Gregoria de Jesus: Lakambini ng Katipunan

Today's National Heroes Day celebrating the 147th birthday of the Katipunan's founder but today's post will feature his second wife, Gregoria de Jesus, nicknamed Oriang (or Oryang).

Tutubi's personal encounter with Oriang occured at the Nakpil-Bautista house turned museum in Quiapo, Manila where you can see Gregoria de Jesus' memorabilia plus a short biography of the heroine posted on a wall in one of the museum's rooms.

Gregoria de Jesus' memorabilia inside Bahay Nakpil-Bautista, an old "bahay na bato" in Quiapo, Manila

Andres' courtship of Oryang lasted only six months and it's no secret history that the parents of Oryang did not approve of her affair with Andres Bonifacio, a mason and widower whose first wife was a leper. Oryang's parents tried to separate the two even to the point of keeping her against her will in their house, but as history shows, they ended up together.

as posted on the wall of Bahay Nakpil-Bautista house:

"Gregoria de Jesus and Andres Bonifacio were married in March 1893 in Binondo Church. The simple Catholic ceremony took place at the insistence of Oriang's parents and was witnessed by Restituto Javier and his wife, Benita Rodriguez.

The following week, at the home of their godparents, the couple said their wedding vows again, this time in Katipunan rites. A celebratory dinner took place attended by close friends. Among the guests were, Pio Valenzuela, Santiago Turiano, Ramon Basa, Marina Dizon, Josefa and Trining Rizal.

That same night, Oriang was admitted into the Katipunan. She became the first woamn to be full-pledged member and chose the code name "Lakambini" meaning muse or first lady."

It is noteworthy that they claimed Andres Bonifacio and Gregoria de Jesus were married in Binondo Church but no actual church records were found to corroborate this claim that's why there's a suspicion that they were married under assumed names.

When Andres Bonifacio was arrested by Aguinaldo's men in the mountains of Cavite led by Col. Agapito Bonzon (or Yntong Bonzon), Yntong attempted to rape her on several occasions. (noted historian Ambeth Ocampo postulated in his book that Gregoria de Jesus was indeed raped if you read between the lines of the official transcripts of Bonifacio's trial).

With the execution of her husband Andres Bonifacio leaving her widowed, Oriang later married Julio Nakpil, another Katipunero and gifted with eight children. Her family lived in a a house in Quiapo owned by Dr. Ariston Bautista and his wife Petrona Nakpil that is now turned into a museum called Bahay Nakpil-Bautista on Bautista St., Quiapo, Manila.

Inside Bahay Nakpil-Bautista is also "Sampung Aral ni Oriang...

1. Igalang at mahalin ang magulang pagka’t ito ang pangalawang Dios sa lupa.
2. Alalahanin tuwina ang mga banal na aral ng mga bayani na nasawi dahil sa pag-ibig sa bayan.
3. Huwag magaksaya ng panahon ng di pamarisan.
4. Pagsikapang magkaroon ng anomang karunungan na tumutugon sa kanyang hilig upang paki-nabangan ng bayan.
5. Ang kabaitan ay alalahaning isang malaking kayamanan.
6. Igalang ang mga gurong nagpapamulat ng isip pagka’t kung utang sa magulang ang pagiging tao ay utang naman sa nagturo ang pagpapakatao.
7. Iligtas ang api sa panganib.
8. Matakot sa kasaysayan pagka’t walang lihim na di nahahayag.
9. Kapag napagingatan ang kasamaan ay doon manggagaling ang malaking karangalan.
10. Sikapin ang ikapagkakaisa ng lahat at ika uunlad ng bayan upang huwag magkaroon ng sagabal ang kasarinlan."

Take note of the eight counsel translated as “Fear history, for there's no secret that will remain secret.”

Cavite, then, was not so kind to Andres Bonifacio: Emilio Aguinaldo, Daniel Tirona (who insulted him after the rigged election in Tejeros) and the most evil of them all-- Col. Yntong Bonzon, who divested Oryang of her personal belongings, including her wedding ring, and forced her to go up a room to rape her. Whether raped or just attempted, Col. Yntong Bonzon never paid for the crime, proof that the culture of impunity of the powers that be already existed then as it is now.