The 10th Filipino Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, a dedicated public servant who championed the welfare of vulnerable populations, particularly children and women. They played a crucial role in shaping the country's social policies and programs.
Dulce Saguisag is a name synonymous with social welfare and development in the Philippines. As the former Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development under President Joseph Estrada's administration, Saguisag played a crucial role in shaping the country's social welfare policies and programs.
Born on September 5, 1944, Saguisag was a descendant of Senator Daniel Maramba from Pangasinan. She earned a bachelor's degree in social work from the University of the Philippines Diliman and placed third in the country in the 1964 National Board Examination for Social Workers.
Saguisag began her career in 1964 at the Social Welfare Administration (SWA), which is now known as the Department of Social Welfare and Development. She held various positions, including senior social worker and community center director, before leaving the Philippines for the United States in 1967.
Saguisag was awarded a grant by the US State Department to observe social work in the United States. During her stay, she was recruited by the John F. Kennedy War on Poverty program and won a scholarship to Boston College, where she earned a master's degree in social work with an emphasis on community organization and social planning in 1969.
While studying at Boston College, Saguisag met her future husband, Rene Saguisag, a student at Harvard Law School. The couple had two daughters and three sons during their marriage. Her hobbies included collecting angel and Santa Claus figurines and ballroom dancing.
Saguisag returned to the Philippines and resumed her career in public service. She was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in 1998. However, she withdrew her support for President Estrada on January 19, 2001, following accusations of massive corruption against the president. Estrada was ousted from office the next day, marking a significant turning point in Philippine history known as EDSA II.
Saguisag's contributions to social welfare and development in the Philippines were recognized through various awards and honors. She served as the secretary-general of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines, a testament to her dedication to promoting physical fitness and well-being among Filipinos.
As a tribute to her life and work, Dulce Saguisag will be remembered as a pillar of social welfare and development in the Philippines, a champion of the poor and marginalized, and a shining example of dedicated public service.
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