Elisa Ochoa
Encyclopedia
Elisa Rosales Ochoa was the first woman
elected to the Philippine Congress
.
, in what was then the province of Agusan
.Her parents were Canuto Rosales and Ramona Villanueva, In 1915, she became a licensed nurse after completing her studies at the Philippine General Hospital
. She married Enrique Ochoa, a physician
and spent the next several years working at different hospitals as a nurse.
In 1934, Ochoa returned to schooling, finally obtaining a high school diploma. By 1936, she had obtained an associate of arts degree from the National University
. After passing a civil service
examination for nursing superintendents in 1939, Ochoa enrolled in law school
.
was extended to Filipino women after a law allowing the same was approved via plebiscite
. Elections
for the House of Representatives
were scheduled for 1941. Ochoa interrupted her law school studies to return home and run for the National Assembly representing the province of Agusan. Ochoa handily won the election on November 11, 1941.
Ochoa would not have the opportunity to fully serve out her term. Less than a month after her election, the Japanese invasion of the Philippines commenced, and the National Assembly was unable to convene until it was reorganized under the control of the Japanese in 1943. Ochoa nonetheless tried to perform her official duties as a member of Congress. She was active in humanitarian efforts during the Second World War. After the restoration of the Commonwealth government under President
Sergio Osmeña
, Ochoa resumed her duties as the duly elected Congresswoman of Agusan.
that was elected in that year. Still, Ochoa remained in public service, acting as a presidential technical assistant on health to Presidents
Ramon Magsaysay
and Carlos P. Garcia
. She would also help establish a school for midwifery
in her native Butuan City.
Ochoa died on September 20, 1978, at the age of 80. She is buried in Butuan City.
Woman
A woman , pl: women is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent...
elected to the Philippine Congress
Congress of the Philippines
The Congress of the Philippines is the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines. It is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate , and the House of Representatives although commonly in the Philippines the term congress refers to the latter.The Senate is composed of 24 senators half...
.
Background
Ochoa was born in ButuanButuan City
The City of Butuan is the regional center of Caraga, serving as an administrative region of the Philippines; it is a highly urbanized city. It is located at the northeastern part of Agusan Valley, Mindanao, sprawling across the Agusan River. It is bounded to the north, west and south by Agusan del...
, in what was then the province of Agusan
Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga, a region in Mindanao. Its capital is Cabadbaran City and it borders Surigao del Norte to the north, Surigao del Sur to the east, Agusan del Sur to the south, and Misamis Oriental to the west...
.Her parents were Canuto Rosales and Ramona Villanueva, In 1915, she became a licensed nurse after completing her studies at the Philippine General Hospital
Philippine General Hospital
The Philippine General Hospital is a tertiary state-owned hospital administered and operated by the University of the Philippines Manila, the University of the Philippines System's Health Sciences Center. It is the largest government hospital administered by the university, and is designated as...
. She married Enrique Ochoa, a physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and spent the next several years working at different hospitals as a nurse.
In 1934, Ochoa returned to schooling, finally obtaining a high school diploma. By 1936, she had obtained an associate of arts degree from the National University
National University (Philippines)
National University is a university in Manila, Philippines.It is a founding member of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and is a pioneer of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities...
. After passing a civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
examination for nursing superintendents in 1939, Ochoa enrolled in law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
.
First woman member of Congress
In 1937, the right of suffrageSuffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
was extended to Filipino women after a law allowing the same was approved via plebiscite
Philippine women suffrage plebiscite, 1937
The issue concerning women's suffrage in the Philippines was settled in a special plebiscite held on April 30, 1937, in which only men could vote. Ninety percent of voters were in favor of the measure...
. Elections
Philippine general election, 1941
Presidential, legislative and local elections were held on November 11, 1941 in the Philippines. Incumbent President Manuel Luis Quezon won an unprecedented second partial term as President of the Philippines via a landslide. His running mate, Vice President Sergio Osmeña also won via landslide...
for the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
were scheduled for 1941. Ochoa interrupted her law school studies to return home and run for the National Assembly representing the province of Agusan. Ochoa handily won the election on November 11, 1941.
Ochoa would not have the opportunity to fully serve out her term. Less than a month after her election, the Japanese invasion of the Philippines commenced, and the National Assembly was unable to convene until it was reorganized under the control of the Japanese in 1943. Ochoa nonetheless tried to perform her official duties as a member of Congress. She was active in humanitarian efforts during the Second World War. After the restoration of the Commonwealth government under President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Sergio Osmeña
Sergio Osmeña
Sergio Osmeña y Suico was a Filipino politician who served as the 4th President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice President under Manuel L. Quezon, and rose to the presidency upon Quezon's death in 1944, being the oldest Philippine president to hold office at age 65...
, Ochoa resumed her duties as the duly elected Congresswoman of Agusan.
Later life
Ochoa's term expired in 1946, and she was not a member of the 1st Congress1st Congress of the Philippines
The First Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives from May 25, 1946 until December 13, 1949. The body was originally convened as the Second Congress of the Commonwealth of the...
that was elected in that year. Still, Ochoa remained in public service, acting as a presidential technical assistant on health to Presidents
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Ramon Magsaysay
Ramon Magsaysay
Ramón del Fierro Magsaysay was the third President of the Republic of the Philippines from December 30, 1953 until his death in a plane crash in 1957. He was elected President under the banner of the Nacionalista Party.-Early life:Ramon F...
and Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos P. Garcia
Carlos Polistico García was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist and guerrilla leader...
. She would also help establish a school for midwifery
Midwifery
Midwifery is a health care profession in which providers offer care to childbearing women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the postpartum period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the mother with breastfeeding....
in her native Butuan City.
Ochoa died on September 20, 1978, at the age of 80. She is buried in Butuan City.