Adelina Santos-Rodriguez (August 6, 1920 – September 30, 2021) was a Filipina politician and civil leader who served as the first woman

Mayor of Quezon City The mayor of Quezon City ( fil, Punong Lungsod ng Quezon) is the head of the executive branch of Quezon City's government. The mayor holds office at the Quezon City Hall. Like all local government heads in the Philippines, the mayor is elected v ...

from 1976 to 1986. She also distinguished herself in charity work especially her programs for the

Philippine Red Cross The Philippine Red Cross (PRC; fil, Krus na Pula ng Pilipinas) is a non-profit humanitarian organization and a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The PRC was established in 1947, with roots in the Philippine Rev ...

. She was married to Isidro Rodriguez, a softball official and former

Governor of Rizal The governor of Rizal is the local chief executive of the Philippine province of Rizal. List References

{{Provincial governors in the Philippines Governors of Rizal, Government of Rizal Governors of provinces of the Philippines Politic ...

. She completed her primary education at Assumption Convent at Herran,

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...

and high school education at the College of the Holy Ghost in Manila. She then attended

University of Santo Tomas The University of Santo Tomas (also known as UST and officially as the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila) is a private, Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Miguel ...

, where she was proclaimed "Miss Education" and completed her

Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...

in Home Economics degree. In the 1960s, Rodriguez was active in the post-war relocation projects of the People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation in Quezon City. She was appointed by President

Ferdinand Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. ( , , ; September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino politician, lawyer, dictator, and kleptocrat who was the 10th president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled under martial ...

as mayor of Quezon City, following the resignation of

Norberto S. Amoranto Norberto Salandanan Amoranto (1907-1979) was a Filipino politician who served as Mayor of Quezon City from 1954 to 1976. Career Norberto S. Amoranto became Mayor of Quezon City when he was appointed to the position by President Ramon Magsaysay on ...

. She focused on healthcare (by establishing health centers across the city and promoting family planning and birth control), tourism, and culture. She also established an economic development council to invite more businesses, jobs, investments, and livelihood in the city. It was also during her term when the

Quezon Memorial Shrine The Quezon Memorial Shrine ( fil, Pambansang Pang-alaalang Dambana ni Quezon, ) is a monument and national shrine dedicated to former Philippine President Manuel Quezon located within the grounds of Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City, Metro Ma ...

was inaugurated. She was conferred as the city’s Tandang Sora awardee in 2016. After stepping down from office, she served as officer and head of different civic organizations and women's organizations.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Santos Rodriguez, Adelina 1920 births 2021 deaths Beauty queen-politicians Mayors of Quezon City University of Santo Tomas alumni Women mayors of places in the Philippines Filipino feminists Filipino centenarians Women centenarians 20th-century Filipino politicians 20th-century Filipino women politicians

See also

References