Magnolia Antonino


Magnolia Welborn-Antonino was a Senator of the Philippines. The daughter of George Welborn and Hipolita Rodriguez, she was married to Gaudencio Antonino, also a Senator. She was born in Balaoan, La Union.

Early life

Senator Magnolia W. Antonino was born in Balaoan, La Union, on December 14, 1915. Daughter of George Welborn and Hipolita Rodriguez.

Personal life

She was married to the Senator Gaudencio Antonino of Jaen Nueva Ecija. The couple had four children, including Nueva Ecija Congressman Rodolfo "Rody" Antonino.

Educational life

She graduated from the Balaoan public schools and La Union High school and completed combined normal courses from the Philippine Normal School in 1934. She started as a home economics teacher in La Union then became principal at the Balaoan Elementary School.

Political life

She was elected in the House of Representatives as an independent candidate for the first district of La Union in 1965. She ran and won as senator in lieu of her husband who died on the eve of the 1967 senatorial election.
During her term as senator from 1968 to 1972, Antonino worked for the passage of laws including Republic Act 6124 ; RA 6235 ; and RA 6395 which consolidated and revised the Charter of the National Power Corporation.
She also helped enact laws that benefited women and children, farmers through increased production of rice and corn, and people from the government and education sectors.
She was treasurer of the Antonino Construction Enterprises ; secretary-treasurer, then manager, Western Mindanao Lumber Co.; general manager, G. E. Antonio, Inc., treasurer, Polytechnic Colleges of the Philippines; director, Philippine Commercial and Industrial Bank and Luzon Cement Corporation.
She was an officer and member of various social and civic organizations, including Inner Wheel Club of Manila, WYCA, Manila Girl Scouts Council, Philippine Band of Mercy, Philippine Garden Club. Antonino is also grandmother to General Santos Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio of the 1st district of South Cotabato.

Death

Antonino died July 22, 2010 at the age of 94.