Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco

Maria Teresita Vicenta Pardo Hontiveros-Lichauco (August 11, 1927 – October 11, 2020), also known as Nita or Tata, is the Mother of Animal Welfare in the Philippines. She was the Founder and President of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society and actively campaigned for animal welfare and rights that led to the passing into law of Republic Act 8485 or The Animal Welfare Act of 1998.

She was the wife of economist, lawyer, writer and Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1971 Representative Alejandro Lichauco and the daughter of the late Senator Jose M. Hontiveros. She was also the younger sister of Philippine National Artist for Film and Theater, Daisy Hontiveros-Avellana and Jesuit priest, composer, musician & Father of Filipino Liturgical Music Eduardo Hontiveros and the aunt of actor Jose Mari Avellana, tv host, journalist and business executive Maan Hontiveros, politician Risa Hontiveros and journalist Pia Hontiveros.

Early life and education
Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco was born María Teresita Vicenta Pardo Hontiveros on August 11, 1927 in Capiz, Capiz (present day Roxas City, Capiz), Philippines to lawyer, jurist and politician Jose M. Hontiveros and violinist Vicenta Ruiz Pardo. She received her elementary and high school education at the Assumption Convent. After her pre-law course, she considered studying medicine. However, after a doctor asked her if she could dissect anything and realizing that the answer was no, she decided to pursue music instead and completed an Associate in Arts degree at the University of Santo Tomas. She studied French in her later years at Alliance Française.

Family life
Nita married Alejandro Aurelio Nieva Lichauco, a Harvard University-educated economist and lawyer on April 25, 1957. The couple didn't have biological children, and considered the animals they had taken care of as their kids.

Her notable family members include older sister National Artist for Film Daisy Avellana and older brother Jesuit priest and Father of Filipino Liturgical Music Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros; brother-in-law National Artist for Theater and Film Lamberto Avellana; nephews actor and director Jose Mari Avellana; Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres-conferred artist Allan Cosio; writer and Palanca Award winner David Hontiveros; nieces tv host, journalist and business executive Maan Hontiveros; journalist and stateswoman Risa Hontiveros and journalist Pia Hontiveros.

Career
Nita starred as Maria Clara in the theatrical production of "A Rizal Sketchbook" a remembrance of the hero from Calamba in dance, drama and song presented on June 17, 1955 (up to at least 1958) by the Women's International League and the Manila Chapter of the Knights of Rizal. She also did several voice acting gigs for radio commercials.

She wrote a monthly column titled Animal Welfare for Mr. & Ms. Magazine from 1982 to the early 2000s. She also wrote a children's book titled "The Boys and the Bees" published in 1989 by the Goethe Institute.

Animal welfare
After Muriel Jay left the Philippines for her home country of England, followed by the departure of her fellow founding members who are mostly expatriates, the organization slipped into dormancy. Nevertheless, Nita continued her rescue work with the help of her driver and two housemaids, converting a big part of her own home into an animal sanctuary, spending her own money to provide food, shelter and medical treatment for all the abandoned and abused animals. After being dormant for decades, Nita reorganized PAWS in 1986. Together with a few volunteers who served as the first PAWS Board of Directors, Nita lobbied for the passing of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998. It took 13 years for the law to be passed. The Republic Act 8485 promotes the rights and protects the welfare of all animals in the Philippines.

Under her supervision, PAWS established the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center which subsidizes veterinary services for animals belonging to lower-income sectors and serves as temporary shelter for rescued animals. PAWS also launched numerous programs in support of the care and humane treatment of animals.

Death
Nita served as the President of PAWS until her death on October 11, 2020. Her remains rest at the crypt of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine in New Manila, Quezon City.