Amelia Gordon

Amelia Juico Gordon (née Amelia Nepomuceno Juico; September 4, 1919 – November 19, 2009) was a mayor of Olongapo City[1][2] and mother of Senator and Red Cross Chairman Richard "Dick" Gordon.

Amelia Gordon
Mayor of Olongapo City
In office
January 1, 1968 – June 30, 1972
PresidentFerdinand Marcos
Preceded byJaime Guevarra
Succeeded byGeronimo "Momoy" Lipumano
Personal details
Born
Amelia Nepomuceno Juico

(1919-09-04)September 4, 1919
Castillejos, Zambales, Philippine Islands
DiedNovember 17, 2009(2009-11-17) (aged 90)
Olongapo, Zambales, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Political partyIndependent (1968-1972)
Spouse(s)James Leonard T. Gordon, Sr.
Relationsmarried, widow
ChildrenVeronica "Onnie" Gordon-Lorenzana
Barbara "Bai" Gordon-Delos Reyes
Cecille Gordon-Mullen
Richard "Dick" Gordon
James "Bong" Gordon, Jr.
Imelda Gordon-Deza
ResidenceOlongapo City, Zambales, Philippines
OccupationHousewife; Politician

Early life

Amelia Juico Gordon was born on September 4, 1919, to Juan Juico and María Nepomuceno y Espíritu.[3] Due to financial difficulties, she was never able to finish high school.

Personal life

She married James Leonard T.Gordon, Sr., an American immigrant, who became the First Municipal Mayor of Olongapo, Zambales. Amelia Juico-Gordon managed several businesses, and supported her husband with his career. She had five children, and supported abandoned children of the city. She began taking in abandoned Filipino-American children, adopting and raising them as her own, and even giving them her "Juico" last name.[4][5]

As her husband was walking to the City Hall with people crowding around him, he was shot in the head by an operative of the opposition. She was left to raise her own five children and also her adopted children, on her own.

Political life

After her husband's death, Olongapo residents petitioned Gordon to stand for election.[2] Gordon was the first elected city mayor and first woman elected city Mayor of Olongapo in 1967. After her term in office, she continued her life of service in the private sector, advocating the protection and promotion of the welfare of needy and abandoned children, legally adopting fifty-four children as her own, changing the lives of thousands as the founder of the Olongapo Boys Town and Girls Home, and founding several other civic organizations such as the Olongapo City Civic Action Group (OCAG), the Iba-Olongapo Catholic Women's League (IOCWL), and the Olongapo City Red Cross (OCRC) where she also served as Chairperson for twenty-eight years. She led and founded many civic groups in Olongapo including the Olongapo City Boy's and Girls Home, Red Cross Olongapo City Chapter (RCOCC) and the Catholic Women's League of Zambales (CWLZ).

Awards

She was Former assemblywoman of the 1984 Batasang Pambansa and recipient of The Pearl S. Buck International Woman of The Year Award in 2002, only the second Filipina to receive such, for her accomplishments in her civic and humanitarian endeavor.

Death

She died on November 17, 2009, at the age of ninety due to stroke.

Descendants

Several of Gordon's relatives were also prominent figures in politics.

Legacy

Places named after Gordon in Olongapo City, Zambales:

  • Gordon Heights Elementary School
  • James L. Gordon Integrated School Elementary School
  • City of Olongapo National High School – James L. Gordon Integrated School
  • Gordon Heights National High School
  • Gordon Heights NHS – Sta. Rita High School
  • Gordon College
  • Gordon Park – Brgy. Kalaklan

References
  1. Nance, John (19 August 1969). "Lady Mayor of Philippine's 'Sin City' Keeps Motherly Eye On Her People". Rocky Mount Telegram. Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Associated Press. p. 7. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  2. Killen, Patrick J. (31 August 1969). "She's Mayor of a Town That's 'No Place for a Lady'". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. p. C2. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  3. Maria Juico's Death Certificate
  4. Fineman, Mark (31 March 1988). "AMERASIAN: Race Mix Welcome". The Los Angeles Times. p. 14. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  5. Hinckley, David (20 March 1997). "Jim Dandy, & LaVern's Music, to the Rescue". Daily News. New York, New York. p. 63. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
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