MAY 30, 2011

NR # 2420D

House to honor Justice Leonor Ines Luciano

A Standing Committee of the House of Representatives is leading a weeklong

celebration, starting Monday, in honor of the late Justice Leonor Ines Luciano, a former
women sectoral representative during the 9th and 10th Congresses.

Rep. Ma. Angelica Amante-Matba (2nd District, Agusan del Norte), chairperson of
the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, said photo and memorabilia
exhibits to honor Luciano will start today, 1:30 pm, May 30, at the North Wing Lobby of
the Batasan Complex.

Luciano retired Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, died last April 29, 2011
at the age of 91. She was born May 8, 1919.

“She was well-known and deeply respected for her advocacies and monumental
laws actively sponsored and lobbied throughout her lifetime concerning the protection and
welfare of women, children and senior citizens,” Amante-Matba said.

“We expect testimonials from Members of Congress as well as from different social
organizations who have been touched and empowered by the benevolent heart of Justice
Luciano,” Amante-Matba said.

Amante-Matba said Luciano has initiated the filing of measures against trafficking,
domestic violence, work discrimination, and protection of overseas workers and their
families.

Luciano is one of the authors of Republic Act 7882 or the Women in Small Business
Enterprises Act of 1995, the Republic Act 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law,
RA8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, RA8293 or the
Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, RA8353 or the Anti-Rape Act of 1997,
RA8369 or the Family Courts Act, RA8505 or the Rape Victim Assistance and Protection
Act of 1998 and RA8504 or the Philippine Aids Prevention and Control Act of 1998,
among others.

Among the organizations that will participate in the week-long celebration are the
Gabriela Women’s Party, Quezon City Gender & Development Resource & Coordinating
Office, Office of the Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, Philippine Commission on
Women (PCW), Ugnayan ng mga Kababaihan sa Pulitika (UKP) and other non-
governmental groups.

In a House Resolution 1227, Gabriela Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and

Emerenciana De Jesus expressed sympathy to the bereaved family of the late Justice
Luciano.

“Justice Luciano paved the way for legislators like us to follow. Her
accomplishments are milestones in pioneering laws for women and children,” Ilagan said.

Amante-Matba said Luciano is a devoted wife and a mother who excelled as

schoolteacher, rice farmer and a judge of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of
Quezon City.

Luciano was given a “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” by Pope Paul VI in 1975 and the
Mother Teresa Award in 2001.

Luciano is also a Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Awardee of 2008 given by

the University of the Philippines (UP) during its centennial celebration.

Luciano received the “Woman Farmer of the Year” from the late President Ramon
Magsaysay, as a hands-on farmer, who produced more than 100 cavans of palay in one
hectare, when the usual produce during that time was only15-20 cavans per hectare.

Amante-Matba said Luciano instituted workshops and dialogues with the officials
and employees of the department of social welfare, the police department, prosecutors and
judges to improve the handling of juvenile offender cases.

“Her legacy shall serve as an inspiration to the present and new breed of public
servants and socio-civic workers for many generations to come,” Amante-Matba said. (30)
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