Margie & Mayen Juico: A Mom & a Woman

MANILA, Philippines - Margarita “Margie” Penson Juico raised four children while helping shape Philippine history.

Now chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Margie was a young mother 27 years ago when she became the Appointments Secretary of democracy icon, then President Corazon Aquino. In many ways, by being steadfast, organized and incorruptible, Margie helped President Aquino navigate the perilous transition from a dictatorship to a democracy. During the bloody 1989 coup against the government, while rebel soldiers were laying siege to Cory’s Arlegui home, she asked Margie to leave the Palace grounds with some of her (Cory’s) most precious possessions: Ninoy Aquino’s diaries. Cory’s instructions to Margie were to leave the diaries with a trusted priest and then go home to her own family.

“I call it Divine Providence that I served for 23 years a woman, Tita Cory, who knew the duties and travails of wife, mother and career person so much that she would not want people close to her to sacrifice their roles unnecessarily,” recalls Margie on the eve of Mother’s Day. “I have always been a working mom since I graduated from college. Early on I was conscious of my roles as a wife, mother and career woman, in that order. There may be times when the roles get intertwined but I have to remind myself of the hierarchy of responsibilities.” Margie adds that she got a lot of help from her mother Nena Lagdameo Penson, who herself raised 10 children.

Margie and her husband former Agrarian Reform Secretary Philip “Popoy” Juico have four children: Dinggay (married to Bryan Villanueva); Vincent; Joseph (a former Quezon City Councilor married to Trish Chua) and Mayen, who is running for councilor in the First District of Quezon City.

“It was important for my husband Popoy and myself to have our children feel that we were available for them to talk to anytime, anywhere; that we would drop everything for them; that they were our priority and that they are God’s gift to us! It was important for me as a mother to see them grow up with the right sense of values,” she shares.

Three years ago, Mayen, now 28, was held up at gunpoint in front of their home. She had just driven herself home from the bank, and was waiting for the help to open the gates when a masked man fired three shots on the window of her car. One bullet even ricocheted, but miraculously, Mayen survived unscathed. The Juicos believe it was divine intervention that saved their daughter, and Tita Cory’s protection. The shooting took place on Jan. 25, 2010, Cory’s 77th birth anniversary, as Popoy and Margie were unveiling the late President’s monument in Manila with Mayor Alfredo Lim.

That convinced Mayen that she has a purpose in life greater than her self. She is using her second lease on life to help improve the quality of life of others.

“She has been called by the family as ‘Ka Mayen’ because of her penchant for standing for her rights, her advocacy for the poor and downtrodden and her compassion for those who have a lot less,” observes Margie of her bunso.

“Mayen is headstrong but level-headed. She is a faithful friend. She is unique in that she is a rare gem... she will give her last piece of biscuit to you if you are hungry, she will go the extra mile to lend a hand,” she adds.

Mayen says her parents, especially her mother, inspired her to go down this road.

“My mother has always believed in leading by example and she has subscribed to that principle in all aspects of her life — even in motherhood. She is the strongest woman I know.  When she speaks, she speaks with gentleness and kindness but do not be fooled by that. She is immensely and incredibly strong and to possess only half her strength as a woman and as a person is already something. She is highly principled and you can never question the values she keeps as her heart is always in the right place. She can talk about goodness and being right and correct because you are sure that she walks her talk,” stresses Mayen, who, like her mom and older sister Dinggay, is a true blue Theresian.

Margie was active in President Aquino’s Bigay Puso program, which undertook outreach activities in the poorest of communities and in places hard-hit by calamities. When Mother Teresa of Calcutta visited Manila, Mrs. Aquino assigned Margie to ride with the then “living saint” in her car as she was driven to and from the Palace. She was also appointed director of the PCSO.

“I see myself in Mayen in the care she gives the needy, in her sense of right and wrong,” confides Margie.

Mother and daughter also share a sense of humor.   “She enjoys my ‘bloopers’ tremendously,” Margie laughs.

“My mom has the uncanny ability to smile and laugh through adversity. She can make light of the most serious situations precisely because she is so strong at the core. For me to grow up being half the woman my Mama has become will be such a feat and an amazing accomplishment on its own,” says Mayen, who was named after another extraordinary woman, Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino-Cruz, her father’s former student. Mayen’s real name is “Lena Marie.”

Promises are made during elections, but aren’t always kept. Mayen says that even if she isn’t elected councilor tomorrow, there is one promise she will keep.

“One of the things I have said on the campaign trail was I will continue being around, helping our less fortunate brothers and sisters, even if I don’t win. This was easy to say and I was surprised that the statement surprised other people. According to them, it is rare for candidates to make these manifestations. My dream is not to have a title or to be an official. It is to serve.”