#TodayinHistory in 1911, Teodora Alonso, mother of José Rizal, dies in her house in #Manila #PH. Tempered by hardship, her role in shaping a family wholly devoted to the defense of truth & justice for the country, proved the immense contribution of mothers on nations. (THREAD)
Born in Binondo, Manila on 9 Nov 1827, she hailed from a wealthy (principalia) family, and was the youngest daughter of Lorenzo Alonso, one-time capitan municipal of #Biñan, #Laguna. She married Francisco Mercado in 1848, and bore 11 children.
Much of what we know of Teodora's life came from José Rizal's accounts. José recounted her telling of the tale of the disobedient moth. But instead of being warned, Rizal saw the death of the young moth going near the fire inspiring.
Teodora helped her husband manage the land in Calamba. Their produce were rice, corn, & sugarcane. They even went into textile, among other ventures. She opposed Jose Rizal's pursuit of higher learning, but Paciano, her eldest, devised a plan for him to be able to study in Europe
Hardship would soon catch up w/ her. The family soon faced eviction for having joined other Calamba tenants in challenging the Dominican ownership of their lands, & refusing to pay rent in 1887. They were evicted in 1890, w/ the old couple temporarily staying w/ daughter Narcisa.
In 1891, due to a mere allegation involving a problem w/ her half-brother & his wife, the friars & the mayor who already turned against the Rizals had Teodora imprisoned, and afterwards, made to walk 50 km from Santa Cruz to Calamba, Laguna.
She would also be imprisoned for 2 1/2 years for alleged theft paid to the lawyer of her half-brother. These events would further urge Jose Rizal to write & expose Filipinos plight in Spain. In 1892, as her son, Jose was exiled, Paciano, & her 2 daughters joined the Katipunan.
Popular legend stuck that she pleaded the Gov-Gen for her son, Jose Rizal's life, when he was sentenced to death in 1896, but no evidence suggests this happened. But Quezon & #PH succeeding presidents looked upon this legend as a source of inspiration.
During the American colonial period, when offered by the Americans lifetime pension, she said:
“My family has never been patriotic for the money. If the government has plenty of funds and does not know what to do with them, it’s better to reduce the taxes.”
#QOTD
Upon her death in 1911, throngs of Filipinos lined up the streets of Manila to give her honor as her casket passed by. A year later, José Rizal's remains would be reinterred from her house to the base of the Rizal Monument in Luneta.
Photo credits:
- Teodora Alonso's portrait, Buhay at Mga Ginawa ni Dr. Jose Rizal (1909)
- Teodora Alonso' holding José Rizal's remains in Binondo (1911), Presidential Museum & Library
- Teodora Alonso's funerary procession along the streets of Manila (1911), @AskNLP.
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