Empowering the Future by Honoring the Past: Celebrating 5 Remarkable Filipina Women in History

Written by FEMINIST

Curated for Filipino American History Month ✨

 

Cristeta Comerford
b.1962


Comerford is a Filipino-American chef who has been the White House executive chef since 2005. She is not only the first woman to hold this position but also the first person of Asian descent and the first women of color. Comerford was born in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines. She studied food technology in the Philippines before moving to the United States at the age of 23.

Thelma Buchholdt

1934-2007

Buchholdt was a politician, attorney, and historian who became the first Filipina American elected to a U.S. state legislature, serving in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1975 to 1985. Rep. Buchholdt worked on various issues, including education, labor rights, and social welfare. She was a strong advocate for women's rights, workers' rights, and the rights of Alaska Natives. Buchholdt was born in Claveria, Bulacan, Philippines and moved to the U.S. in 1951.

Victoria ‘Vicki’ Draves

1924-2010


Draves was an American diver who made history in the 1948 Summer Olympics when she became the first woman to win gold medals in both platform and springboard diving in the same Olympic Games, despite facing discrimination and racism as a Filipino American athlete during that era. Her accomplishments helped pave the way for greater diversity in Olympic sports and inspired future generations of athletes.

Fe del Mundo
1911-2011

Del Mundo was a Filipina pediatrician known for shaping the Philippines’ healthcare system. In 1957, after earning her Master’s degree from Harvard Medical School, she returned to the Philippines, founding its first pediatric hospital as well as The Children’s Medical Centre Foundation in 1957, which provided medical care to rural communities lacking insurance. Del Mundo was born in the district of Intramuros, Manila, Philippines and passed away aged 99.

Encarnacion Alzona
1895-2001

Alzona was a Filipina historian, educator, and women’s rights advocate. In 1918, she earned her Master’s degree with a thesis focused on education standards for women in the Philippines and, in 1923, became the first Filipina in history to obtain a Ph.D. Alzona spent her life working to advance educational and political opportunities for women in the Philippines. She was born in Biñan, Philippines and passed away aged 105.

 

Follow along with us at @Feminist and celebrate Herstory-makers who shaped and are continuing to shape the world we live in today @feminist.herstory.

FEMINIST

FEMINIST is a women-led social-first digital media platform and collective that exists to actualize the intersectional feminist movement through the amplification of a diverse network of change-makers and creators. With a global audience of over 6.5M+, it is the largest social platform serving the multifaceted lives of women, girls and gender expansive people. As the hub for a socially conscious global community by and for purpose-driven makers through media, technology and commerce, FEMINIST seeks to amplify, educate, inform and inspire.

https://feminists.co
Previous

These 8 survivors are sharing their experiences to raise awareness about breast cancer and help those going through the same thing.
Next

Meet 11 Filipino American creators whose work centers community and belonging for underrepresented individuals.