Author at Georgetown University: Elizabeth Besa-Quirino Tells Untold Stories About Mother’s WW2 Heroism

Elizabeth Ann Quirino’s “Every Ource of Courage”

With the support of the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC, Global Humanitarian Development Program (GHD) at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) and the Club Filipino, we invite you to a Reception and Meet the Author event: Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino who will talk on “Every Ounce of Courage: A Daughter’s Reflections On Her Mother’s Bravery”.

The author’s talk and presentation is free and open to all. It will include stories, photos of her mother Lourdes “Lulu” Reyes Besa, and excerpts from her book. Lulu Reyes was awarded the Medal of Freedom by the US government for her heroism. The author event will be held on Friday, October 23, 2026, from 2:30 to 4 PM, at Georgetown University, Mortara Center for International Studies, 3600 N Street NW, Washington DC 20007.

Lourdes “Lulu” Reyes Besa

From childhood, Ms. Besa-Quirino had heard of her mother Lulu’s heroism during the war. One night, Elizabeth received a phone call from an American veteran and former POW. He wanted to thank Lulu Reyes for saving his life, and told Elizabeth the horrific tales of his incarceration. Nothing prepared the author for her discovery of more lives her mother had saved, and the inexplicable dangers their family had been exposed to. This is a daughter’s story of her mother’s courage, brave struggles, and humanity in the bleakest of circumstances.

Elizabeth drew strength from her mother’s stories of faith, family, and Filipino recipes which are a bonus treat. The book is sold on Amazon and most online booksellers.

For more details: EveryOunceOfCourage.com
Cover Design: Tim Quirino
Publisher: Besa-Quirino LLC (June 2023, USA)
Paperback ISBN: 979-8-9875550-02
eBook ISBN : 979-8-9875550-1-9
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023910061

Every Ounce of Courage: is a daughter’s story of her mother’s courage, brave struggles, and humanity in the bleakest of circumstances. Elizabeth’s memories also involve the recipes her mother loved to make and the stories she told about them, some of which are included at the end of the book.

Elizabeth Ann Quirino

About the author: Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino is an author and award-winning journalist born and raised in the Philippines, and based in New Jersey, USA. She has written three cookbooks on classic Filipino food from her mother’s recipes and co-written a history book on President Elpidio Quirino. She is a contributor and recipe developer for SimplyRecipes.com, a digital food magazine. Her food writing has also appeared on Taste of Home and The Kitchn, She is a correspondent for Positively Filipino Magazine and has written features on Philippine cuisine, culture, history and personalities. She travels often to her home in Tarlac City and around the Philippines to visit family and friends.