LIBRADA M. AVELINO (1873-1934) Educator Librada Avelino, the ...

LIBRADA M. AVELINO
(1873-1934)
Educator
Librada Avelino, the only child of Pedro Avelino, a pharmacist, and Francisca Mangali,
was born in Quiapo, Manila on January 17, 1873. She grew up in Pandacan where her family
transferred from their residence in Quiapo. She studied at the public school for girls in
Pandacan under the supervision of Maestra Luisa Bacho, who regarded her intelligence. She was
still young when her mother died so her father remarried. Fortunately, her stepmother, Paula
Arcilla, was also supportive to her.
She studied Spanish grammar under Fermin Raymundo and took up music lessons
under Ladislao Bonus. An avid reader, she had read the novels of Rizal. Librada, also called Ada
by her friends, wanting to become a teacher, enrolled in the school of Margarita Lopez in Tondo
that gave her the preparations she needed to pass the teacher’s examination with honors.
Equipped with the license to teach, she opened a school at her father’s house in Pandacan. But
Ada was not satisfied. She craved for professional growth that could make her a better teacher so
she took up one-year teaching course at the normal school for women being supervised by the
Assumption Nuns. In 1893, she received the diploma that qualified her to teach in the high
school. Her school in Pandacan continued to receive students until she was forced to close it
when the 1896 revolution broke out.
When the revolution died down and civil government was established under the new
colonial masters, Ada pursued her love of teaching. She established a private school but it did
not prosper because of the new trends brought about by the new colonial masters whose culture
and language were entirely different from what Filipinos, including Librada, have gotten used to
under Spain. An intelligent woman, Ada did not surrender. She crossed the language barrier by
learning the English language at the summer school designed by American authorities for
Spanish-trained teachers. She also took up private lessons from an English speaking Filipino
tutor, Mr. Mauricio Somosa.
Learning the new language and assimilating in the new culture under America had not
changed the Filipino spirit of Maestra Ada who remained loyal to the ideals of the revolution.
She frankly protested to her American teacher, Prescott F. Jernegan, author of Philippine
history in English, who happened to mention that General Aguinaldo was the “chief of the Cavite
bandits” in one of their summer classes. To this remark, Ada replied: “Mr. Jernegan, Aguinaldo
was not a bandit chieftain. Our revolutionists were not bandits. They were patriots just like the
Americans who revolted against England in 1776.” Her classmates applauded. Embarrassed, her
American teacher aptly ended the class.
Librada’s capability as a teacher was recognized by the superintendent of public schools
in Manila, Dr. David Barrows, who appointed her principal of a public school for girls in
Pandacan in early 1901. She was the first Filipina to be given such task during the American
period. In October of the same year, Librada left for Hong Kong with the family of Vicente
Gonzalez, a friend of her father, and stayed there for six months. While in the British colony, she
improved her knowledge of the English language.
Back in the Philippines, she resumed her post as school principal. Librada executed her
works with dignity and did not allow anyone to meddle with the affairs of her school. When an
American school official continued to interfere in her work, she walked out of the school; behind

her were the Filipino students. She filed her resignation despite the pleas of Superintendent O’
Reilly for her to stay and his promised to increase her salary
A teacher by heart, Librada Avelino, together with Carmen de Luna, and Fernando Salas,
established the Centro Escolar de Señoritas, which opened in April 1907 with only 118 girls but
in time gained its university status. Today, this school is known as the Centro Escolar University.
In 1929, the University of the Philippines, then under Dr. Rafael Palma, conferred to her the
Master of Pedagogy, honoris causa, in 1929. In the investiture, she was cited for having “built up
in the face of adverse circumstances, an institution that has for a generation been a potent
influence for good in the Filipino home and national life.”
On November 9, 1934, Librada died of stomach cancer. In her honor, the Centro Escolar
University established the Librada Avelino Memorial Awards for outstanding women leaders in
Asia.
References:
Ancheta, Herminiana M. and Michaela Beltran-Gonzalez, Filipino Women in Nation Building,
Phoenix Press, Inc. Quezon City, 1984.
Varias,-de Guzman, Jovita, Ed. Women of Distinction : Biographical Essay on Outstanding
Filipino Women of the Past and the Present. Philippines : Bukang Liwayway, 1967.
Zaide, Gregorio. Great Filipinos in History. Manila: Verde Bookstore, 1970.