[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 79 (Tuesday, June 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       TRIBUTE TO HELENA BENITEZ

                                 ______


                           HON. DUNCAN HUNTER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 21, 1994

  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Honorable 
Helena Z. Benitez. A celebration of Helena Benitez' long years of 
service to others will be held on June 27, 1994, her 80th birthday, at 
the Manila Hotel Fiesta Pavilion in the Philippines. Miss Benitez 
earned liberal arts and education degrees from the Philippine Women's 
University in Manila and followed with a doctorate in humane letters 
from Manhattan College of the Sacred Heart, in the United States. She 
later served 2 years as president of the Philippine Women's University, 
one of the country's leading institution for girls, and is currently 
chairman of the board, Philippine Women's University.
  In 1940, Helena Benitez was founding member and chairman, central 
committee, Girl Scouts of the Philippines. When the Japanese invaded 
the Philippines in 1941, they put all American and British civilians, 
as well as American prisoners of war, in concentration camps. As the 
Japanese continued their brutal occupation of the Philippines, civilian 
and military prisoners began to suffer from a lack of food and medical 
treatment, which pictures taken soon after the defeat of the Japanese 
show.
  Helena Benitez was one of a group of young, socially prominent women 
who obtained food and medicine, and then risked their lives by sneaking 
up to the concentration camps at night and pushing food and medicine 
under barbed wire. If caught, they were bayoneted by the Japanese 
guards.
  The Red Cross was not allowed into the Philippines by Japanese 
officials. Miss Benitez, as founding chairman of the Volunteer Social 
Aid Committee, along with the 12 other survivors of the aid group which 
provided help to the prisoners of war, was recognized by the Philippine 
Congress for their heroic efforts in helping the prisoners during World 
War II.
  In 1948, Helena Benitez established the community college, Philippine 
Women's University, and was founder and first president of the 
Philippine Home Economics Association. In subsequent years, she founded 
the Bayanihan Folk Arts Association, the Family Life Workshop, and was 
founder and vice-chairman of the America-Philippines Society in New 
York City.
  Upon being elected to the Philippine Senate, she was vice-chairman of 
the Committee on Education as well as head of several other committees: 
National Resources; Urban Development and Resettlement; and Local 
Governments. She was also a member of the National Economic Council.
  With her unmatched enthusiasm for helping others, Helena Benitez was 
appointed by a number of Presidents of the Philippines to head national 
commissions and represent the Philippines in various international 
conferences.
  Among awards given her was the Soroptimist International Women 
Helping Women Award.
  Helena Benitez was also active in the United Nations, serving as 
chairman of U.N. Committees meeting in various parts of the world, and 
received the Romulo U.N. Award.
  She currently serves as international vice-president of the Pacific 
Memorial Freedom Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving the 
history of the vital American-Filipino joint action against Japanese 
invaders during World War II.
  Helena Benitez stands as an outstanding example of selfless public 
service. We in the United States of America particularly appreciate her 
official and volunteer activities in nurturing the historic friendship 
between the people of America and the people of the Philippines.

                          ____________________