Photo from Assumption Alumnae Association
Judy Araneta-Roxas is remembered for her leadership at Araneta Centre and her work in foundations that shaped Philippine civic and social life.
BUSINESS LEADERSHIP
Araneta-Roxas served as vice chairperson of the Araneta Centre Corporation, where she helped guide the family’s businesses through decades of transformation. While she inherited her father’s legacy, she was known for steady leadership that sustained Araneta City’s role as a hub of commerce, culture, and leisure in Quezon City.
COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
She was equally active in civic work. Araneta-Roxas was president of the J. Amado Araneta Foundation, Inc. (JAAF), which advances education, cultural programs, disaster relief, and community resilience. She also chaired the Gerry Roxas Foundation, continuing her late husband’s legacy through initiatives on good governance, justice reform, health, youth leadership, and microfinance. In addition, she served as president of the President Manuel A. Roxas Foundation, honoring her father-in-law’s contributions to the nation.
HONORS AND RECOGNITION
Her contributions to Philippine society were recognized internationally. In 1987, she received a Papal Award from Pope John Paul II for her service to the Catholic Church. She was also a recipient of the Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Award for Nationalism, honoring her civic leadership and commitment to national development.
FAMILY AND PERSONAL LEGACY
She married the late Senator Gerardo “Gerry” Roxas in 1955. They had three children: Maria Lourdes (Ria), former senator and Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, and former congressman Gerardo “Dinggoy” Roxas Jr., who passed away in 1993.
Though she was connected to two of the nation’s most influential clans, Judy Araneta-Roxas built her own legacy – one of business acumen, philanthropy, and principled leadership. Colleagues and beneficiaries alike remember her as a woman who matched privilege with responsibility, leaving behind institutions and initiatives that will continue to serve the Filipino people for generations.
