Exemplary Woman in Davao City

Introduction

Our Filipino women in general and Davao City women in particular, have the historic role of nation-building which deserve to be recognized and acknowledged. Actually, although women had always been part of of the events of our history their valuable contribution and remarkable achievements for the most part are unacknowledged.

Aware of such a sad situation we are acknowledging now a number of Davao City women whose significant achievements and contributions to Davao and its development had in many ways advanced the status of womanhood.  Their distinctive in Davao history cannot be taken for granted.

SOLEDAD R. DUTERTE

Soledad Roa Duterte, who is Nanay Soling to her numerous friends, has become so popular a figure to the point of becoming almost legendary  when it comes to the social and economic uplift of the people of Davao City.

Soledad R. Duterte is the mother of the current Davao City mayor Rodigo R. Duterte and wife of late Governor Vicente Duterte who served as Provincial Governor in 1959 to 1965. Mrs. Duterte was bort on November 14, 2013, 1916 in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte to Eleno Roa and Fortunata Gonzales. She finished the elementary and secondary in a Normal course at the Philippine Normal School in Manila in 1939. She was connected with the Bureau of Public Schools as a teacher when she met and married lawyer Vicente Duterte of Cebu.

The Dutertes came to Davao in 1951. Vicente as a lawyer engaged in private practice while Soledad as a teacher in the public school but retired as supervisor n 1952 when her lawyer-husband joined politics. She left the government service owing to the demands of a politician-husband. She became familiar with the social and economic problems of the people, especially the out-of-school youth, women, children and the disabled, in different municipalities that they went to as wife of the governor.

In recognition of Mrs. Duterte’s achievements she received numerous awards/citations/ plaques of recognition locally, nationally and even internationally. Among the local awards she received are from the Jose Rizal Memorial Colleges, Rotary Clubs, Hijos de Davao, Boys Town, Zonta, Sorotimist Club, Office of the Southern Cultural Communities for her invaluable concern for the tribal Filipinos of Dvaao City, Girlds Scout of the Philippines, Davao Local Council, United Way, Mass Media, Datu Bago Foundation in 1977 (Datu Bago Award is the highest award bestowed by the City of Davao to oustabnding citizens) Department of Science and Technology, UCCP Service Award Rehabilitation for the blind.

National Awards for Mrs. Duterte came the Philippine Women’s University, Far East Commentator and Girs Scout of the Philippines.

To quote a Dabawenyo in his write-up in a National Magazine, Most great men and women became institutions only after they are dead but Mrs. Duterte is still around and has established her name not only in the local scene but also in the national and international world. From a writer of a National Magazine she said of Mrs. Duterte as nothing moves in Davao City without Soledad Duterte and from the Quarterly Magazine of PMHA Focus, Mrs. Soledad Duterte is Durian Country’s Woman Achiever.

Mar. Duterte is a devout/pious Roma Catholic and believes in the power of prayer. She has a small chapel in her residence where one can see two very special and rare images of our Lord Jesus Chrsit. She believes that everything is possible to be done in this world if we have faith in God.

CARMEN M. SORIANO

Born rich, scion of a wealthy family of migrant Dabawenyos from Luzon is Dona Carmen Marfori Soriano who is known in Davao City as a woman consistently and actively involved in beautification projects in whose vision is to make Davao beautiful, clean and green. Whenever one Dabawenyo hears the name Doña Carmen Soriano, at once she is associated with Davao Beautiful, an organization whose role is in connection with the Davao City government’s thrust to enhance the attractiveness, the beauty, and the sanitation of the city.

Doña Carmen Marfori Soriano was born to the wealthy couple Simeon and Margarita Marfori of Luzon – Simeon from Calawang, Laguna and Margarita from Philia, Rizal. She was born on January 27, 1907 in Ermita, Manila. She acquired her elementary and secondary education in her birthplace in her birthplace at St. Theresa’s College. At the age of 21 she got married to Fiscal Jesus Jalandoni Soriano of Iloilo who was then assigned as fiscal in Tacloban, Leyte.

The Sorianos moved to Davao in 1934 to look after their inherited properties left by Doña Carmen’s parents. Atty. Soriano continued with his law practice. The growing family of husband, wife, and children stayed at their hacienda in Catalunan Grande. As a wife, Doña Carmen devoted her time to the care and needs of her husband and growing children. However, immediately before the American Liberation Forces arrived in Davao after World War II her husband was taken away from them by the Japanese soldiers and never was seen again.

Widowed and left with six children namely Rosamar, Francisco, Tony, Bobby, and Marie, Doña Carmen underwent difficulties but was able to survive with faith in God. With patience and perseverance she was able to send her children to school and was also able to restore the devastated family business enterprises with the help of friends and relatives. When her children were already grown-up she indulged herself in various activities in the community.

Although Doña Carmen is already in the twilight years of her life (91) she is still very active and only recently she attained a national stature when she was conferred in Malacañang Palace the national awards as the Most Outstanding Woman in Environment by the President of the Philippines himself Hon. Fidel V. Ramos.