Every Filipino knows Andres Bonifacio, the leader of the revolutionary group Katipunan that launched the 1896 Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonization.
But who remembers his better half – his wife, Gregoria de Jesus, who also played a major role in the formation of the Katipunan?
The story of “Oryang,” the “Lakambini ng Katipunan” – her legacy, her role in safeguarding the secrets of the Katipunan, and her own patriotism – is the subject of an art exhibit that opened at SM Center San Pedro in San Pedro City, Laguna last April 14.
The exhibit, dubbed “Tagubilin: The Life Lessons of Gregoria de Jesus,” is a revolving exhibit led by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). It showcases artworks inspired by the "Sampung Tagubilin sa mga Kabataan ni Oryang," a decalogue written by De Jesus in 1928.
The opening of the exhibit was led by Jhe-rico Sam Colina, Officer-in-Charge of the San Pedro City Tourism, Culture and Arts Office (CTCAO); Carminda Arevalo, NHCP Executive Director; and Niña Wong, SM Center San Pedro Public Relations Manager.
For the city government of San Pedro, the exhibit also pays homage to the role residents of what was then the town of San Pedro Tunasan played in the life of De Jesus.
According to the CTCAO’s research, residents of San Pedro sheltered De Jesus when she was brought to the town after Bonifacio was executed in Maragondon, Cavite in May 1897.
She first stayed at the house of Gregoria Olivares, wife of teacher Jose Amante, before moving into the house of Mariano Ilmedo in what was then the barrio of San Roque.
"Natutuwa po kami na magkakasama po tayo ngayon sa pagbibigay-pugay sa isang dakilang Filipina na dapat ay tularan. Ang kanyang 'Tagubilin' ay angkop na gamiting benchmark o pamantayan upang baguhin ang ating buhay, at upang ang ating lungsod ng San Pedro ay maging 'Una sa Laguna,'" Mike Tabuyan, Senior Tourism Operations Officer, said in his message.
Also present at the ceremony as the guest of honor is Maria Paz Santos-Viola, De Jesus’ granddaughter and president of the Bahay Nakpil-Bautista Foundation.
"Itong 'Tagubilin' na ito ay ang pamana ng aking Lola Oryang para sa inyong mga kabataan. Nandito kami ngayon, ipinapasa ang yaman at pamana sa inyo; ipalakad ninyong mabuti ito, upang ang ating bayan ay umunlad," was Santos-Viola's message to the students who attended the exhibit.
The “Tagubilin: The Life Lessons of Gregoria de Jesus” will be on display at the SM Center San Pedro until Friday, April 25.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews