Nazaria L. Lagos: A great woman of history*
(Descendant of Heroine Nazaria Lagos)
During the World War many Filipinos fought against the Spaniards, Americans and the Japanese. Under these three governments, our heroes never stop fighting not until the Philippines has its democracy and independence. Nazaria L. Lagos was one of the Filipinos who risk her life for the freedom of our country.
Nazaria L. Lagos has the heart of a mother that is fount of deep, strong and deathless love. She is next to God in the love and care of a child. The life of Nazaria L. Lagos is a story of love, courage and patriotism not only for her family but for her fellow Filipinos and for her country the Philippines. She was born not only to become a mother of her own children but of the many wounded Filipino soldiers, sick civilians and of the sick children during the war.
Nazaria L. Lagos was born on August 28, 1851 in Barrio Burongan (now Jaguimit), Laglag (now the town of Dueñas), Iloilo. Her parents were Don Juan de la Cruz Lagos and Doña Saturnina Labrillaso. Being an only child she was well-cared and brought up in comfort since her parents belonged to a very rich family. They owned a wide hacienda. At her young age, she saw in her parents the wise way of living – work and save. Although she has the privilege of having everything, she was not a spoiled girl. When she was six years old, her mother hired Maestro Gregorio "Oyong" Tingzon as her teacher. She was founded by Maestro "Oyong" to be brilliant. At a very young age, she was a girl of good standing in the community. Among the elite girls of the town, aside from having good looks and strong personality she could speak well in Spanish. She was a surprise to them for she was associating with the Spanish Officials. When she stood she was a commanding figure and when she looked, she was a winning personality. All these, plus her talent made her one of the Greatest Figures during the 1898 Revolution of the Visayas and Mindanao.
When she was 12 years old, she was married to her second cousin Segundo Lagos, a son of a wealthy land owner, Don Bartolome Lagos whose ancestors were the founders of Dueñas and Roman Catholicism in Dueñas. Segundo was the Roman Catholic Chief Sacristan, Adviser of the Priest and later appointed as Municipal President (Mayor) of the town. Nazaria and Segundo Lagos descendants were a true Spanish Blood (Captain Lagos first ancestor of the Lagos who arrived in the Philippines and married a Mestiza Filipina) but deep in their hearts they were true Filipinos.
During the many years of her marriage life, Nazaria tried to meet the intricacies of her home life with patience. Even at a very early age she has good qualities of a wife and a mother. She was equipped with proper knowledge on nursing care and medical care by Dr. Cuadra, a family friend and doctor, who often visited the family and stayed for days in the wide family Hacienda. The Lagos Family is considered as one of the "Familia Illustrada" of the town. This placed Nazaria and Segundo in the good graces of both the Spanish Government and the Church Priests.
Nazaria was appointed President of the first local unit of Red Cross organization in the province of Iloilo by the order of the Military Governor, Don Ricardo Nonet, and strengthened by the recommendation of the parish priest, Padre Lorenzo Suarez.
During the revolution under the general supervision of Gen. Martin Delgado, Nazaria Lagos was chosen as secretary and Segundo (her husband) as the adviser of the Revolutionary Volunteers to go against the Spanish Government. Her house in Barrio Burongan (now Jaguimit) was made as a secret meeting place of the high-ranking officers of the revolution in the whole province of Iloilo. Nazaria and Segundo built a secret Army Hospital in their Hacienda in Jaguimit and which Nazaria was appointed as Chief of the Army Hospital and Manager of the Army Food Supply Depot for the Filipino soldiers. This is for the preparation of the revolutionist for the war against the Spaniards. The building of the hospital came from Nazaria and Segundo's own money. The supplies of the food came from the production of their farm. She gave an all out support for the welfare of the Filipinos. Nazaria Lagos and her family together with their "obreros" began to work secretly in Hacienda Jaguimit. She personally supervised the construction of the hospital made from local materials. They made bamboos as beds, chairs and tables and cabinets for the wounded Filipino soldiers.
The war started. Many Filipino soldiers were sick and wounded, and they were brought to the hospital in Jaguimit. The hospital was not only for the Filipino soldiers but as well as the sick and wounded civilians. Since the hospital is certainly located between the North and South revolutionary groups, supply almost ran out. For such a gigantic tack for a woman to bear, the Red Cross helped her in asking donations like food, clothing and medicine. Her tenants had contributed their time and efforts to help in caring for the wounded soldiers. Her knowledge in herbal medicine played an important role in this extraordinary task during the Revolution. Spending almost all her time, effort and fortune for the brother Filipinos, she even was able to bear the death of her two children when the smallpox epidemic struck the country during the years of the turmoil.
Nazaria Lagos and her two daughters together with the Red Cross members, sew the Philippine flag. In spite of the scarcity of the clothes, sewing needles and threads, they made improvised needles out of umbrella wire and abaca fibers as the threads. The flag was hoisted at 9 o' clock in the morning of June 12, 1899 in the Dueñas town plaza. Nazaria and the people of Dueñas knelled down with tears rolling down their cheeks and prayed for their safety and independence while the National Hymn was played.
Nazaria Lagos reserved a legacy not in wealth but as a model mother, leader and a great woman in history. Unfortunately, she became blind and on January 27, 1947, at the age of 96, silently passed away at Sitio Amuyao, Jaguimit, Dueñas, Iloilo. She had served her country and family with love and devotion. She had all her children educated. Doña Caridad was a business woman and donor of the Jaguimit Barrio School site; Felicita became a nurse and first Pastor of the First Assemblies of God in the whole Philippines in which the church and site was donated by Nazaria Lagos. She also donated a lot in Jaguimit for the Health Center. Pomposa and Filomena were teachers. Pomposa together with Caridad were former students of Colegio de San Jose, Jaro, Iloilo City; Dioscoro became the first elementary school supervisor for the five towns of Iloilo.
Nazaria and Segundo Lagos will long be remembered from generation to generation. The service to their fellowmen is worth dying. And their names will be written in Bold Letters to all Filipinos, patriots, nationalist and lover of democracy.
The legacy of Nazaria L. Lagos still lives. Last September 1998, Ramon P. Lagos Jr. (son of Ramon L Lagos Sr.) and his wife Ruth Joy Suede Lagos together with their children Franklin, Joy, Nazaria (Charie) and Faith were awarded as Model Family or "Huwarang Pamilya" in the whole Philippines at the Malacañang Palace awarded by President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.
Nazaria's love to her children was great but the call of her country was urgent. She said "My country first for the fall of my country means the loss of all including my loved ones and if I and my children should all die, it is our precious gift to our country, for if we fall, our country will rise again – free and happy."
* Based on the book written by Ramon L. Lagos Sr. He is the 6th son of the National Heroine Nazaria L. Lagos, former politician, pharmacist (U.P. Manila – top 9 board passer in the whole Philippines), businessman, philanthropist, former chairman of the Historical Committee in Iloilo and author of almost 20 books.