MARINA

DIZON-
SANTIAGO
(1875-1950)
Heroine of the Philippine Revolution and one of
the first women initiated into the Katipunan,
Marina Dizon was born on July 18, 1875 to Jose
Dizon, one of the thirteen revolutionary martyrs
of Cavite. She was also a cousin of Emilio
Jacinto. Having lost her mother when she was
barely eight months old, her aunt Josefa Dizon,
Emilio Jacinto's mother, took care of her. Under
such a family atmosphere, her patriotism and
nationalism easily came to the fore.
•She obtained her early education in a
private school conducted by Maestro
Timoteo Reyes. Later, she enrolled in a
public school under Doña Aniceta Cabrera,
where her future husband Jose Turiano
Santiago happened to be one of her
schoolmates. She studied music, painting,
and modelling and became an accomplished
singer and declaimer.
•She was also a guitarist and violinist of the
Trozo Comparsa Band. She wanted to be a
teacher but her father frowned on the idea.
One night in 1893, she was accompanied by
Emilio Jacinto to the house of Don Restituto
Javier. There in the presence of Gregoria de
Jesus, the young wife of Bonifacio, Josefa
and Trinidad Rizal and their nieces, Angelica
Lopez and Delfina Herbosa, Marina was
initiated into the Katipunan.
•A very active member of the organization,
Marina presided initiation rites for women,
kept the records, and acquainted new
members with the constitution and
teachings of the Katipunan. She always
remind the members: "Be cheerful at all
times; do not show of impending rebellion.
Be prepared to be orphans and widows
someday. Be brave and carry on"
•In 1896 her father was executed in
Cavite, and in August of same year, her
husband Jose Turiano was arrested and
imprisoned. To avoid having the records
of the Katipunan fall to the hands of the
authorities, she burned them. She sold
her valuables to raise money bribe the
guards in order to let her visit her
husband in jail.
• She been on temporary peace when, on
September 11, 1897, her husband was released.
The American occupation in 1899 forced Marina
and her husband to transfer residence to
Meycauayan, Bulacan. They moved to Tarlac
when the hostilities ended. There she left Jose
with Dr. Marcelino de los Santos and proceeded
to Bamban. Jose slipped unnoticed to Manila
where he found work as an accountant. But he
was suspected as a revolucionario and an order
for his capture was issued by the Americans.
•He avoided arrest by fleeing to
Hongkong. He and Marina, however,
were reconciled when he came back
later to the Philippines.
• Dizon was widowed during the
Second World War. In the twilight years
of her life, she lived with her unmarried
daughter in Caloocan. She passed away
on October 25, 1950.