CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Fernandinos paid tribute on Thursday to local heroine Nicolasa Dayrit-Panlilio by commemorating her 141st natal day as part of the celebration of Women’s Week in the city.
A wreath laying led by Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin, the heirs of the heroin, Local Council on Women Chairperson Dr. Leticia Yap, members of women’s groups and city officials was conducted at the non-combatant woman’s monument at Heroes Park.
Corito Panlilio-Lim, granddaughter of the heroine, urged Fernandinos to hear the resounding challenge of their grandmother, "to withstand discomfort if it means comfort for majority," just like what Nicolasa did.
Dayrit-Panlilio is known for appeasing General Antonio Luna during his confrontation with General Tomas Mascardo after the latter did not answer Luna's request of reinforcement when the American forces started bombarding San Fernando.
According to City Tourism and Investments Promotion Officer Ching Pangilinan-Gonzales, they had gathered enough studies to identify the real role of Dayrit-Panlilio which made her a heroine.
“Born in September 10, 1874… she was very well educated and also a musician, during her times she was one of the outstanding pianist in the province. Despite of her well-off upbringing she had helped in the revolution,” she said.
Pangilinan-Gonzales narrated that during the Philippine- American War, Nicolasa was non-combatant but rendered her services the sick and wounded Filipinos as a member of La Prosa Patriotic of San Fernando.
To keep her legacy alive, Pangilinan-Gonzales said, the city government implemented a program in search of women who have exemplary accomplishments and contributions to society by helping the people around them. “Natatanging Fernandina” was launched in 2003 and had become an annual activity of the city. (with Elizabeth Ann Mendoza, PUP Intern)