Maruxa Pita

Maruxa Pita ([maˈɾuʃa ˈpita]; born March 18, 1930) is a Spanish missionary and a former teacher who helped to establish the Institucion Teresiana School now known as Saint Pedro Poveda College in Quezon City. In 1995, she established the Makabata School Foundation, Inc. in Pasig City to help less fortunate Filipino children to study for free.

Early life

Maruxa was born in Madrid in 1930. His father's name was Antonino Pita and her 3 sisters: Carmen, Chita and Isabel. At the age of 17 she followed her older sister Chita and joined the Teresian Association that was founded by Father Pedro Poveda.

In the Philippines

She arrived in the Philippines in 1959 to help established the Institucion Teresiana School now known as Saint Pedro Poveda College in Quezon City. She served as a school principal from 1965 to 1973. She then taught Spanish at both the University of Santo Tomas from 1973 to 1979 and the Spanish Cultural Center from 1975 to 1979. She also worked as the director of the Spanish Cultural Center where she organized all the teaching areas and managed the Spanish teachers from 1979 to 1993. In 1993, the Instituto Cervantes of Manila was established and she stayed as the academic head of the center. It was the first Cervantes established in Asia. The Instituto Cervantes gave a tribute to the tireless and outstanding teacher honoring her work in Spanish language in the Philippines and her dedication and commitment to help educate underprivileged children with her foundation.

Trivia

At that time, Institucion Teresianas pre-school was coed. Maruxa recalls that she taught the four older children of the late former Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino, who included current President Benigno Aquino III. She says that "They were all together in school".

Awards and recognition

• The Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Award (2011)
• People’s Choice Award (2012)