57. 10 KAPAMPANGAN WOMEN OF THE REVOLUTION

During the Philippine Revolution, several patriotic kapampangan women helped in different capacities—assisting and nursing wounded revolucionarios, gave contributions and financed the cause. The brave exploits of these women were lauded in the revolutionary newspaper, El Heraldo de la Revolucion.

 **********

FELISA DAYRIT.

Felisa Pamintuan Dayrit of San Fernando saw action as a nurse during the bloody years of the Philippine Revolution, caring for the sick and tending men wounded in the battlefield. She married Francisco Torres Singian,

NICOLASA DAYRIT

Nicolasa Dayrit y Pamintuan (b. 10 Sep. 1874) of San Fernando played an active role in preventing a schism between Gen. Antonio Luna and Gen. Tomas Mascardo from turning into an all-out war. She and other Bacolor women met Gen. Luna, on his way to attack Gen. Mascardo’s forces in Guagua. Luna was appeased and the Revolution did not break apart.

PRAXEDES FAJARDO

Praxedes Fajardo y Puno (b. 21 Jul. 1874/d.10 Aug. 1928)  from Bacolor, was one of the few women who risked their lives in actively supporting the cause of the Philippine evolution against Spain. She headed the Pampanga chapter of the Philippine Red Cross.

ADRIANA HILARIO

Adriana Hilario y Sangalang had no formal education; she learned by eavesdropping on her brother’s tutorial lessons. She became the second wife of Gov. Tiburcio Hilario. She helped  the cause by distributing propaganda materials during the Revolution and was said to have contributed much of her money to the movement, that led to her penury.

FELISA HIZON

Felisa Hizon of San Fernando was a member of an active group of concerned and patriotic Kapampangan women who supported the Revolution through their philanthropic works.  She married Luis Dison. 

MARCELINA NEPOMUCENO

Marcelina Nepomuceno y Paras (b. 9 Aug. 1881/d.16 Apr. 1959)  of Angeles, pursued a nursing course first offered at the Escuela de Enfermeras of the Philippine General Hospital.  She was part of the earliest batches of nursing graduates. At the time of the Revolution, the Kapampangan Florence Nightingale joined the Asosiacion de Damas de la Cruz Roja de Angeles (Red Cross), and became its auditor.

TEODORA SALGADO

Teodora Salgado (b. 7 May 1866) of San Fernando was the eldest of 5 children of Joaquin Salgado and Filomena Basilio. She developed her business acumen early, earning her fortune from vast agricultural lands,  jewelry and department stores. As she amassed more wealth, she also felt the stirrings of nationalism as the Revolution raged on. She became a silent financier of the Philippine cause, a role that she would embrace for years only to end with the coming of the Americans.

CONSOLACION SINGIAN

Consolacion  Singian y Torres of San Fernando,  was the daughter of Cristino and Angela Torres. The Kapampangan Betsy Ross sewed the flag of the Pampango Batallion of the Philippine revolutionary forces in December 1898, together with her sister Encarnacion.

ENCARNACION SINGIAN

Encarnacion Singian y Torres of San Fernando, along with sister Consolacion,  sewed and embroidered the flag of the Pampango Batallion of the Philippine revolutionary forces in December 1898. She is the sister of the Dr. Gregorio Singian, a renowned surgeon.

MATEA SIOCO

Mateo Sioco y Rodriguez of Apalit  was the greatest financier of the Hilario patriotic efforts during the Philippine Revolution. She married the wealthy Jose Sioco, a widower who was actually after her sister Maria, who had been betrothed to another man. She was said to be so rich that she buried her gold and money in the ground. After her husband died, she married Jose Arnedo Cruz.

SOURCES:

SINGSING Magazine, "A Tale of Two Cities: San Fernando & Angeles", "99 Memorable Kapampangans".  Center for Kapampangan Studies, Holy Angel University.

Soriano, Rafaelita Hilario. A Shaft of Light. 1991.