Estefania Aldaba-Lim

Estefanía Aldaba-Lim (born Estefanía "Fanny" Aldaba; January 6, 1917 – March 7, 2006) was the first female secretary of any Cabinet of the Philippines, serving as Secretary of Social Services and Development from 1971 to 1977. She was also the first Filipina clinical psychologist.

Estefanía Aldaba-Lim
Secretary of Social Services and Development
Secretary of Social Welfare (1971–1976)
In office
April 11, 1971 – November 30, 1977
PresidentFerdinand Marcos
Preceded byGregorio Feliciano
Succeeded byNathaniel Tablante
Personal details
Born
Estefanía Aldaba

(1917-01-06)January 6, 1917
Malolos, Bulacan Philippines
DiedMarch 7, 2006(2006-03-07) (aged 89)
Manila, Philippines
Spouse
Luis Lim
​
(m. 1944⁠–⁠1962)​
Children6 (including Cheche Lazaro)
Alma materMalolos Elementary School Bulacan High School (now Marcelo H. del Pilar National High School) Philippine Women's University University of Michigan
OccupationPsychologist, advocate, diplomat
AwardsUnited Nations Peace Medal (1979)

Early life and education

Aldaba was born in January 6, 1917, the fifth of 14 children.[1] She was born and raised in Malolos, in the province of Bulacan, Philippines, by her father, a provincial treasurer of Malolos, and her mother, a homemaker.[1]

Aldaba graduated from Malolos Elementary School and finished her secondary education at Bulacan High School (now Marcelo H. del Pilar National High School) in 1933.[2] She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Philippine Women's University in 1936, a Bachelor of Education degree from Philippine Women's University in 1938, and a Master of Arts in psychology from the University of the Philippines in 1939.[1][3]

In 1942, Aldaba completed her PhD at the University of Michigan, becoming the first Filipina to earn a doctoral degree in clinical psychology.[1]

Career

Aldaba-Lim returned to Manila in 1948. She established the Institute of Human Relations at Philippine Women's University, and was a founding member and president of the Philippine Association of Psychologists and of the Philippine Mental Health Association.[1][3]

In 1971, Aldaba-Lim became the first woman cabinet member in the Philippines when she was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD).[1] She held this role until 1977.

In 1976 through 1977, Aldaba-Lim served as president of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.[3]

In 1976, Aldaba-Lim was elected the Asian regional representative of the UNESCO Executive Board. In 1979, she became was the first woman to become Special Ambassador to the United Nations, with the rank of assistant secretary general during the UNICEF—UNESCO International Year of the Child. She received the United Nations Peace Medal that year from Secretary General Kurt Waldheim.[3]

In 1994, she founded the Museo Pambata, the Philippines's first children's museum, in the repurposed 1949 Manila Elks Club building in Manila.[4]

Marriage and children

Aldaba-Lim had six children with her husband Luis Lim, whom she married in 1944. Lim died in an airplane crash in 1962.[1]

Death

On March 7, 2006, at age 89, Aldaba-Lim died of leukemia at her home in Manila, Philippines.[5]

See also

References
  1. David, Henry P.; Villar, Imelda V.G.; Denmark, Florence L. (2007). "Estefania Aldaba-Lim (1917–2006)". American Psychologist. 62 (1): 53. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.62.1.53.
  2. Joaquin, Nick (1996). One Woman's Liberating: The Life and Career of Estefania Aldaba-Lim. Published and exclusively distributed by Anvil Pub. p. 19. ISBN 978-971-27-0543-4.
  3. "Estefania Aldaba-Lim - Psychology's Feminist Voices". www.feministvoices.com. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  4. "Museopambata.org: History + about". Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  5. "Ex-DSWD head dies of leukemia". PhilStar.com. 2006-03-08. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
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