One of the most accomplished women in the Philippines passed away on Thu, July 14, at the age of 102.
Helena Tirona Benitez, born in Manila on June 27, 1914, was the daughter of Conrado Benitez and Francisca Tirona, founders of the Philippine Women’s University on Taft Avenue in Malate, which Helena later inherited.
She also founded the dance troupe Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company.
Aside from being an educator, she was also a senator from 1967 to 1972, where she authored the law protecting the Philippine eagle, according to Rappler.
She was also a proponent of anything and everything Filipino, and would only serve Filipino cuisine at her parties.
“We used to giggle at how frugal the Benitezes were for serving us boiled peanuts, dilis and burong mangga (preserved mango). It was only when I grew up that I realized they were really elevating native delicacies and were so ahead of their time,” wrote Lyca Benitez Brown in The Philippine Star.
When she turned 100 in 2014, she collaborated with Purple Yam co-owner Amy Besa and presented guests with a menu called “A Culinary Tribute to Tita Helen,” which included dishes like roast chicken with karimbuaya, pancit pusit, grilled fish with burnt coconut cream sauce, slow-cooked ginataang hipon, and Davao chocolate ice cream.
She had been living in Mira-Nila in Cubao, which was built by her parents in 1929, and declared a Heritage House by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 2011.
According to PWU’s official Facebook page, her cremated remains will be brought to the Taft Avenue campus’ chapel today, Jul 15, for the 7pm mass.
Viewing will continue until Sun, Jul 17, from 9am onwards.
Her remains will be brought to the Philippine Senate before its inurnment on Jul 19 at the Mira Nila Chapel, Quezon City.
In lieu of flowers, the university encourages a donation to the PWU-Helena Z Benitez Endowment Fund.
Rest in peace, Mama B!
