Luwalhati Lopez Ricasa-Antonino (October 22, 1943 – October 30, 2023) was a Filipino politician who was the chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the highest public post in Mindanao. She was part of President Benigno S. Aquino III's Cabinet, holding the rank of a national secretary.
Luwalhati R. Antonino | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Antonino, circa 2020 | |
| Chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority | |
| In office September 12, 2010 – September 9, 2016 | |
| President | Benigno Aquino III Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Jesus Dureza |
| Succeeded by | Datu Abul Khayr Alonto |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from South Cotabato's 1st District | |
| In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Adelbert Antonino |
| Succeeded by | Darlene Antonino Custodio |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Luwalhati Lopez Ricasa[1] 22 October 1943 Upi, Cotabato, Philippines |
| Died | 30 October 2023 (aged 80) |
| Political party | Independent (2001-2023) |
| Other political affiliations | LAMMP (1998-2001) Lakas-NUCD (1992-1998) |
| Spouse | Adelbert W. Antonino |
| Children | Darlene Antonino Custodio Eliza Bettina R. Antonino |
| Alma mater | University of Santo Tomas New York University |
Political career
editAntonino served as the representative of the 1st District of South Cotabato for three terms (9th to 11th Congress) from 1992-2001 .Within these years, she also served as the president of the Mindanao Lawmakers Association (MLA), a 50-member Mindanao bloc in Congress.
While in Congress, Luwalhati Antonino held the chairmanship for the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the vice-chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee.
Antonino was appointed MinDA chair by the President in September 2010, replacing Jesus Dureza.[2] She was the first woman to ever take the helm of the government's principal planning and coordinating agency in Mindanao.
Personal life and death
editAntonino was born in Upi, North Cotabato, and raised in Kiamba, Sarangani Province. Antonino was married to former representative and former mayor of General Santos, Adelbert Antonino.[3] She is also the mother of former representative and former city mayor of General Santos, Darlene Antonino Custodio and restaurateur Eliza Bettina R. Antonino.
Antonino earned her degree in B.S. Chemical Engineering at the University of Santo Tomas and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Economics at New York University. After obtaining her master's, she was hired as an economic and statistical analyst at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in New York.[4]
Luwalhati Antonino died on 30 October 2023, at the age of 80.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Luwalhati Lopez Ricasa Antonino (Ricasa) (1943 - 2023) - Genealogy". geni.com. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ Arguillas, Carolyn (3 September 2010). "Dureza out, Luwalhati Antonino in as new MinDA chair". MindaNews. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ^ Ben, Sumug-oy (26 October 2010). "Meet Lu Antonino, new MinDa Chairperson". GenSan News Online. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ^ "MinDA Chairperson". Mindanao Development Authority. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ^ "Luwalhati "Lu" Antonino: GenSan political matriarch, former MinDA chair passes away". www.mindanews.com. 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2023-10-30.