1st woman senator of the Philippines Geronima Tomelden Pecson smiles candidly in a photo (Photo courtesy: https://unifiedtomeldenclan.wordpress.com) 

QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- To commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the National Federation of Women’s Clubs of the Philippines (NFWCP), the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) unveiled its historical marker on Thursday, Sept. 15.

Held at the Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City, the unveiling ceremony was led by NHCP OIC Executive Director Carminda Arevalo. The marker was officially turned over to the Local Government of Quezon City led by Mayor Joy Belmonte after the unveiling.

In her message during the event, Arevalo expressed her gratefulness to the establishment of the Women’s Club as a vanguard for advocating the rights and welfare of women.

“Dito nabuo ang mga layunin at tungkulin ng organisasyon, particular na ang gawaing sibiko at pangkawanggawa, na tumutugon sa kapakanan ng sangkababaihan ng Pilipinas, tulad ng karapatang bumoto, (Here formed the objectives and duties of the organization, particularly the conduct of civic works, advocacies, and charities that promote the welfare of women in the Philippines, like the right to vote),” she said.

Belmonte, for her part,  thanked the NHCP and NFWC for entrusting the historical marker to the Local Government of Quezon City.

She also pointed out the achievement of the Women’s Club, as the Philippines became one of the earliest countries in the world to grant women the right to vote at year 1937.  

“A cursory glance at the data of women’s suffrage shows that the Philippines chose to grant this right relatively early compared to other countries, even those belonging to today’s developed world,” she said.

Also present as witnesses were Enrique Quezon-Avanceña, descendant of Manuel Quezon and Aurora Aragon Quezon, National Federation of Women’s Clubs (NFWC) President Linda P. Gonzalez, NFWC Foundation President Mary Jane C. Ortega, and NHCP Deputy Executive Director Alvin R. Alcid.

The National Federation of Women’s Club was founded on February 5, 1921, when more than 300 organizations from across the country, advocating for women’s right to suffrage, gathered at the Manila Hotel.

The Club was known to be the forefront of the suffrage movement, until the successful April 30, 1937's women suffrage plebiscite. It is where 91 percent of the registered voters, voted in favor of such right.

Some of the prominent members of the organization are Josefa Llanes Escoda, Aurora Aragon Quezon, Concepcion Felix-Calderon, Purificacion "Pura" Kalaw, Geronima Tomelden Pecson and Pilar Hidalgo-Lim.

Today, “Women Suffrage Day” is celebrated every 30th of April each year, based on the Proclamation No. 2346 signed by then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

The historical marker can be found at the Recreation Hall of the Quezon Heritage House at the Quezon Memorial Circle. (PIA-NCR)