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 and gobernadorcillo. 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.
 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
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.
 My Autobiography

This is REAL. This is ME.

I can't be DUMMY if I know deep within me I’m REAL... yet some people may misunderstood me, don’t
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 o’clock 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, I’m living here in Caloocan for fifteen (15) years, and I got to school at University
of 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 he’s 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. I’m 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 I’m not belong
to the honor rolls but I don’t 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.
 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 don’t speak to hurt but to inspire. But having the opportunity to speak does not guarantee us to be
understood. Well, that’s life, we can’t 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 that’s impossible but it’s 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 nobody’s
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 don’t want to explain anything and I don’t 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 it’s 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.
 SLEEPING NAKED ALONE

The hours have bones.

The apocalypse alarm clock
Is waiting to catch me asleep.
But there is no sleep, not here,
Not this far into the unimaginable,
This far into the realm
Of 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.