Hero of the Philippine Revolution

8/14/2019 Hero of the Philippine Revolution

1/6

Hero of the Philippine Revolution

Gregoria de Jesus

known as Lakambini ng Katipunan wife of Andres Bonifacio

Mother of the Philippine Revolution

born May 9, 1875 in Kalookan

died March 15, 1943

Gregoria de Jesus, a native of the town of Kalookan in Rizal Province. She was

born on Tuesday, May 9, 1875, at number 13, Baltazar Street, now Zamora, in the place

where thousand of arms used in the Revolution were buried, and where the revolutionary

leaders met to make the final arrangements for the outbreak before leaving for the field.

Her father was Nicolas de Jesus, also a native of their town, a master mason and

carpenter by occupation, and a government official during the Spanish regime, having

been second lieutenant, chief lieutenant andgobernadorcillo. Her mother was Baltazara

Alvarez Francisco, of the town of Noveleta in Kabite Province, a niece of General

Mariano Alvarez of Magdiwang in Kabite, the first to raise the standard of revolt in that

province.

She attended the public schools and finished the first grades of instruction,

equivalent to the intermediate grades of today. She was once a winner in an examination

given by the Governor-General and the town curate, and was the recipient of a silver

medal with blue ribbon, a prize bestowed in recognition of my little learning. Because

they were three brothers who must go to Manila to continue their studies, she decided to

stop studying and to join her sister in looking after their family interests to enable their

two brothers to study in Manila. Often she had to go out in the country to supervise the

planting and harvesting of their rice and to supervise their tenants and laborers, and also

to pay the wages of her father's workers in Sunday mornings. She did some sewing and

weaving and always assisted her mother in household chores.


2/6

Gregoria de Jesus began her revolutionary work very young, at the age of 18. As

the wife of Andres Bonifacio, the Katipunan leader, she suffered countless privations in

the performance of the dangerous tasks which only women could do undetected by the

police. The revolutionary generals spoke admiringly of her extraordinary courage and

daring and of her alertness which saved her from capture.

When the revolution was suppressed by the Americans, Gregoria de Jesus

returned to peaceful life. She married another patriot, Julio Nakpil. She became a devoted

wife and mother, but still loyal to the ideals of the revolution which she instilled in the

minds of her children.

In her last years, when her children were already grown up, she particularly

enjoyed sojourning at the home of her only son Juan, of whom she was very fond. Her

son was aware of her tender devotion to him and he reciprocated it. He was deeply

grieved by her passing on 15 March 1943 during the dark days of the Japanese

occupation.

Life with the

Supremo

When she was about eighteen years old, young men began to call at their house and

among them was Andres Bonifacio, who came in company with Ladislao Diwa and her cousin

Teodoro Plata, then clerk of court, but none of them talked to her of love, since parents in those

days were extremely careful and girls did not want people to know that they already had

admirers.

The truth, however, was that Andres Bonifacio had already informed her parents of his

intentions and for nearly a year had been trying to win their approval, although she knew nothing

about it. Three months more elapsed before she learned that her father was against Bonifacio's

suit because he was a freemason, and the freemasons then were considered bad men by their

elders because of the teachings of the friars; and precisely by that time she was beginning to like

him a little. Six months later she had earnestly fallen in love with him, and her father, though


3/6

opposed at first, in the end gave his consent because of his love for her and because she told him

frankly of their love for each other.

In deference to her parents, they were married in the Catholic Church of Binondo, in

March 1893, with Restituto Javier and his wife Benita de Javier as sponsors; but the week

following, they were married again in the house of our sponsors on what was then called

Oroquieta Street before all the Katipuneros at their request, since they did not recognize as valid

their marriage in the Catholic church. There was even a little dinner attended by, among others,

Pio Valenzuela, Santiago Turiano, Ramon Basa, Marina Dizon, Josefa and Trining Rizal, and

nearly all the dignitaries of the Katipunan. On the evening of the same day, she was admitted to

the Katipunan and assumed the symbolic name of"Lakambini", swearing to obey its rules and

fulfill its sacred purposes.


4/6

My Autobiography

This is REAL. This is ME.

I can't be DUMMY if I know deep within me Im REAL... yet some people may misunderstood me, dont

recognized my existence, and don't even bother to take a simple glimpse of my worth.. But this is what I

want to say...What you see is NEVER always what you get. JUDGE me?? Well, it depends on what you

SEE... But, KNOWING me?? Is your creativity to look deeper, peel whatever cover you could see...Coz

deep within me is what makes me human, Not PERFECT, just a Real one...

September 2, 1989. Saturday, 2 oclock in the afternoon and the rain was about to fall, that rain

served as a blessing for the couple because the wife is giving birth for her third child, a baby boy. They

named him Nicolai. Yes, that is me, NICOLAI is my name. I was born in Pampanga and I stayed there for

three (3) years. Now, Im living here in Caloocan for fifteen (15) years, and I got to school at Universityof Caloocan City. I am living in a simple family with my parents, Virginia and Agustin; and my two

brothers, Mark August and John Lean. When I was born, my brother John was taking care of me even

though hes at very young age. My other brother Mark was being good to me also and he would do

anything for me, but like all brothers we fight sometimes like cat and dogs. Sometimes when no one is

around, John would come up to me, drink my milk and bite my toes for no reason. But still I love them

because they are my brothers.

My name NICOLAI is derived from a Russian name Nicolai Lenin, a great communist. I started

school when I was five years old. I went to kindergarten at Barangay DayCare Center and during my

graduation day I was awarded as the Most Outstanding Pupil. When I was six, I studied my first to six

grades at Bagong Barrio Elementary School. I also received different awards and part of the Top 10 in our

class. I joined different school activities to boost my confidence. I finished my secondary education at

Bagong Barrio National High School, and there I also won couple of awards; one for Best in Social

Studies and Most Loyal Student (during my first year) and for being part of the Top 10. Im also

connected with different organization in our school and joined different extra-curricular activities. I am

part of our theatre guild; one of the writer and staffers of our school paper (The Villager), under the

supervision of our mentor Ms. Lyn Caisip Ferrer; President of Social Studies Clud and Marian Youth

Movement (MYM), part of the Values and English Club and I also attended different Seminars (Division

and Regional). I was a bit hurt and quite disappointed during the graduation rights because Im not belong

to the honor rolls but I dont loose hope because still I graduated in Star section. Now, I am senior student

of University of Caloocan City. I am planning to finish my studies with all my heart in order to have a

better future and to be somebody someday.


5/6

I am just a simple person with simple dreams in life. Life for me means friends and family who

you can trust and who trust you. I am pretty much on the happy side of life, but like teens I do have my

days of. That means I do have some sad days or depressed days. I have few friends here that sort of look

out for me and when I am having a bad day, I have someone hare at school to talk with. I make my school

days go by thinking of either the next hour or what I will do when I get home or on the weekend. I am a

shy type of person, I seldom talk. I make it a point that I speak sensefull things. I love to share my ideas

and suggestions. Sometime I love criticizing but then others find me boastful, so now I seldom do that

thing. I dont speak to hurt but to inspire. But having the opportunity to speak does not guarantee us to be

understood. Well, thats life, we cant please everybody.

I am a determined person. I fight for what I believe. Acting upon for what should be done. I want

to explore every corner of the world. Maybe thats impossible but its better to dream big (as if I can

reach) than to be stocked to a life without satisfaction.

I am a risk taker. I never quit coz quitters never win. I am an adventurous, I love challenges, I

positively, I accept criticisms, opinions, suggestions or any violent reactions because I know nobodys

perfect and I too was imperfect in my own ways.

The other side of NICOLAI is an emotional guy. I am a sensitive person but I usually hide this

attitude of mine. I dont want to explain anything and I dont want that my friends keep on asking why I

am sad. I just keep quite and all was settled.

All of these things were useless because its still YOU who can judge me. Whatever that may be I

will absolutely accept it. We have different thinking, understanding and interpreting wavelength and

capacity. Just be true to yourself because I do with mine.


6/6

SLEEPING NAKED ALONE

The hours have bones.The apocalypse alarm clockIs waiting to catch me asleep.

But there is no sleep, not here,Not this far into the unimaginable,This far into the realmOf soul-twisting stress.I am mortally weary.And mortal.Asleep at last!And, shocked by the knowledge,Awake ....Alone in the turning fan,In the layered air,

I have no true skinship with anyone but ghosts.

Hero of the Philippine Revolution

Documents

Transcript of Hero of the Philippine Revolution