Mita Pardo de Tavera

Carmen "Mita" Manzano Pardo de Tavera (November 19, 1919 – October 23, 2007 ) was a Filipino pulmonologist, writer, socio-civic leader, and community health worker. She served as Secretary of Social Welfare and Development during the administration of President Corazon Aquino. Pardo de Tavera is also known to develop a program that educated the illiterate and the poor about natural healing remedies and as a staunch opposition to the Marcos administration and the martial law era.

Early life and education Pardo de Tavera is born to the distinguished and nationalistic Pardo de Tavera clan. She is a great-granddaughter of Joaquin Pardo de Tavera, the lawyer of the martyred triumvirate of Gomburza, and granddaughter of Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, delegate of the Malolos Congress and served under the administration of President Emilio Aguinaldo. She translated into English the cookbooks of her great-grandmother, Doña Juliana Pardo de Tavera y Gorricho, who loved to cook and throw parties in the 19th century in their family home in Paris.

Pardo de Tavera graduated from medical school at the University of the Philippines in 1944. During her internship at the Philippine General Hospital, she realized the dire need of healthcare services during wartime for the sick and the wounded. According to her, she resigned in 1974 for personal reasons. The research proposed an alternative in providing effective healthcare in poor communities by community based health programs focusing on the prevention of the disease and the training of local residents, She was also the chairperson of National Nutrition Council Governing Board from 1987 to 1988. She served under the Aquino cabinet until June 30, 1992.

After her stint as secretary, Pardo de Tavera became the Chair of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). It was also under her leadership that the Out-Patient Department of QI was renovated and improved. - presented at the International Congress on Diseases of the Chest at Copenhagen, on August 20–25, 1966. Tuberculosis in Filipino Children - printed by Lyceum Press, 1975 The control of Tuberculosis (Ang Pagsugpo sa Tuberkulosis o Tisis): Course of instruction for community health workers (Hanay ng aralin na ukol sa mga manggagawang pampurok na pangkalusugan) - printed by Lyceum Press, 1975

Later years and death Pardo de Tavera still continued working for AKAP but because of her old age, she cannot go to places requiring long travel. Instead, she continued to train trainer-volunteers in her residence.