Criselda Alison Embrado - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Criselda Alison Embrado also known as Sedang, was the fifth child and the only daughter of Don Ricardo Embrado y Del Rosario of Bohol and of Dona Dolores Alison y Cui of Carcar, Cebu. She was the first wife of Don Fernando Vilo of Cebu, the second wife of Demetrio Sauza y Mendoza and the third and last wife of Ignacio Gregorio of Zamboanga

Zamboanga (province)

Zamboanga is a former province of the Philippines located in the western region of the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.-Creation:During the time of the United States' purchase of the Philippines of 1898, the Republic of Zamboanga had its own independence and jurisdiction on what is now...

. She was the Grand Matriarch of the Embrado - Vilo - Sauza - Dela Cruz clan of Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, Philippines.

Her second husband Demetrio Sauza y Mendoza was the great great great grandson of Felix Berenguer de Marquina

Félix Berenguer de Marquina

Félix Berenguer de Marquina was a Spanish naval officer, colonial official and, from April 30, 1800 to January 4, 1803, viceroy of New Spain.-Origins and early career:...

y FitzGerald, the Governor General of the Republic of the Philippines and the great great grandson of Don Santiago Sauza, the brother of Don Hilario Sauza, Don Emanuel Sauza, Padre Juan Sauza, Madre Consolacion Sauza and of Doña Maria Guadalupe Sauza - Solis all from Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico.

Moreover, Doña Maria Guadalupe Sauza - Solis and Don Fidel Solis y Buenviaje of Asturias, Spain were the ancestors of Doña Segunda Katigbak, the first love of Dr. José Rizal

José Rizal

José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda , was a Filipino polymath, patriot and the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. He is regarded as the foremost Filipino patriot and is listed as one of the national heroes of the Philippines by...

, the Philippine National Hero.

Don Hilario Sauza was the father of Don Cenobio Sauza

Don Cenobio Sauza

Don Cenobio Sauza , known as the "Father of Tequila," was one of the earliest and longest lasting distillers of the tequila spirit – founding the Sauza Tequila distillery – La Perseverancia – in 1873....

(October 30, 1842 – February 15, 1909), known as the "Father of Tequila," was one of the earliest and longest lasting distillers of the tequila spirit – founding the Sauza Tequila distillery – La Perseverancia – in 1873.

The world famous Sauza Tequila

Sauza Tequila

Sauza Tequila Import Company is a producer of tequila located in Tequila, a municipality of the state of Jalisco, Mexico. It was founded in 1873 when Don Cenobio Sauza started La Perseverancia distillery. Sauza Tequila Import Company is owned by Beam Inc., headquartered in the Chicago suburb...

originated from the Sauzas of Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico.

Ancestry

She was a sangley

Sangley

Sangley , is an archaic term used in the Philippines to describe and classify a person of pure Chinese ancestry, while mestizo de sangley was used to refer to a person of mixed Chinese and indigenous ancestry Sangley (Sangleye, Sangley Mestizo, Mestisong Sangley, Mestizo de Sangley or Chinese...

. From her maternal side, she came from the illustrious, well-respected and famous clans of the Cuis, Alisons and Yaps of Cebu. She was the niece of Don Pedro Cui, the famous Cebuano philanthropist. One of her nephews was Archbishop Teofilo Camomot of Cebu.

For her father side, she came for the big, well-respected and rich clans of the Embrados, Polesticos, Garchitorenas, Cajes also spelled as Cajis, Bustamantes, Mejoradas, Chattos and Mijareses of Bohol

Bohol

Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines...

. She was the great granddaughter of Don Vicente Garchitorena y Basa of Barcelona, Spain and an immigrant in Ambos, Camarines, Philippines and of Clara Del Rosario y Zapanta of Aroroy, Masbate, Philippines.

Early life

Her siblings were Pedro Embrado y Alison who was the father of one of the famous Cebuano journalist Hilario Embrado, Julian Embrado y Alison, Faustino Embrado y Alison and Pastor Embrado y Alison. Her father was a butcher of old Carcar Public Market and her mother was a merchant of popped rice or ampaw, fried pig's intestines and wooden slippers or bakya.

Marital life

She was married to one of Cebu's aristocrats Don Fernando Vilo of Cebu in 1921. They had three children namely Roman Vilo y Embrado (1921–1988) who was the godson of Sergio Osmeña

Sergio Osmeña

Sergio Osmeña y Suico was a Filipino politician who served as the 4th President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice President under Manuel L. Quezon, and rose to the presidency upon Quezon's death in 1944, being the oldest Philippine president to hold office at age 65...

, Diosdado Vilo y Emnbrado (1923–1942) who was the godson of Vicente Sotto

Vicente Sotto

Vicente Yap Sotto was a Filipino politician and former Senator of the Philippines. Senator Vicente Yap Sotto was the main author of the Press Freedom Law -Personal life:...

. Diosdado died during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

in Padada, Davao del Sur

Davao del Sur

Davao del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Digos City. The province is bordered by Davao City to the north, and Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani to the west. To the east lies the Davao Gulf...

. Conrado Vilo y Embrado (1925–present) who is the godson of Don Pedro Cui.

Because of unhappy marital life with Don Fernando Vilo, she had a secreat relationship with a business magnate Demetrio Sauza y Mendoza of Marikina, the great-great grandson of Don Benedicto Dimaculangan Tuazon, the illegitimate son of Don Antonio Tuason of Fokien, China. They had five children namely the twins Timoteo Sauza y Embrado also known as Lorenzon Zausa y Yongkol (07 February 1927, Aklan, Philippines - present) and Roberto Sauza y Embrado also known as Teodoro Sauza y Yongkol(07 February 1927 – March 2011), Dolores Sauza - Dela Cruz y Embrado(1929–present), Natividad Sauza y Embrado(1930 - 1930) who died weeks after birth due to prematurity and Alejandro Sauza y Embrado (1931–1934) who died because of cholera.

Eventually she married Ignacio Gregorio. They had a daughter named Gloria Gregorio y Embrado.

Education

At the age of three, her mother taught her prayers in Latin. At 5, she had her first non-formal education in embroidery at the convent of Sta. Catalina Parish. She really would like to study a formal education, but her brothers insisted that she should stay only in the house attending the needs of the family and should pray in the church regularly. She was educated by the sisters of Sta. Catalina Parish of Carcar, Cebu. She learned business from her parents which eventually made her one of the richest businesswomen of her time in Visayas and Mindanao from 1918 to early 1980s. She bought and sold relief goods, rice, poultry, sea foods, fruits and rubbermade products.

She could speak, write and understand Latin, Spanish, English, Filipino, Cebuano, Chavacano, Hiligaynon, Boholano, Waray and some Moslem dialects.

Feminist's life

When she was younger, she saw and observed the woman in their community. They stayed at home attending the needs of the family and at the church serving and praying almost all day long. At the age of 13, she gathered her female friends at Sta. Catalina Church. She told her friends that men should allow woman to study not just at the convent and men should listen to their opinions and suggestions.

Sedang was known of her frankness, strong will and bravery. For her, damsels and woman of her time should be given opportunities to work for the family and to serve the community as well like men of her time. This was strongly opposed by her brothers and male relatives. But, she insisted and persevered. For her, women were not just servers of their families and husbands. Many woman of her time agreed of her strong opinions.

To prove, she worked in the public market of Carcar and even challenged men with men related works such as being a carpenter, butcher and other menial works related to men only although she was no tomboy or lesbian. For her, if men could do, women could do as well.

Because of her, many young women realized the value of their importance for social development. She established here own business and never lost hope although people in her time discouraged her so many times.

After several years of unhappy married life to Don Fernando Vilo, she left her first husband and followed her heart. She endured the intrigues of people when she live with Demetrio Sauza y Mendoza in Cebu City. For her, this was her life and she did not want to live because of the dictation of others. She was very strong willed. Eventually, Diosdado Sauza y Mendoza left her for another family. For her, woman could also live without men beside them.

When she found a better life in Mindanao, she brought her children Roman, Diosdado, Conrado and Dolores in Davao City in late 1930s. With her perseverance as a single mother, she used her business skils and evenually acquired hecatares of land in Hagonoy and Padada, Davao del Sur and in Old Bulatukan, Kisante, Makilala, North Cotabato and in Singaw, Kidapawan, North Cotabato. She was one of the most successful lady business magnate of her time. For her, woman should learn to stand by her own and should learn to speak her mind.

Political involvement

She was a well-travelled lady and befriended prominent people of her time. One of her close friends was Nicolasa Dayrit

Nicolasa Dayrit

Nicolasa Pamintuan Dayrit-Panlilio was a Philippine non-combatant in the Philippine-American War. Her actions not only included helping to minister the sick and wounded Philippine combatants, but also played a major role in appeasing General Antonio Luna during his confrontation with General Tomas...

, the aunt of her second husband Demetrio Sauza y Mendoza and a Capampangan hero. She was also the Head Campaign Manager of the late President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos for Region XI in the Philippines and one of the Head Campaign Manager of the same president for Mindanao in 1960s and 1970s. She was one of the beloved socialites during the time of President Carlos P. Garcia who did charity and social actions of the same president particularly for Visayas

Visayas

The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...

and Mindanao

Mindanao

Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...

. President Carlos P. Garcia

Carlos P. Garcia

Carlos Polistico García was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist and guerrilla leader...

's wife, former First Lady Leonila Dimataga was the childhood best friend of Criselda.

External links

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