Thursday, August 22, 2013

255. Her College Yearbook, PACITA DE LOS REYES, Miss Philippines 1929

PACITA DE LOS REYES, Miss Philippines 1929, in her gradutaion toga as an honors graduate of the University of the Philippines, College of Law.

Miss Philippines of 1929, Pacita Ongsiako de los Reyes was a law student when she represented University of the Philippines at the 1929 search for Miss Philippines.

The statuesque scholar won the title and had an enjoyable year fulfilling the obligations as Miss Philippines. But school had always been a top priority, and she went right back to her law course after her reign was over, distinguishing herself as an outstanding debater, orator and member of the honor roll. Her contemporaries included Ambrosio Padilla and Arturo Tolentino.

 Done with her law course, she took the bar and became one of the topnotchers in the 1934 Bar Exams, copping 7th place. On 10 November 1934, she was officially installed as member of the bar.

She had a brilliant career, and shared her legal mind by teaching subjects at U.P., Holy Ghost College and Far Eastern University. She unsuccessfully ran for the Senate in 1957 under Claro M. Recto’s party.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

254. Carnival Beauties: LEONARDA OCAMPO, Miss Philippines 1934 Candidate

A PRETTY GIRL IS LIKE A MELODY. Leonarda Francisco was a music student of St. Scholastica when she made a bid for the Miss Philippines 1934 crown. This lovely Nueva Ecijana became a well-known concert pianist later in life.

 Leonarda Ocampo, was the first female graduate of Saint Scholastica College's Conservatory of Music. She was still a student when she was prevailed to run for the 1934 Manila Carnival search for Miss Philippines. She originally represented her province of Nueva Ecija having been born in Brgy. Bangad, Cabanatuan.The crown went to the Marilao beauty, Clarita Tan Kiang.

Leonarda became a well-known concert pianist. She passed on the musical genes to her descendants, which include the award-winning composer Louie Ocampo and Fr. Manoling Francisco S.J., composer of the well-known songs, "Hindi Kita Malilimutan" and "Tanging Yaman". A school that stands on a piece of land donated by the family in Cabanatuan City is named after this musical beauty.


Sunday, August 4, 2013

253. Carnival Wedding: KALAW-KATIGBAK NUPTIALS

A ROYAL MARRIAGE. Maria Kalaw, 1931 Miss Philippines with husband, Dr. Jose Katigbak on their wedding day.

Maria Kalaw, 1931 Miss Philippines, was wed to Dr. Jose Katigbak on 2 June 1934. Sponsors at the wedding were Ramon Fernandez and Mrs. Francisco Tirona-Benitez, Rafael Corpuz and Mrs. Maximo Kalaw, Vicente Lopez and Mrs. Manuel Roxas, Dr. Baldomero Roxas and Mrs. Emilio Aguinaldo, Dr. Sixto Roxas and Mrs. Justa Kalaw de Katigbak, and Leoncio Aranda and Mrs. Arsenio Luz. 

Pacita Roxas and Evelina Kalaw with Ramon Katigbak and Teodoro Kalaw Jr., served as sponsors for the veil. Purita Kalaw was the maid-of-honor and Dr. Jose Reyes stood as Best Man.

The Katigbak couple went on to raise a brood of 4 that included: Marinela (Nela), Josefina (Pinkie), Purisima (Puri) and Norberto (+Butch).