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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2983 
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OCT -4 n :15 
Introduced by: Senator Sergio Osmena III 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to grant Philippine citizenship to Jessie Josephine Coe 
Lichauco, with all the rights, privileges, duties and obligations appurtenant to 
such grant under the Constitution. 
Jessie Josephine C. Lichauco is an American who was born in Cuba but 
raised in Florida by her relatives after she was orphaned as a young girl. 
While working in Washington, she met Marcial P. Lichauco, then a young 
Filipino lawyer working with OSROX Philippine Independence Mission. In 
1933, Marcial 
invited her to come to the Philippines. They were married 
that same year. She has lived in the Philippines since then. 
Mrs. Lichauco joined the Asociacion de Damas de Filipinas and devoted 
her work to the Settlement House. During World War II, she cared for and 
provided shelter for those in need and supported efforts to reach prisoners 
of war. When Manila was bombarded during the liberation, she and her 
husband opened their Santa Ana home to fleeing citizens and provided a 
make-shift hospital to take care of at least 2,000 people. 
After the war, she devoted her work to the Settlement House, of which 
she was the President for nine (9) years. She was one of the 
founding 
members of the Red Feather Agency (later known as the Community Chest), 
an organization that raises funds distributed to member charitable agencies. 
In her own capacity, she also helped over 100 young people complete their 
education. 
Between 1963 to 1966 when her husband was appOinted by President 
Diosdado Macapagal as Philippine ambassador to the United Kingdom, 
Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, she served as the Ambassador's hostess. 
She was the representative of the Philippines in international organizations, 
social events and activities involving the diplomatic corps. She and her 
husband 
opened their home at Palace Green to Filipino students, 
businessmen, travelers and workers. Their hospitality and assistance are 
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confirmed by the accounts of Filipinos whom they helped and welcomed to 
their home. 
After her husband's death in 1971, she spent some years in the United 
States but still continued to help Filipinos by opening her home in 
Massachusetts to Filipino students needing a place to stay. Her century-old 
home by the Pasig River in Santa Ana remains full of historical memorabilia 
making it a repository of Filipino history and a haven for travellers, friends 
and local residents. 
She considers Philippines as her home having spent seventy-five (75) 
years of her life here. She fluently speaks the Filipino language and 
embraces the Filipino culture as her own. She is now ninety nine (99) years 
old and seeks to be granted Filipino citizenship under Article IV, Section 1 of 
the Philippine Constitution. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
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SERGIO OSMENA III 
Senator 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No, 2983 
Introduced by: Senator Sergio Osmena III 
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'11 
OCT -4 P 3 :15 
AN ACT GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP TO JESSIE JOSEPHINE C. 
LICHAUCO 
Be it ellacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Jessie Josephine Coe Lichauco is hereby granted Philippine citizenship with 
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all the rights, privileges, duties and obligations appUltenant thereto and with the same effects 
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and subject to the same conditions as provided under the Constitution. 
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SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon approval. 
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Approved,