From November 25 to December 10, the world observes the 18-Day Campaign Against Violence Against Women. This year, the Philippines also commemorates the 75th anniversary of ending World War II and the Battle for the Liberation of Manila. As we remember the sacrifices of our heroes and the innocent civilians that perished in the war, let us celebrate the lives and contributions of three distinguished women who saved countless lives from starvation and death with their innovation, grit, and service for others.

Fe Primitiva del Mundo, was a leading pediatrician and distinguished scholar, humanitarian, and Filipina of exemplary character who has been the moving life force behind the establishment of various pediatric institutions in the Philippines. Dr. del Mundo has produced numerous articles and treatises on various scientific subjects, the majority of which delves on pediatrics as a medical researcher and writer. Her works have either been published or read before many scientific fora here and abroad through the years.

Shortly before the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in 1941, Del Mundo returned to the Philippines after doing further studies in the United States. She joined the International Red Cross where she volunteered to look after the child-internees then detained at the University of Santo Tomas internment camp for foreign nationals. There, she set up a makeshift hospice within the internment camp and her activities earned her the moniker “The Angel of Santo Tomas”. Del Mundo was asked by Manila mayor León Guinto to head a children’s hospital under the auspices of the city government in 1943 after the Japanese authorities shut down the hospice. The hospital was later converted into a full-care medical center to increase its absorptive capacity with the mounting casualties during the Battle for the Liberation of Manila. This would later be renamed the North General Hospital and much later as the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center. She survived World War II but some of her relatives perished in the carnage.

Dr. del Mundo’s clinical researches particularly on the viruses: poliomyelitis, rubella, rubella, and varicella served as references in the use of vaccines and in immunization that is currently available in the country. In order to help families in rural communities without electricity, del Mundo invented a bamboo incubator in 1941. Moreover, her studies on the bacteriology etiology of diarrheas in infants and children below 5 years have updated similar studies in the past. These researches served as the basis for the use of antimicrobials in the management of diarrhea which continues to be a major cause of infant and child morbidity and mortality in developing countries like the Philippines.

Her achievements in the fields of pediatrics, public service, and other community endeavors have earned her well-deserved accolades and distinctions affirming her qualities and accomplishments such as The Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service by a Private Citizen, 1977; XV International Congress of Pediatrics award for Outstanding Pediatrician and Humanitarian, 1977; award as Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, 1967; and the Elizabeth Blackwell Award for Outstanding Service to Mankind, 1966. Dr. Fe del Mundo was the first Filipina to be conferred as National Scientist of the Philippines in 1980. She also received the Order of Lakandula in 2010 and the Order of the Golden Heart posthumously in 2011. She was interred at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani. #LeoChristianLauzon