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Jessie Lichauco

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Jessie Lichauco
Lichauco in 2014
Born
Jessie Coe

(1912-01-10)January 10, 1912
Isla de los Pinos, Cuba
DiedNovember 1, 2021(2021-11-01) (aged 109)
CitizenshipAmerican, Filipino
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1933; died 1971)​
Children7[1]

Jessie Lichauco (née Coe; January 10, 1912 – November 1, 2021) is a Cuban–Filipino philanthropist and activist.

Early life

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Jessie Coe was born in Isla de los Pinos, Cuba on January 10, 1912.[2][3][4] Her father settled in Cuba after the Spanish–American War where he met Jessie's mother. She was later sent to St. Augustine, Florida, where she was raised in a convent school after she lost her parents as a young girl.[5]

While working in Washington D.C., Coe met Marcial P. Lichauco, a Filipino lawyer who was working as a secretary for the OsRox Mission, which was seeking Philippine independence from the United States. She came to the Philippines upon Lichauco's invitation in the 1930s at the age of 18,[6] marrying him on December 29, 1933, at the University of Santo Tomas Chapel. She and her husband were the first couple to be wed in the newly constructed chapel. After their marriage, Lichuaco lived almost continually in the Philippines.[2][3][4]

Social work

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Jessie Lichauco entertaining participants of the 2014 WikiExpedition Santa Ana.

Lichauco joined the Asociación de Damas de Filipinas and devoted time to Settlement House, which was run by the Asociación. Together with her husband, she opened their temporary shelter in Santa Ana to war refugees, transforming it into a makeshift hospital during World War II. The facility served at least 2,000 people. After the war, she continued her devotion towards Settlement House and became its president for nine years.[7][8][3]

Lichauco was one of the founders of the Red Feather Agency, later known as Community Chest, which raises funds for member charities. She also supported about 100 youth in completing their education in her own capacity.[3]

From 1963 to 1966, her husband served as Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, appointed by then-President Diosdado Macapagal. Jessie Lichuaco served as the Ambassador's hostess, representing the Philippines in international organizations and events. The Ambassador's residence in Palace Green was open to Filipino businesspeople, students, workers, and tourists.[3]

After her husband's death in 1971, Lichuaco spent a few years in the United States. She opened her house in Massachusetts to Filipino scholars and students needing a place to stay.[3]

Later life and death

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Lichauco was granted Philippine citizenship in 2013 through Republic Act No. 10356[9] which was signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III.[8] She was cited in the law for her social contributions to the country, adopting the Philippines as her home, speaking the Filipino language, and embracing Filipino culture.[3]

She died on November 1, 2021, at the age of 109.[10]

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Lichauco was the subject of the documentary film Curiosity, Adventure, & Love, in which she portrayed herself. The film includes her migration to the Philippines, the meeting with her husband, Philippine history from her perspective, and her insights on the Filipino people during World War II.[5] Curiosity, Adventure & Love has received several awards:[11][12]

  • Special Jury Prize, 2016 World Premieres Philippines Film Festival
  • Best Documentary, 2017 SOHO International Film Festival
  • Best Documentary Feature, 2017 NYLA (New York Los Angeles) International Film Festival
  • Best Documentary Feature, 2017 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival
  • Excellence Award for the categories of Human Spirit and Biography, Exceptional Merit for sub-categories of Viewer Impact: Motivational/inspirational and Editing, 2017 Docs Without Borders Film Festival.

References

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  1. ^ Licuanan, Virginia (March 21, 2004). "92 turning 29". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 24, 2014. Now a lovely 92 with six children and 18 grandchildren, she is one of the matriarchs of a huge clan.
  2. ^ a b Reyes, Karl John (November 5, 2012). "More Filipino than most: centenarian Jessie Lichauco, Cuban-American, gets citizenship". InterAksyon.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g House Bill No. 5277 (September 9, 2011), An Act Granting Philippine Citizenship to Jessie Josephine Coe Lichauco (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on August 20, 2013
  4. ^ a b Licuanan, Virginia (March 21, 2004). "92 turning 29". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Caruncho, Eric. "'Tita Jessie' at 104: A story of curiosity, adventure, love". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  6. ^ Staff (December 14, 2018). "Manila GMFF Showcases Filipino Films: Curiosity, Adventure and Love and Together Apart". IOM. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  7. ^ de Santos, Jonathan (November 2, 2011). "Bill seeks Filipino citizenship for expat who's been here since 1933". Sun Star. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Heroine is a true Pinay". Manila Standard Today. January 23, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  9. ^ Republic Act No. 10356 (January 9, 2013), An Act Granting Philippine Citizenship to Jessie Josephine Coe Lichauco
  10. ^ "Jessie Coe Lichauco". Inquirer Memories. November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "Filipinos in Mexico see Fil-Am's award-winning 'Curiosity, Adventure and Love'". Philippine Daily Inquirer USA. July 12, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  12. ^ Chua, Paolo (June 26, 2018). "Curiosity, Adventure & Love Offers a Glimpse of Philippine History Through a 106-Year-Old Woman's Extraordinary Life". Esquire Philippines. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
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