Gabriel Kean T.

Ebeo
GERPHIS

Dubbed ‘Alas ng Bayan’ the exhibit showcases the lives of Gregoria ‘Oriang’ de
Jesus (Lakambini ng Katipunan), Apolonia Catra (lone recorded woman officer with
Macario Sakay’s forces), Remedios Gomez-Paraiso (Hukbalahap’s Kumander
Liwayway), Lorena Barros (Martial Law activist), and Gloria Capitan (Bataan anti-coal
activist). The lives of Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio has been taught since grade
school, while women heroes are rarely featured in history lessons. ‘Alas ng Bayan’ aims
to correct this by putting the spotlight on them and promoting ‘herstory’. The line of
Filipino heroism among women remains unbroken even today.
The two women which struck me the most was Gregoria de Jesus. She was
known to be the “Mother of Philippine Revolution”. She was also the first Filipina to
translate or decipher the alphabet of the Katipunan in code. She married Andrés
Bonifacio first, the supremo of the Katipunan, and had a son with him and eight children
from Julio Nakpil as his second husband. Her life was too terrible because at first, she
lost her child due to smallpox then later on, she lost her husband Andres because
Aguinaldo’s officers captured him and sentenced him to death. If you would look upon
her life, you can conclude that she experienced a lot of depressions and faced a lot of
extra-ordinary challenges, but she was able to be a good writer and to establish a lot of
creative works. It takes a lot of courage and professionalism in order to achieve such
things. If given a chance to be a writer in the future, I want to be like Gregoria de Jesus
because she was not just a good writer, but she was also able to serve and help our
soldiers in fighting for our freedom against the Spaniards. She was very strong and
committed in what she was doing. She was a dedicated and good leader in the
Women’s Chapter of Katipunan in the Philippines. Gregoria was assigned to be the
keeper of the important documents and seals during the revolution days. Gregoria is a
very good example to every woman today in our country because despite of being a
woman she still made a name in our Philippine History. She is a symbol of bravery and
a woman who values her principles. I believe it takes a lot of courage and internal
strength to do all the things that she has done. She did not only play a big part in
helping the Katipuneros, but I must say that she somewhat founded it as well. Without
her, things that the Katipuneros are fighting for would be a waste and will not set as an
awareness to other Filipinos. She also brought strength to women that time wherein
women re always portrayed as weak or that they rarely contribute help in times like this.
She has proved that it every man's success, there is always a strong woman behind
him.