AURORA ARAGON QUEZON
(1888-1949)
The
First Lady of the Commonwealth, Mrs. Aurora Aragon Quezon was a woman of rare
personal charm and simple elegance, possessed of a kind heart and sympathetic
understanding that endeared her to the Filipino people.
At the age of four her
aunt, Maria Molina, mother of President Quezon, tutored her. Later, she entered
a school of the Franciscan Friars at the convent of Baler, after she had been
taught by Emilia, her eldest sister.
The outbreak of the
Philippine Revolution interrupted her schooling and also brought much suffering
to the Aragon Family, for her father was arrested and taken to
At the age of ten,
Quezon’s mother took her
under her wings. As a consequence, she became the favorite of Manuel’s father.
Living in the same roof, Manuel and his first cousin shared a joyful company.
When the
She formed the Baler
Reading circle and Library, she sharing her meager collection. This collection
became part of the Malacañang Library.
When Quezon became an
assemblyman, she often came to
Returning one evening from
a formal dinner, he dropped in at her residence.
“Why are you wearing orange
blossoms?” she asked.
Quezon piqued that she had
suitors present, airily replied. ”Oh! I’ve just gotten married!”
She suddenly burst into
tears in front of everyone. Quezon was properly apologetic.
In December 1918, Senate
President Quezon headed the first independence mission to the
Before they resided in
She
was a devoted wife and strict but understanding mother.
She
was an enthusiasm patron of art and culture. She sang well and played the
piano. She composed several musical pieces in Baler. She had been the strongest
single influence in the successful launching of the Philippine Culture Tour of
the
She
helped found the Asociacion de Damas
Filipinas. She visited private and public hospital where she would talk
with the patients. She served as honorary president of the White Cross, which
aimed to maintain and promote the moral, mental, spiritual and physical
wellbeing of the laborers and their children. She was instrumental in the
organization of the Girl Scouts of the
The
Quezon family was evacuated to the
She
volunteered to be a worker in the blood donors service
of the America Red Cross. She took care of her husband whose delicate health
was rapidly worsening.
Upon
her return to the
The
Marygrove College of Detroit, Michigan conferred on her, honoris causa, the highest collegiate distinction. She was also
conferred the Doctor of Human Service, honoris
causa, by the Philippine Women’s University during its porcelain jubilee.
She
was named “The Real Catholic Filipina” and “The Mother of the Masses.”
On