Helena Z. Benitez, compleat woman

In the ancient Greek science of numerology with the philosopher-mathematician Pythagoras, the number 88 represented healing, leadership and revolution on a spiritual level. Helena Z. Benitez turned 88 recently, and Dr. Dolores B. Lasan, chancellor and vice president for academic affairs of Philippine Women’s University, describes her as in that numerology sense, as though born "to heal, lead and revo-lutionize on a spiritual level flawed ideals, clouded oaths, and broken yet blessed human hearts, hopes and aspirations."

At 88, former senator, recipient of the Papal Award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, and the Sikatuna Award Rank of Datu, holder of many honorary doctorate degrees, and head of delegations to international conferences on women and the environment, Helena is still looking for things to do, for stars to reach. Can you imagine that yesterday, she met with women editors just to brainstorm on finding something "different to help our country."

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But in order to let you in on the character of HZB, let me tell you episodes told by some women at a celebration held in her honor on her 85th birthday. Judge Filipinas A. Laborte, national secretary of the Girl Scouts of the Phi-lippines, related that when HZB arrived in 1930 from the United States where she took her master’s degree she met Josefa Llanes Escoda, the GSP founder, who invited her to chair the central committee. When the war broke out in the Pacific in 1941, Helen and other Girl Scout pioneers had the opportunity to help Filipino war prisoners. She headed the emergency Volunteers Social Aid Committee or VSAC. The Japanese then refused to recognize the Red Cross and the Girl Scouts because of their links to the USA. Miss Benitez and others worked closely with Josefa and Tony Escoda in a critical mission of bringing succor and relief to the USAFFE Death March prisoners in San Fernando and Capas, and later to the American prisoners in Cabanatuan. This continued all through the Japanese occupation years up to the end of the war.

As a friend of the Quezon family, she, together with the Quezon daughters and other Girl Scout leaders, used the presidential yacht and promoted GSP’s fund-raising tour as far as the Visayas and Mindanao. Her belief in the Girl Scout movement led her to become its longest-serving president, from 1979 to 1998, and, through her caring leadership and innovative managerial style, Ms. Laborte related, Helen was able to "contribute greatly to the dynamic success of GSP."

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Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rosario Manalo shared her memory of HZB. In 1985, HZB was head of the Philippine delegation to the First World Conference on Women in Nairobi whose preparatory commission was chaired by Ambassador Manalo who at that time was ambassador to Belgium and the European Community. When Rosario left Belgium, her mother was dying and when she arrived in Nairobi, HZB broke the news to her that her mother had died. Mrs. Manalo wanted to catch the next flight to Brussels and accompany her poor mother’s remains back to the Philippines, but HZB, said Mrs. Manalo "made it clear to me that I had a responsibility to my country and the world. Not my mother’s death, not even her own death, Helena said, could make me abandon the responsibility. Otherwise, she reasoned, the international community, who would not have understood that I was a daughter first before a diplomat, would never forgive me. Helena reminded me that I went to Nairobi to accomplish what was then the most important professional mission of my life. Trust and confidence in the Filipina lay on the line. And so I saw through the work of the Preparatory Commission until the end."

Thus, to Ambassador Manalo, Helena "is a woman for all seasons. She is intellect, tenacity, kindness and beauty put together. She has the innate ability to relate to all kinds of people from any social class, from paupers to princes, without being the least affected with pretension. In all her encounters, her uniqueness, her quick and nimble mind shines through."

HZB is the idol of generations of Filipino women. I am one of her admirers.

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ON ANOTHER FRONT. one of Korea’s finest graphic artists, In Kwak Park, is the featured painter up to this Saturday, August 24, at Liongoren Gallery in New York, Cubao, Quezon City. Entitled "Recent Works: Image-Memory-Journey," Park’s exhibit unveils his personal journey of recalling his homeland. His exhibit here, by the way, has been timed to celebrate the Independence Day of his country, Korea.

Park says his paintings "are like diaries of time". Memory as a theme is illustrated in his works which recall the sights and impression of his homeland despite years of numerous overseas journeys and exhibits abroad. They are "re-visitations and visual representations of intangible sensations, hazy recallings and nostalgic feelings" for his beloved homeland.

In Kwan’s paintings are stylized abstractions and expressionism. In his recent works he explores various mediums, materials, forms and techniques, mixing oil, acrylic and soft earth over traditional paper and incises and scratch markings over painted aluminum sheets.

Drop in on In Kwan’s exhibit and enjoy this outstanding artist’s creativity.