Our history unveils how physically strong men used their strength to bring honor to our country. Books described these men as people with a strong stance in leading the country — wearing armor to show their leader-like traits. However, not all heroes are men. During the Spanish era, one of them was a distinguished lady educator who stood tall despite the harassment she received for defending a language.

Today, January 17, 2024, commemorates the 151st birth anniversary of Centro Escolar University’s founder and first president, Doña Librada Avelino. To highlight this special day, we should look back on how this underrated heroine showed courage in her Filipiniana while fanning herself with an abanico.

Doña Librada “Ada” Avelino was born in Quiapo, Manila to Pedro Avelino, a pharmacist and entrepreneur, and Francisca Mañgali, a housewife. Ada was born in a household where inquisitiveness is seen as a way of living. She had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and after learning at an institution, she decided to enhance her skills, wanting to learn more than what was typically offered to girls. On November 9, 1934, she died due to stomach cancer at 61.

Avelino was the first woman in history to earn a teaching certificate during the Spanish era in 1889, the same year she completed her courses. When she received her diploma, she opened a free school in Pandacan that offered to train students for the teaching examination. The educator took courses offered by the sisters in the Assumption Convent, and in 1893, she earned another certificate allowing her to teach at the secondary level.

Avelino’s school continued to offer education until the Philippine Revolution in 1896, but as soon as the Americans arrived in Pandacan, she decided to suspend her courses because the United States forces established new rules in education — requiring to teach the English language. Since Avelino did not speak English, she believed that she would learn the language faster if she taught it to others. She taught at the girls’ school in Pandacan and attended summer schools in Hong Kong to further enhance her English skills. In addition to that, she was appointed as the first Filipina principal, at the girls’ school in Pandacan, during the United States era.

Side by side with Carmen de Luna, her collaborator and companion, they decided to open a modern, liberal school in Manila which would be called Centro Escolar de Señoritas (now Centro Escolar University), making it the first non-sectarian school in the Philippines. The idea behind the institution is to offer girls the same education as boys, as at that time only few opportunities flourished for girls in the education field. Moreover, Avelino said that instilling moral responsibility and patriotism would keep the country free. With this, more and more girls showed their interest in attending her school.

The Centro Escolar de Señoritas was the place where the College of Pharmacy was first introduced in the country in 1921, which was then followed by other colleges that made the institution known to this day. Today, CEU is recognized for its programs in the health sciences — Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medical Technology, Optometry, and Nursing.

Her contributions to education have led her to receive awards and honors under her name. She was awarded an honorary master’s degree in pedagogy by the University of the Philippines in 1930. On behalf of her strength as a leader, CEU established the Librada Avelino Memorial Awards for outstanding women leaders in Asia. In 2005, Librada Avelino was honored with the Champion of the Feminist Movement Award.

Women in society should not be deprived of opportunities offered to men. By acknowledging their achievements, future generations will be inspired to break down barriers to pursue their dreams. As for Doña Librada Avelino, she was a hero for she chose her path. Granted with no special abilities, her pursuit of education was enough for her to make various contributions to society. “Work and study hard. Be ready to offer all you have in the service of humanity and of our poor country.” –Doña Librada Avelino