|
 Teodora
Alonzo was born on November 9, 1827 in Meisik
(Chinatown), Tondo, Manila. Her parents sent her to
Colegio de Sta. Rosa where she studied and mastered the
Spanish language.
Among her many suitors, Teodora fell in love with a
handsome, young man from Laguna. He was Francisco Rizal
Mercado. They were blessed with 11 children. Their
eldest was Paciano and the rest were Saturnina, Narcisa,
Olimpia, Lucia, Maria, Concepcion, Josefa, Trinidad,
Soledad (the youngest among the brood) and the greatest
in the history of our Mother Land, Jose Rizal who was
the seventh child in the family.
As a mother, Teodora wished only the best for her
children. She and Francisco sent their children to
school for a brighter future. She was also their first
teacher.
On the other hand, Francisco had been helping
compatriots who were victims of the abuses by the
Spaniards. The friars and the Spanish authority got
irked with his open defiance of the laws being
implemented by the government in their province. They
hatched up a plan to take revenge on him. |
|
The Spaniards targeted Teodora to take, vengeance at
Francisco. They forced her to walk from their town in
Calamba to the town of Sta. Cruz which was a lot of
kilometers away. They accused Teodora of fabricated
charges. They put her to jail in spite ofher innocence
and even without a trial. They also ordered Francisco
out of their land so Teodora bore the burden of taking
care of the family.
Teodora's character showed the most when the Spaniards
were running after Jose. Instead of advising Jose to
stop fighting against them, she became Jose's
inspiration to continue his crusade for freedom.
When the Americans freed the Philippines, they thought
of paying her back for all her sacrifices. They offered
her a lifetime pension that she refused.
Teodora Alonzo passed away in the year 1911. |
