for she was one of
those who distributed tablets to the prisoners. This intensified her eagerness
to keep prisoners supplied-with food, medicine, and clothing. She took risks, in listing the, names of the
prisoners in Camp O'Donnel and helping the American internees at the University
of Santo Tomas, Los Baņos. In Manila, she housed the stranded women and
students who were unable to go back to
their respective provinces following outbreak of tha war.
In J;une; 1:944, her husband was arrested and imprisoned at
Fort Santiago and two months later, on August 27, she was also arrested and
thrown into the dark walls of Cell No. 16 in the same fort. However, she could
have left the prison had she wanted to, for she was offered freedom in
December, 1944, but her loyalty to her husband was so strong she preferred to
die with him in prison.
Though suffering from inhuman torture
inflicted by the enemies, Mrs. Escoda remained serene and composed. She was
last seen on January 6, 1945. She was then apparently taken and held in one of
the Far Eastern University buildings occupied by the Japanese. It was presumed
that she was executed.
In recognition of her outstanding
achievements and dedicated service to humanity, she was named Distinguished
Alumna in the field of social service, and a diploma of honor in recognition of
her signal achievements was conferred on her posthumously in 1951 by the
Philippine Normal College.
Josefa Llanes Escoda, the "Florence
Nightingale of the Philippines," died a heroine. A street and a building
have been named after her and a monument has been dedicated to her memory.