History
100 Years and Beyond
Mabolo Puericulture Then
Mabolo Puericulture Now
1918
Creation of Cebu Women’s Club founded by Mrs. Felicisima Najarro-Jerez (Founding President 1918- 1920), Mrs. Carmen Rallos and Mrs. Maria F. Rallos.
Cebu’s prominent and civic-minded women voluntarily came together in the same spirit and goal to share and serve the underprivileged women and children of Cebu and its neighboring islands by setting up puericulture centers in Parian, San Nicolas, Pardo and Mabolo.
1920
Mrs. Carmen R. Sotto became the Club’s president. More women became members actively participating in the Club’s activities. The patients in the puericulture centers also increased which prompted the need to build a maternity house.
1922
The first Cebu Maternity House was setup in Fort San Pedro. The maternity house offered prenatal, postnatal and assisting normal deliveries were the services offered.
1923
1924
1926
1942- 1945
The Cebu School of Midwifery was founded with 14 pioneering graduates. Mrs. Felicidad Ybanez was the principal
A new site for the maternity house was identified and this is at its present site now in B. Rodriguez St. The planning and fundraising was mostly credited to the valiant efforts of Mrs. Carmen R. Sotto (president, 1924- 1925) and Mrs. Genoveva Villalon (president, 1926- 1935)
Mrs. Genoveva Villalon took over the Club’s presidency serving until 1935.
World War II broke out. Cebu Maternity House was closed and converted into a Japanese headquarters. The structure was almost totally destroyed by the American bombs in 1945.
Board of Directors 1926
Dr. Jurado offerring her services for free
Mrs. Fell with BOD and Staff 1956
1945
1946 - 1949
1950
1952 - 1957
World War II ended.
Mrs. Guadalupe Osmena became the Club’s president. Under her presidency, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Cebu Maternity House was undertaken with Dr. Jose Castillo as the first medical director.
Rehabilitation and reconstruction continued under the presidency of Mrs. Eulalia Renner.
Mrs. Beatriz Jereza took over the presidency. The Club continued its efforts to strengthen its advocacy and its fundraising activities to ensure that the Cebu Maternity House will continue its operations.
Dr. Suga Sotto Yuvienco served as the medical director.
1955
1956
1968
Mrs. Gloria Ligot Escano took over the presidency becoming the longest serving president until 1997 with interim presidents in between terms.
The School of Midwifery was reopened.
Construction of a 2-storey annex building by the effort of Mrs. Inday Lilang Garcia, the wife of then President of the Philippines and an additional dormitory and outpatient department from Congressmen Antonio de Pio and Miguel Cuenco’s pork barrel funds.
Fiscal Catalina Ybanez took over the presidency until 1969.
Reopening of the School of Midwifery
2-storey annex building
BOD 1972-1973
1970
1972
Present Day
The Maternity House & Puericulture Centers was awarded an outstanding achievement award given by the Federation of Women’s Club in Manila.
The Cebu Provincial Board under Gov. Eduardo Gullas, amended the original deed of donation authorizing the Cebu Woman’s Club to rent/ lease any part of the land in support of all activities of the said organization.
Cebu Puericulture Center and Maternity House, Inc. continues to be the venue for prioritizing women and children through healthcare and education.
