Nelia Sancho (August 30, 1951 - September 1, 2022) was a Filipino women’s rights activist and beauty queen. She was one of the co-founders of the Gabriela Women's Party.[3][4]
Nelia Sancho | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nelia de los Reyes Sancho August 30, 1951 |
| Died | September 1, 2022 (aged 71) |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) [2] |
| Spouse | Anthony Liao |
| Children | 2 |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title |
|
| Major competition(s) |
|
Sancho was born in Antique to Rogelio Canimo Sancho Sr., a lawyer, and Rosario Martizano de los Reyes, a homemaker, [5] but grew up in Aklan (his mother's hometown) and Davao City. While studying at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Sancho joined Binibining Pilipinas 1969, finishing first runner-up, losing out to Gloria Diaz.[6] She then joined Queen of the Pacific 1971, where she won. She then co-founded Gabriela Women's Party after participating in the First Quarter Storm, a protest against president Ferdinand Marcos.[4] In 1973, Sancho was arrested by state forces; she was later released on humanitarian grounds.[7] A year later, Sancho was assigned to be the head of the finance committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.[8] After Marcos was overthrown after the People Power Revolution, Sancho ran for senator in 1987 and lost.[9] During the late 1990s, Sancho led a group that advocated for the Filipina comfort women of World War II.[6]
Gabriela Women's Party and her daughter Anna Louise Sancho Liao announced Sancho's death in September 1, 2022.[4] She died of tuberculosis at her Quezon City home. Anna Louise children are Anna and Mark, while the latter's niece and nephew include Chloe, Fiona, Karen Valiño, Karl Gambler and Wayne Tony Scott. Her remains are interned at Aeternitas Chapels and Columbarium.[10][11]
References
edit- ^ "Nelia Sancho: The Last Conversations, "she hailed from Davao but was born in Pandan, Antique, Panay Island..."". August 30, 2023.
- ^ "Nelia Sancho: The Last Conversations, "As a neophyte, she was a physical standout for her 5'6 tall beauty..."". August 30, 2023.
- ^ Tardiff, Sara (September 11, 2023). "Nelia Sancho, Beauty Queen Turned Defiant Rights Activist, Dies at 71" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ a b c Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (September 2, 2022). "Nelia Sancho, beauty queen, women's rights activist; 71". INQUIRER.net.
- ^ Tardiff, Sara (September 11, 2023). "Nelia Sancho, Beauty Queen Turned Defiant Rights Activist, Dies at 71" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ a b Dumaual, Mario (September 2, 2022). "Beauty queen-turned-activist Nelia Sancho passes away". ABS-CBNnews.com.
- ^ Bolledo, Jairo (September 2, 2022). "Beauty with a purpose: The life of Nelia Sancho, beauty queen and activist". RAPPLER. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ Lolarga, Elizabeth (September 23, 2022). "Nelia Sancho: The Arab-looking, miniskirt-wearing mestizo". VERA Files. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ Concepcion, Pocholo (September 2, 2022). "'Queen of the Pacific' Nelia Sancho dies at 71". Daily Tribune. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ "Nelia Sancho, Beauty Queen Turned Defiant Rights Activist, Dies at 71". The New York Times. May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ Lalu, Gabriel (May 2, 2024). "Nelia Sancho, beauty queen, women's rights activist; 71". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 2, 2024.