Noelle Sy-Quia was born and baptized in 1946 in Malate Church, Manila. Now 79 years old and retired, she remains active in cultural and literary circles. Noelle is deeply rooted in Philippine history. She is the great-granddaughter of Maria Rizal, the sixth child of Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso, and elder sister of national hero José Rizal. Her maternal grandfather, Mauricio Rizal Cruz—Maria’s eldest—fathered Caridad Argüelles Cruz, who married Pedro Michels de Champourcin Sy-Quia. Noelle is their eldest daughter. She is also a first cousin of Gemma Cruz Araneta, through her maternal uncle Ismael Argüelles Cruz.
