by Mona Lisa H. Quizon

          In the course of our history, women have played significant roles. Before the coming of the colonizers, they made their presence felt by becoming leaders in society or the barangay. The women of that time served as babaylan, the spiritual leader in the community. They also held other important positions such as members of the council of elders. Indeed men during that time had a high regard for women and believed in their capacity to undertake their role in society.

          Unfortunately, when the Spaniards came and ruled to the country, the role of women was no longer as strong as it was before. Women became submissive and lost their courage to express their feelings and rights.  Maria Clara as an ideal was introduced in society, an image of women having low self esteem and being conservative - woman who just followed what is dictated to her. Still, there were other women brave enough to stand for their rights and were determined to prove something to society.
 
          One of them was Teresa Magbanua. Nay Isa as followers fondly called her was a good example of woman with substance. She was born on October 13, 1868 in Pototan, Iloilo to Judge Juan Magbanua and Alejandra Ferraris.
 
          She was one of the first to join the revolutionary forces when the revolution broke out in Iloilo in late 1898. Her husband and her uncle, General Perfecto Poblador, strongly opposed her joining the revolution because “she was a woman”. Her determination, persistence and ability to fight finally overcame their resistance and General Poblador gave her command of a bolo battalion.

          Nay Isay proved to be a forceful commander in her first encounter in the Battle of Barrio Yating, Pilar, Capiz early in December 1898. She also fought at the Battle of Sapong Hills near Sara. In both battles, she demonstrated her capacity was equal to that of other Filipino leaders. Her men called her “generala” for being the “fightingest” woman in the Visayan Islands.  
  
          She participated in the battle against the Americans in Iloilo City on February 11, 1899 and in Balantang-Tacas-Jibao-an line in March of the same year. In the famous battle of March 10 in Balantang where around 400 Americans were killed or wounded, she demonstrated gallantry and heroism. When the revolutionary government’s capital in Santa Barbara fell, Nay Isa engaged in guerilla activities. She impressed the enemy and the people with her daring and superb horsemanship.

          The military superiority of the enemy and the deaths of her brother Elias and Pascual eventually led her to surrender.

          During World War II, the Japanese forces occupied Panay Island. Nay Isa once more rallied to the defense of the nation. Although she could no longer fight the enemy through armed combat, she actively helped in giving supplies to the guerilla forces and more importantly to support and inspire her countrymen in their struggle for freedom.

          After the war, she migrated to Mindanao and lived with her sister Maria in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur. She died on August 1947 at the age of 78.
     
       Indeed, Nay Isa devoted her entire life in defending our country. Her heroism deserves to be written in the pages of our past. The Filipino people would always remember Nay Isa for the honor she shared with and for her patriotism that helped shape the destiny of our nation. She is an inspiration to Filipinos, particularly to women, to prove their presence and their role in society. It’s about time that women break the stereotype image that has been attached to them in the past, for women empowerment is the key for progress.