BRIDGING THE GAP
Nay Isa, the bravest woman fighter of Iloilo
History, whether Philippine history or any history for that matter, has been kinder to men than women, especially prior to the 20th century. History has always recognized and even honored countless men who have starring roles in the advancement of civilization, both in war and in peace. Women, on the other hand, had only supporting roles and, in most parts of human development, were nameless, faceless and voiceless. Their heroic exploits and achievements have been regulated into the dustbin of history. Women, it appears, had no significant participation in history.
Nevertheless, in the annals of the struggle of the people in Western Visayas against the Spaniards and the Americans, women were clearly visible. They were appreciated because of the very significant roles that they played in this respect. They challenged the might of the Spanish colonizers and the emerging imperialist America. Indeed, it is the pride of the Ilonggos to have produced distinguished women such as Patrocinio Gamboa of Jaro, Nazaria Lagos of Dueñas, Francisca Cabañas of Cabatuan, and of course, Teresa Magbanua of Pototan.
Teresa Magbanua, or Nanay Isa to those who knew her personally, was born in Pototan, Iloilo on October 13, 1863. She can be singled out as the bravest of the Ilonggo women patriots because she actually fought in the field. She was the second child of Don Juan Magbanua and Doña Alejandra Ferraris, both belonging to prominent families in Pototan. Don Juan was a judge of a sala of the Court of First Instance of Iloilo while Doña Alejandra was the daughter of Capitan Benito Ferraris. (Sonza, Illustrious Illongos).
Despite her orientation and training under the Spanish puritanical Castillian mode of what a woman should be, she turned out to be liberal and outgoing and did not fit the image of a 19th century very religious and uncritically submissive woman. She is remembered by her sister Paz as having a "dynamic personality, always restless for action and afraid of no man" (Torio, 1990). Her grandson, Ramon Magbanua Bernasol, also has recollection as her maisog (brave) but matinatapon or caring (Interview, October 12, 2006). her playmates were her younger brothers, particularly Manuel and Elias.
For a woman of the Spanish time, she received an excellent education. She started her formal education at the Colegio de San Jose in Jaro. After this, because her family had the means, she was sent to Manila and was able to study in three different girl schools, namely: Colegio de Santa Rosa, Colegio de Santa Catalina, and Colegio de Santa Cecilia (Sonza, Illustrious Ilonggos). It was in Manila that she finished her "carera de maestra".
When she went home to Iloilo, she taught in her hometown and developed the reputation as a strict disciplinarian. Later, she moved to Sara where she met and married Alejandro Balderas, a wealthy farmer who owned wide tracts of lands. Nay Isa gave up teaching and helped her husband with the farm chores. Because of their wide lands, she learned how to ride the horse and how to fire the pistol and the rifle. Unfortunately, the couple did not have children. (Sonza, Illustrious Ilonggos).
When the Revolution against the Spaniards broke out in Iloilo province in October 1898, Nay Isa lost no time, despite the protest of her husband, in presenting herself to Gen. Perfecto Poblador, her uncle, who had been designated as the commander of the Northern Zone. After the initial hesitation, General Poblador relented and Nay Isa was given command of a bolo battalion.
Nay Isa proved her mettle and bravery in two battles against the Spaniards in Yating, Pilar, Capiz and in Sap-ong Hill in Sara, Iloilo in November and December 1898. The following year, in February 1899, Nay Isa participated in the Battle of Balantang against the Americans where she exhibited her courage. Later, she joined the guerrilla war against the Americans but was forced to surrender in 1900 when she realized the futility of continuing with the fight.
When the Japanese occupied the country in 1942, Nay Isa, despite her advanced age, supported the local guerrilla unit providing food and other supplies. After the liberation, she went to Zamboanga through the invitation of one of her brothers who was residing there where she died in 1947 (Bernasol, Interview, October 12, 2006). Certainly, her heroism in the struggle against foreign imperialists had no equal in Western Visayas.