Since her father was a widower, she served as First Lady of the Philippines, becoming the youngest bearer of the title at the age of 16.

Her mother, Alicia Syquia, as well as three of her siblings, were all massacred by Japanese troops as they occupied the country during the Second World War.

[2] She assumed the title in 1948 when President Manuel Roxas died and her father, then Vice-President of the Philippines succeeded him.

She was the second Presidential daughter to have a debut in Malacañan Palace, and again made history as the first Presidential daughter to be wed in the Palace when she married her first husband, Luis "Chito" González.

[3] She was silently but actively involved in supporting social causes in her later years.