Maria G. Ford, born in 1899 in Dumalag, Capiz, was a well-loved and respected figure known as the very first Filipino to have a passport issued after World War II. After studying bookkeeping in Manila, she helped manage her family’s large farmland and sugar business. She married Thomas J. Ford, an American engineer, and together they raised seven children while supporting their community. Maria was deeply involved in building churches, helping schools, reducing unemployment, and supporting groups like the Girl Scouts and Red Cross. She also provided homes for her workers and donated religious posts to families, showing her care ...