Google Doodle honored yet another great Filipino, Josefa Llanes Escoda, who is known to most Filipinos as the founder of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines and women’s right advocate. The tribute commemorates Escoda’s 120th birth anniversary on September 20.
Here’s the full text on Google Doodle’s clickable tribute feature on Escoda:
When Josefa Llanes Escoda was attending elementary school in Dingras, her hometown in the Philippines, she went to class despite an impending typhoon. “I’ll not let the weather keep me away from school,” the determined young student told her mother. After graduating as valedictorian, she went on to join the Red Cross and win a scholarship to the United States, where she studied social work, earning a masters degree from Columbia University.
Born on this day in 1898, Escoda was the eldest of seven children and always showed a great interest in women’s issues. A strong advocate for female suffrage, she worked tirelessly to make sure voting rights were extended to all citizens. She founded the Boy’s Town in Manila for underprivileged youth in 1937 and the Girl Scouts of the Philippines in 1940, changing the lives of young people in her native country for the better.
Escoda’s face appears on the 1000 peso bill and streets, buildings, and a monument have been dedicated in her honor. As a living legacy to her work, the Girl Scouts of the Philippines honor Escoda by celebrating her birthday each year with acts of service, carrying the example she set forward for generations to come.
You can also watch Google Doodle’s tribute video about Escoda here:
September 20 has been declared a public holiday at Escoda’s birthplace in Dingras City, Ilocos Norte, her birthplace. For this year’s celebration, the marker of the Josefa Llanes Escoda National Highway was inaugurated in San Nicolas-Solsona, which is a portion of the Ilocos Norte-Apayao Road. September 17 to 22 is celebrated in the country as “Girl Scout Week”.
Google’s Doodles are the fun, surprising, and sometimes spontaneous changes that are made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists.
Google Doodle has also previously featured Filipino poet Francisco Balagtas and lyricist Levi Celerio. What other Doodle about the Philippines have you noticed recently?
