Maria Kalaw Katigbak
A famous name, a scholar’s intellect, an impressive background in social work and undiminished good looks were the passport of Maria Kalaw Katigbak to the Philippine senate.
This is her curriculum vitae: she was a high school valedictorian and a holder of Bachelor of Philosophy degree from the University of the Philippines. As a Barbour scholar, she earned her - M.A. in Social Work. To cap off her barometric degrees, she has a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Social Sciences from the University of Santo Tomas, magna cum laude.
In the field of civic and social work, Senator Katigbak is the president of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines and the Quezon City Girl Scouts Council. She is member of the national board, Catholic Women’s League, Philippine Board of Scholarships for Southeast Asia and the Commission on Appointments
The former beauty queen also holds the following positions in the educational field: member, Board of National Education; member, Board of Trustees, Philippine Normal College, Philippine College of Commerce, Philippine college of Arts and Trade, Samar Institute of Technology and Mindanao Institute of Technology.
Foremost among the bills to her credit as legislator in Senate Bill No. 84, now Republic Act 3765. Also known as the Consumers Protection Bill, the measure seeks to extend protection to consumers buying goods on an installment plan and such other forms of credit transactions.
As a leading exponent of culture, she is responsible for Senate Bill No. 30, and Act to further amend Republic Act 621 entitled “An Act Creating the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization National Commissio0n.”
Senator Katigbak is married to Dr. Jose R. Katigbak, obstetrician and gynecologist, by whom she has four children. Her parents are the late Teodaro M. Kalaw, writer, statesman, former secretary of the Interior, and Director of the National Library, and the late Pura Villanueva of the prominent Lopez – Villanueva family of Jaro, Iloilo, also a writer, pioneer for women’s suffrage and property rights for women, first president and organizer of the League of Women Voters.