Nini Quezon-Avanceña, daughter of Pres. Quezon, dies at age 100

Maria Zeneida “Nini” Quezon Avanceña, the second and the last surviving child of the late Commonwealth President Manuel Luis Quezon and his wife, Aurora, died Monday, July 12 at the age of 100.

Avancena’s son, Ricky, confirmed the demise of his mother in a statement that read: “Mom passed peacefully as her children surrounded her, reading psalms, from the bible and praying the rosary. An agent of light, of all things good and just, promoter and advocate of human rights, equality, social justice, land reform and freedom from oppression and poverty, has passed on to eternity.” Newspaper columnist Manolo Quezon III wrote: “She passed away surrounded by her children, at home, achieving one of the devoutest wishes of the faithful - a true Christian death, at peace with her Maker and the world.” She is survived by nine children.

First husband, the late Felipe Buencamino died during an ambush allegedly staged by the Hukbalahap on April 28, 1949.

Killed in the bloodbath were 12 members of the convoy for the then former First Lady Aurora Quezon, Avanceñas mother. Mrs. Quezon, her eldest daughter, Maria Aurora “Baby” Quezon; and Mayor Ponciano Bernardo, first local chief executive of Quezon City, died in the incident.

Mrs. Quezon was the first president’s wife to receive the title First Lady. She too was the only First Lady to have her name remember with a major Metro Manila boulevard, a barangay in Quezon City, a province in Southern Luzon and a flower.

Mrs. Avanceña married second husband Alberto Avanceña in 1951. She died three months after celebrating her 100th birthday last April 9.