Teodora Alonso Realonda

Teodora Alonso Realonda y Quintos (9 November 1827 – 16 August 1911) was a wealthy woman in colonial Philippines. She was the mother of Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ national hero. Alonzo (Alonso) was born in Santa Cruz, Manila. She was known for being a disciplinarian and hard-working mother. Her medical condition inspired Rizal to take up Medicine.^[1][2]

Early life

She was the second child of Lorenzo Alonso and Brijida de Quintos, a capitan-municipal in Binan, Laguna. She is also a representative in Spanish Cortes and a solid Catholic, being a Knight of the Order of Isabela by profession.^[2]

Quintos on the other hand is an educated woman, who became a housewife and devoted to taking care of her family’s needs. Her family adopted “Realonda” after Governor-General Narciso Claveria issued a decree in 1849. Teodora came from a financially-able family and studied at the Colegio de Santa Rosa in Manila, just like her mother who was highly bred and had educational background in the subjects mathematics and literature.^[2]

Personal life

Teodora married Francisco Mercado, a native of Biñan, Laguna, when she was 20 years old. The couple resided in Laguna, particularly in Calamba and built a business from agriculture. Because of their industry, being a hands-on mother, and educated, Teodora’s knowledge was reflected in managing the farm to sustain the family’s well-to-do lifestyle and basic finances. She branched out the business from agriculture to textile, and flour and sugar milling in the ground floor of their home.^[2]

Teodora had eleven children with Francisco. They are Saturnina, Paciano, Narcisa, Olympia, Lucia, Maria, Jose, Concepcion, Josefa, Trinidad and Soledad. All her children were sent to study in different colleges in Manila, but only Jose was sent to Europe – as he was inspired to take medicine, particularly ophthalmology to help his mother from her failing eyesight.

Dispute against the Spanish and exile

After moving to Europe, Jose became too involved in speaking his mind against Spanish authorities. Teodora became an easy target and was imprisoned for two and a half years, and was charged of poisoning her brother’s wife.^[3] She was released after being backed up by famous lawyers of her time.^[3] She was made to walk 50 kilometers for not using her Hispanic last name “Realonda de Rizal” . Her family was also forced to leave Calamba after losing a land dispute versus Dominicans. She later moved to Hong Kong with Rizal in 1891 and stayed in a home in Dapitan where her son was sentenced and in exile.

After Rizal's death

In August 1898, Narcisa, got the body of her brother Rizal, and found out that the body was not even laid out in a coffin. Because of this, the government offered a lifetime pension as a token of gratitude, after Rizal was declared the national hero of the Philippines. Teodora even saw the declaration of the monument for Rizal, and after a week she died. Alonso died in her home in San Fernando Street, Binondo, Manila.^[1]

References