 She is married to Jacinto Alves, with whom she had four daughters and a son.During the Indonesian occupation of East Timor (1975-1999), Alves was one of the main female leaders of the resistance movement, especially around Laclubar and Laclo.She participated actively in the "Organização Popular de Mulheres Timorense" (Popular Organisation of East Timorese Women) (OPMT), the women's organization of FRETILIN.