By Amb Phatse Justice Piitso
A woman guerrilla fighter of tremendous courage, revolutionary wars on the mountain ranges of the Andes, fascinating peaks of the volcanic Chimborazo, splendour biodiversity on the beautiful valleys of Mindo and Vilcambamba, tumultuous water of river Rio Napo, tranquil haven of serenity, heartland of the rainforest of the Amazon, unfathomable creation of the universe, golden sunset of glittering billions stars, enchanting sunrise giving eagles impetus to fly the skies, echoes of the triumph of human spirit, Ecuador the oasis of titans, mother of the American wars of independence, Manuela Saenz, the liberator of the liberator.
Dinosaur of unrelenting struggles for freedom, dreams of the universe our humanity, her shadows no more, heroism giving rise to legends of tomorrow, on the valleys of myths and reality, encompassing shrines and temples of the Antilles, bowl of the science of the universe, the beginning and the end of the sun, moon and planet, feeling of love no more, the universe is love, mother conquering patriarchal narratives, enduring tales of selflessness and determination, trumpets of ferocious battles, Manuela Saenz, what the future is yet to know.
Amazon the garden of hope, fountain of humanity aspirations, theatre of humanity consciousness, shaping destiny of generational millennia, bounds of love of the thousands hills of the rainforest, her symbolism, tenacity and heroism, beautiful flower of Simon Bolivar, Manuela Saenz, glimpse of humanity freedom, revered revolutionary soldier of the people, foundations of its beginning, freedom of our America.
Vessel of great frontiers of humanity struggles, legend born out of societal stereotypes, moral foundations of medieval kingdoms, secret pregnancy of Spanish military officer and indigenous criollo woman, Simon Saenz Vergara and Maria Joaquina Aizpurru, shame and ostracism, a child becoming a property of no one, without relationship with parents, relatives and community, growing with disappointment and misfortune, condemned for giving the world her eyes and ears, birthplace of rebelliousness and defiance, Manuela Saenz, like billion stars over the horizons of our creation.
Consciousness the fabric of the universe, emblematic difficulties of nature, far beyond our imaginations, in the habitat of our mother nature, what will be to become who we are, creation of our universe, journey of eternity, our struggles today our freedom tomorrow, no measure of esteem, raised and schooled by philanthropism, Nuns at the convent of Santa Catalina in Quito, learning how to write and read, revolutionary not loosing her dreams, giving answers to questions never asked, power of wisdom and knowledge, our future, our gratitude.
Proffesor Geneivieve Carlton, renowned writer, researcher and historian, her scholarly articles, dedicated to the revolutionary live of Manuela Saenz, depicting her tormenting childhood says:
“It is said that in a magnificent bed covered with velvet in satin, and adorned with an abundant fringe and precious gold ornaments, with coverlet in same style and sheets embroidered in Belgian lace, was her luxurious birth covered with dark scandal born out of wedlock.”
Married to a wealthy English merchant, Dr James Thorne, living at the conservative aristocratic suburb of Pueblo Libre in Lima, Republic of Peru, heartbeat of Spanish oligarchy, privileged to the corridors of power relations, understanding the political, social and economic realities, colonial oppression, necessity of struggles for freedom of indigenous people, defying her husband, support the struggles of the people, joining patriotic forces for the liberation of our America, the struggle continues, our universe our humanity.
Her proximity to ruling class, infiltrating the Spanish colonial loyalist forces, spying, supplying information and arms to independence movement, acts of sabotage, mobilising Spanish military officers, defecting into the ranks of revolutionary forces. General Jose de San Martin, conferring unto her, the order of the Sun, highest decoration within the ranks of the patriotic forces, recognition of her outstanding contribution, revolutionary struggles against Spanish imperialism and colonial domination.
General Antonio Jose de Sucre, the most decorated soldier, declaring victory of liberated Ecuador and Upper Peru, naming Bolivia, honour of the liberator Simon Bolivar, cognisance of her incalculable contribution, decorum of highest oratory tribute, profound attribution to Manuela.
“My Gracious Lady, the noble offer of your possessions, for the defense of the state, is already suggested by your generosity, please accept the gratitude, of the whole corps of the Army of liberation, in whose name, I am able to declare, that there are heroines, such as yourself, with whom, they can share their glory.”
Animosity led Manuela Saenz abandoning her husband, who vehemently opposed to her involvement, clandestine activities of the forces for liberation, compelling her to return to Quito, continuing her courageous revolutionary work, gathering information, distributing pamphlets, organising financial resources for the underground activities, providing shelter, clothing and medical care to combatants. Taking leading role, shaping the cause of history of struggles, for the liberation of the people of Latin America.
Flames of her rebelliousness, brighter than her fears, a woman freedom fighter with unsubmissive character, traits of outstanding military knowledge and leadership, defining moments of a romantic affair, in the mist of fierce battlefield, glance of the most handsome patriotic soldier, the liberator seeing a creative desirable woman, who he did not just take as a lover, but a confidant, who without exception, managing his personal affairs, with highest honour, a woman Commander giving orders to men and woman, bedrock of sacrifice, guerrilla of a special type.
Power of love, the liberator pollinating seeds of love, mesmerising the heart of a revered woman freedom fighter, inflicting low esteem to her husband, true love cannot be found, where it does not exist, love the beauty of the soul, Manuela Saenz, writing a painstaking letter to her English man, knowing well what she mean to say, I do not love you anymore, my heart stolen by the liberator Simon Bolivar, love the ultimate truth at the heart of the universe:
“Do you believe, after being the mistress, of the General for seven years, with the security of possessing his heart, I could prefer to be a mistress of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, or Holy Trinity. If I feel anything it is that you haven’t accepted, any better your having being deserted, I know very well that nothing can unite me with you, under the auspices that you call honour. But do you believe me less honourable for his being my lover and not my husband? Ah! I do not live under social preoccupation invented for mutual torment. Leave me, my dear Englishman. Let’s make a deal, in heaven we will marry again, but on earth, No.”
Playing a crucial leadership role during the battle of Pinchincha, decisive battle during Ecuadorian wars of independence, which took place on 24 May 1822, Manuela Saenz, proving herself prowess of freedom struggles, alongside General Antonio Jose de Sucre, defeating loyalist forces of the Spanish colonial government, declaring the freedom of the city of Quito, paving way for the formation of the Republic of Ecuador. promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, recognition of her heroic leadership role during the mother battle.
When the patriotic forces, led by the liberator Simon Bolivar, marched through the streets of Quito, celebrating victory, over Spanish occupational forces, admiring the liberator, as he passed before her house, Manuela Saenz, throwing flowers unto him from the balcony. Later that evening at the reception, celebrating the victory of the liberation of Quito, she danced in his honour, and Bolivar, with ingratiating smile, during his address said “if all my soldiers had your aim, I would have won all the battles”, later writing her a letter saying “learn to love and do not leave me, not even to go with God himself”.
She was equally a participant, during the historic conference of Guayaquil, of 26-27 July 1822, when Simon Bolivar and Jose San Martin, discussed the future, of the post independent Latin America, two diverse different views, with Jose San Martin favouring establishment of constitutional monarchy, Simon Bolivar, republican form of government, a debate Bolivar won against Martin. In an unprecedented gesture of the unity of revolutionary forces, General Martin, saluted Simon Bolivar, declaring him the father of the wars of independence of Latin America:
“I have finished my public life, I shall go to France and live out the days of my life in retirement. Only time and events will say which of us has seen the future with clarity.”
During the battle of Junin, which took place on the 26 August 1824, Peruvian war of independence, Simon Bolivar, defeating the loyalist forces, in the valleys and mountains of the Andes, Manuela Saenz, took the centre stage, as a calvary officer, fighting battles, alongside the revolutionary patriotic forces of Simon Bolivar, earning the rank of a captain.
During the historic battle of Ayacucho, the last battle of the American wars of independence, which took place at Pampa de Ayacucho, Peru, on the 9 December 1824, ending centuries presence of Spanish military army in the region, Manuela Saenz, participated actively as a combatant and a nurse, giving aid to the wounded, demonstrating her courage and bravery, for her outstanding contribution, to Latin American wars of independence. The leadership of the patriotic revolutionary forces, promoted her to the rank of a colonel, most decorated woman freedom fighter in history.
During outlandish evening, in a room at Palacio des San Carlos in Bogota, Colombia, 25 September 1828, Manuela Saenz with Simon Bolivar, whispering into his ears, a romantic poetry, flower of the peacock, crown of the liberator, from the deep sleep, sweet dreams and melodies, tormenting sounds, footsteps from the assassins, dogs barking at the moon, for no reasons, Manuela Saenz, persuading the liberator, not to take fight, with the gang of immorality, escaping through the window, into the wilderness, redeeming the life of the liberator, life is a sacred, glory of God the almighty, words cannot thank you enough, the liberator giving his mistress, the honour of the liberator of the liberator.
A trusted lieutenant of the liberator, Manuela Saenz, tower built on the principles of love, true companionship and comradeship, opting to be faithful than to be famous, when friends were few, the strength of the enemy from within, the power of honey of imperialism, walking into the heart of the liberator, when the rest was walking away, a true friend indeed, unequivocal support to Simon Bolivar, death of our liberator, candle that light others no more, touchstone of humanity struggles, his living memories, our universe, our humanity. True mistress of the liberator, true compatriot to cause of the struggles, blossoming flower of the revolution, Manuela Saenz, the hero of the independence wars of the Andes.
After death of Simon Bolivar, disillusioned, demoralised, persecuted, betrayed, exiled, prodigal daughter, before the eyes of the Generals, crime her everlasting love to the liberator, destitute in the streets of Jamaica, selling tobacco and writing letters to whalers, courting Latin American women, died of the deadly disease of diphtheria, buried like a pauper in a mass grave, prodigal daughter born out of a wedlock, betrayal never from your enemies, but from dear friends and comrades, damaging the roots from which love to humanity grows, her indomitable spirit, titan of the age of our revolution, writing her own history, on the beautiful valleys of the Andes, her life bigger than herself, heroine produced by revolutionary path she chose, the journey of a legendary mother.
In memory of her magnanimous life, a legend born out of adversity, shining the brightest in the mist of difficulties, remembered by her enduring spirit, her liberation ideals, encompassing humanity freedom, posthumously conferred the honorary General of the Republic of Ecuador by President Rafael Correa in 2007, her symbolic remains, buried alongside Simon Bolivar, at the National Pantheon in Caracas, Republic of Venezuela by President Hugo Chavez.
Manuela Saenz, the mother of all revolutions, heroine born out of humanity struggles, heart filled with glorious spirits of bravery and selflessness, a legend living forever in the hearts of the people, her immortal actions never to be forgotten by history, triumph of humanity against adversity, our universe, our humanity, the path of storms into the future, sacred values struggles, freedom and equality, we shall achieve.
A revolutionary to be honoured by posterity, walking billions of miles into the horizons of the stars, new world of generations to come, inspired by her exemplary, the old shall be the new, our freedom our future humanity, heroism of the women of the Antilles, on the mountain top of the Andes, garden of the rainforest of the Amazon, journey of great titans of humanity, the eyes and ears of our beautiful universe. Humanity the illuminating force of the universe.
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Ambassador Phatse Justice Piitso is a member of the African National Congress writing this article in his personal capacity.