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GABRIELA's History
From GABRIELA, [2004]
Filipino women have a long struggle against oppression, foreign control and male
domination. They fought for better jobs and the rights to vote and go to school. One of
them led a regional revolt against Spanish colonizers. She was Gabriela Silang.
Primed by the anti-dictatorship campaign and the drive for economic and political
change in the Marcos years, women's organizations established the national women's
coalition, GABRIELA the General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity,
Equality, Leadership, and Action.
Starting from 42 when we organized in April 1984, we are today a center of over a
hundred women organizations, institutes, desks, and programs. Our ranks include
women workers, peasants, urban poor, housewives, professionals, religious and
students across the country.
We believe that the freedom women seek will be brought about by the resolution of
the problems of foreign domination, landlessness and political repression and in the
changing of patriarchal value systems and structures in Philippine society.
We focus on issues that affect women: the effects of militarization and women's
landlessness; the International Monetary Fund-World Bank and the debt crisis; denial
of women's reproductive rights and gross neglect of health care for women; violence
on children, wife abuse and family life; development aid; prostitution and trafficking
of women.
Filipino women have a long history of struggle against foreign domination and
women oppression. They fought for better jobs and the right to vote and go to school.
One of them led a regional revolt against the Spanish colonizers. She was Gabriela
Silang.
Primed by the anti-dictatorship struggles and the drive for significant economic and
political change in the Marcos years, women from all walks of life banded together
and established a national women's coalition. We called ourselves GABRIELA in
honor of Gabriela Silang. It was the call of the time and Filipino women, like their
predecessors in history, valiantly responded to the challenge of struggling for
liberation.

From being a coalition of only 42 organizations in 1984, we are, today, a grassrootsbased national alliance of 250 organizations, institutions, desks, and programs.
We believe that the freedom women seek will be brought about by the resolution of
the problems of foreign domination, landlessness and political repression, and in the
changing of patriarchal value systems and structures in Philippine society.
We work against issues that adversely affect women: landlessness, militarization, the
foreign debt crisis and the IMF-WB impositions, GATT-WTO, anti-people
development projects, the denial of women's health rights, violence against women
and children, prostitution, trafficking in women and migration, and many more.
Likewise, we work to promote a positive social attitude toward women through
cultural means and consciousness-raising.
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/54a/232.html

By 1762, the Philippines was already 200 years under

Spanish Rule. But something odd happened in September
of that year. The British invaded Intramuros, the walled
City of Manila and the center of Spanish colonial power.
However, the British could not extend their rule over the
entire Philippines as they lacked the manpower and
ammunition to do so.
So the Spanish flag still waved on the entire Philippine
Islands, except in Intramuros.
The following year, a young man named Diego Silang led
a revolt against the Spaniards in Ilocos province, on the
northern part of the archipelago. His wife was a beautiful
lady by the name of Maria Josefa Gabriela Silang (march
19,1731-Sept.29,1763), or more popularly known in
Philippine history simply as Gabriela Silang. Diego s
revolt was successful at first but was thwarted later on by

fellow Ilocanos who sided with the Spaniards named

Pedro Becbec and Miguel Vicos, the latter orchestrating
his assassination together with the hated and dreaded
Spanish priests. Diego eliminated heavy taxes and forced
labor which the Spanish authorities enforced . But later
these were reinstated when Diego was repulsed at one
point. Diego even entertained thoughts of seeking help
from the British because they promised him reforms
favorable to the Filipino people. But he was
assassinated ,thus ending abruptly his 33 years of
existence.
After his death, his courageous wife Gabriela continued
the struggle for freedom. She, together with Diegos uncle,
Nicolas Carino amassed a total of 2,000 men, loyal to her
husband. She led several attacks on Spanish forces ,
some won but others lost and with heavy casualties on
both sides. After several clashes, it was over.Gabrielas
forces were overwhelmed and she was captured and
taken prisoner by Spanish forces led by her husbands
assassin, Miguel Vicos. Some 90 of her lieutenants and
men were hanged in Vigan and in other towns where they
were caught.The rest were imprisoned or flogged.
The Spanish authorities prepared a special kind of death
for Gabrielas men. Because they were the most defiant
among the rebels, one by one, each soldier was hanged,

lined along the coastal towns for everyone to see. Their

bodies were left hanging to sway along the breeze from
the sea. This was a painful reminder for all those who wish
to defy the ruling power!
For Gabriela, the pain was even greater because she was
the last one to die. She witnessed how each of her men
would go. The Spaniards said she fought like a man and
so she deserved a mans sentence!
Poor Gabriela was brought to the town plaza one morning
and hanged before a curious crowd of Spaniards and
Filipinos, all cheering for Mother Spain, all in a festive
mood, as if a hardened criminal was about to die!
But the brave Gabriela, then only 32 years old, went
calmly and courageously to her death. She took the 13
steps that led to the scaffold silently without any sign of
fear or frustration.
Thus , this woman warrior passed away, her final resting
place still remaining a mystery to this day.
Looking back at her life, Gabriela was a good wife,
religious and caring. She was also very generous. A story
told about her was that one night she was going to a sick
friends house to bring dinengdeng a kind of Ilokano dish.
Along the way, she met an old woman who was shivering
in the cold. She gave not only the dish to this old lady but

also her shawl.

Gabriela is referred to as the Joan of Arc of the
Philippines. But, sadly she is not that well-known or highly
venerated in the Philippines like Rizal or Bonifacio. Except
for a group advocating womens rights bearing her name,
Gabriela is known merely as Diegos wife and a woman
general who took over when he died.
She should be an inspiration to all Filipino women. She
should be emulated by young girls and her true story of
courage told from all over the country. She should be
studied in depth in schools and given as much attention as
her husband and other male Filipino heroes.
In my hours of darkness she shines like a light of
inspiration in my dull and uninspiring life.
Gabriela Silang is a rare gem in Philippine history.
Gabriela Silang makes me proud that I am a Filipino
woman!
(Source: Martinez, Manuel F. Assassinations and
Conspiracies (From Rajah Humabon to Imelda
Marcos). Pasig City, Philippines: Anvil Publishing Inc.
2002.)
http://jeanrojas.tripod.com/id11.html

It is unfortunate that we do not have much

knowledge of our national heroes, thanks to
our misused/stolen public funds;
consequently we Filipinos do not have the
time, money and effort to pursue a a deep
research or study of our history and thus, of
our heroes.
Heroes are like so-called saints in a way:
Heroes are people who deserve to be
emulated. In these times, we Filipinos
have a dearth of heroes, live ones -not
necessarily dead ones, to help lead and
struggle with us towards national liberation:
economic and political independence from
foreign domination and fellow Filipinos who
are traitors to our national sovereignty and
to the well-being of the impoverished,
native majority.
One of our national heroes is Gabriela
Silang. Below is a brief narrative of her life

and her heroic acts.

- Bert
*****************

GABRIELA SILANG
Joan of Arc of Ilocandia
If France had a St. Joan of Arc (14121431), who liberated her country from the
English invaders, and if Vietnam had the
fighting Trang sisters, who save their native
land from the Chinese invaders, the Philippine
had, at least two freedom fighter Maria Josefa
Gabriela Silang (Mrs. Diego Silang) of
Ilokandia andTeresa Magbanua of Iloilo.
As the wife of the famous Diego Silang,
Ilocandias liberator, Maria Josefa Gabriela was
popularly known as Mrs. Diego Silang. By her
own right, she was equally great as her husband.
After her husbands assassination, she

continued his libertarian movement, fighting

valiantly on the bloody battlefields and died with
heroic courage at the hands of the Spanish
enemy.
Mrs. Silang was born in the barrio of Canlogan,
Santa, Ilocos Sur, on March 19, 1731. Her
father was an Ilokano peasant from Santa and
her mother, an Itneg household maid from
Pidigan, Abra. She was brought up as a
Christian by her father, for she had been
separated from her pagan mother since birth.
She grew up to a comely lass, noted for her
pious and charitable character. At the age of
20, she was forced by her father to marry a rich
old man, who died shortly after the wedding,
leaving his wealth to his young widow. Thus, she
became a rich and pretty widow, very much
attractive to all eligible swains.

Diego Silang who was then a young and dashing

mail-carrier between Vigan and Manila, fell in
love with the beautiful widow. After a few years of
romance, they were married and established
their residence in Vigan. For five years, they
lived happily, although unblessed by children.
Diego Silang continued his regular trips to
Manila, in the course of which he made many
friends not only in the capital city but also in the
towns and provinces where he made brief
stopovers.
In September, 1762 the raging Seven Years
War in Europe reached the Philippine shores. A
British expeditionary force, prepared in India by
the English East India Company upon orders of
the British Crown and commanded byGeneral
William Draper and Admiral Samuel
Cornish entered Manila Bay on September 22,
began the siege of Manila on the 24th, and
captured it on October 5.

The capture of Manila by the British invaders

shattered Spains military prestige and inspired
the oppressed Filipinos in certain regions to rise
in arms against Spanish rule. In Ilocandia, Diego
Silang, with the help of his brave wife, emerged
a liberator. On December 14, 1762, Silang
proclaimed the independence of his people and
made Vigan the capital of Free Ilocos.
He proved to be an able general, for he routed
the Spanish forces in Cabugao. Failing to crush
his independent government by force arms, the
Spanish authorities resorted to a sinister
strategy-assassination. The hired
assassin,Miguel Vicos, a perfidious mestizo
friend of Silang, succeeded in killing him on May
28, 1763.
Mrs. Silang widowed for a second time, assumed
the leadership of the libertarian cause and

carried on the war against Spain. She was

assisted by Nicolas Cario, Diego Silangs
uncle, and by other faithful lieutenants of her late
husband.
Driven out of Vigan by the superior forces of
Spain, she retreated, with the remnants of her
lamented husband army, to Pidigan, the
hometown of her Itneg mother. This town
became the capital of the free Ilocos
government-in-exile. She recruited more
freedom fighters, including Itneg archers, and
prepared for recapture of Vigan.
Meanwhile, she launched guerrilla attacks on the
Spanish garrisons on the coastal towns. Her
unique policy of harassment was so successful
that the namegenerala, which was given to her
by the masses, struck, terror to the Spanish
troops and to Ilocanos who collaborated with
Spain.

About the last week of August, 1763, Mrs. Silang

was able to muster a fighting force of 2,000 men
armed with assorted weapons Spanish
muskets captured from the enemy bamboo
spears hardened in the fire (bikal) bows and
arrows (pana), blowguns (sumpit), bleded
weapons (bolos, daggers, and swords), and
head axes (wasay).
While she was preparing the offensive for the
recapture of Vigan, the Spanish authorities were
massing a huge army of 6,000 strong for the
defense of the city. By the first week of
September, Mrs. Silang astride a prancing horse
led the march towards Vigan. Upon her
command, her bolo brigade, supported by Itneg
archers, assaulted the city defenders, offered by
trained Spanish officers, and supported by
artillery, rolled back the attack, inflicting heavy
losses on the generalas army.

Mrs. Silang, undaunted by the first repulse,

launched a second attack. She personally led
this assault to encourage her warriors to fight
fiercely. But, outnumbered and outarmed, her
men could not crack the enemy line.
Demoralized by the futility of crushing the
enemy, they panicked and fled the battlefield.
The valiant Cario, bravest captain of the
generala, perished in action.
The fearless generala and some brave survivors
retreated again to the wilds of Abra. A picked
brigade of Spanish troopers and loyal Cagayan
warriors under Don Manuel de Arza pursued the
fleeting patriots, capturing them later in the
hinterlands.
Terrible Spanish justice was meted out to Mrs.
Silang and 80 of her surviving men. Her brave
men were hung one by one along the coastal

towns as a stern warning to the Ilocanos that

any resistance to Spain would mean death on
the gallows.
Mrs. Silang, the leader and last survivor of the
lost rebellion, was brought to Vigan, where she
was publicly hanged on September 20, 1763.
She died with calmed courage, as befitted a true
heroine. Thus ended the heroic life of the fighting
widow, the Joan of Arc of Ilocandia, and the
short-lived independence of the Ilocano people.
She deserves the garland of greatness, for she
fought and died for her peoples freedom. She
was truly the first woman general and the first
female martyr in the Philippine history.
Maria Josefa Gabriela Silang

Gabrela Silang or Maria Josefa Gabriela Cario Silang in real

life was the woman who bravely fought alongside other
Filipinos in the Spanish revolution. Born on March 19, 1731 in
Caniogan, Ilocos Sur young Gabriela was adopted by Don
Tomas Millan, a very wealthy and known businessman. He
became her legal guardian and later her husband. In their 3

years of marriage, Gabriela failed to have a child with him

and after sometime her husband died.
In the year 1757, Gabriela re-married again to his co-rebel
Diego Silang who was also the groups leader. The groups
goal was to free Ilocos from the cruel Spaniards. Whenever
the troops battle, Gabriela always went with them to give
support and help with the battle. Unfortunately, one of her
husbands close friends betrayed them, which resulted to
Diegos death and downfall.
After her husband injustice death, Gabriela took over what
her husband left. She led the Filipino rebels in their fight for
justice and freedom. In September 10, 1763, Gabrielas
troops attacked the Spanish in Vigan but the Spaniards were
ready for them. Gabriela alongside her uncle and 7 other
members escape the attack and fled. A few days later, they
were caught and was hanged in Vigan.

Mara Josefa Gabriela Cario Silang (March 19, 1731September 29, 1763) was the first Filipino woman to lead a
revolt during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. An
active member of the insurgent force of Diego Silang, her
husband, she led the group for four months after his death
before she was captured and executed.
Born in Barangay Caniogan, Santa, Ilocos Sur, Silang was a
mestiza, of Spanish and Ilocano descent. She was adopted
by a wealthy businessman who later married her at the age
of 20, but left after three years. In 1757, she married again,
this time to 27-year-old indigenous Ilocano rebel leader,
Diego Silang. She became one of his closest advisors, a
major figure in her husband's collaboration with the British

and the brief expulsion of Spanish officials from Vigan, Ilocos

Sur during the British occupation of the Philippines.
On May 28, 1763, her husband was assassinated by order of
royal and church authorities in Manila. After her husband's
death, she fled on horseback to the mountains of Abra to
establish her headquarters, reassemble her troops, and rally
the Tingguian community to fight. They descended on Vigan
on September 10, 1763. But the Spanish garrison was ready,
amassing Spanish, Tagalog, and Kapampangan soldiers and
Ilocano collaborators to ambush her and rout her forces.
Many were killed. She escaped, alongside her uncle Nicolas
and seven other men, but later caught on September 29,
1763. They were summarily hanged in Vigan's plaza, with
Gabriela being the last to die.
Her ferocity and death became a symbol for Filipino women,
their pre-colonial importance in Filipino society and their
struggle for liberation during colonization.

Diego Silang and Maria Josefa

Gabriela Silang
The first major revolution waged against the
Spaniards was waged by the Silangs during
the time of the British forces military
incursion in the Philippines which began in
September 1762.
It was the period of the Seven Years War

between the British and the French, who

were aided by Spain. In October 1762, the
British expeditionary forces from India
occupied Manila in retaliation to Spains
alliance with France, and sought to take
control of the other provinces of the
Philippines.
Diego Silang saw this as the opportune time
to lead an Ilocano revolt against the
weakened Spanish forces. Ilocanos have
suffered long the unreasonable taxes, free
labor for the construction of religious and
administrative structures and the
suppressive monopolies that the Spaniards
imposed upon the populace. That is why
they were quick to respond to the call for
revolution.
Diego Silangs aim was the creation of an
Ilocano nation. This vision began when he
personally witnessed the many abuses of the
Spanish government and the Roman
Catholic Church not only in Ilocos but
wherever he traveled as courier for Vigans

parish priest, delivering letters and

documents to Manila and back.
Having failed in negotiations with the
Spanish authorities to establish a
government in Ilocos with
Ilocano functionaries, Diego Silang worked
with the British forces to defeat the Spanish
in the North.
He already had control of Vigan in December
of 1762. He was promised military
assistance by the British to strengthen his
hold and complete his plan, which
unfortunately never came.
Diego Silang was later killed by Miguel
Vicos, a friend who was a mestizo (mix blood
of Spanish and Ilocano). Vicos carried out
his assassination of Diego during his visit to
the latters house, accompanied by another
of Diegos friend Pedro Becbec. The
traitorous act was of course instigated by the
Spanish church and government authorities.
Diegos cause did not die with him, however.

His wife, Maria Josefa Gabriela Silang,

continued his
leadership. Her valiant efforts were
overpowered by massive forces set upon
her, forcing her retreat to Abra. She tried to
lead her army back to Vigan but was again
repelled. She was captured and put to death
publicly by hanging in September 1763.
Almost a hundred of her followers were also
publicly hanged to serve as a warning to the
Ilocanos.
She is now remembered in Philippine history
as the countrys Joan of Arc and first female
leader for Filipino liberation. Her furious ride
towards Vigan is immortalized in many
statues all over the country erected in
memory of her courage and sacrifice. She
rejoined her husband only four months after
his death.

Joan of Arc and Gabriela

Silang, women freedom
fighters

Dateline : April 18,1909 Joan of Arc was

beatified in Rome. . The 19-year-old Joan of Arc
was burned at the stake in Rouen, France
on May 30, 1431 by an English-dominated
tribunal. She was canonized in 1920. May 30 is
her feast day.

Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orlans"

(French: Jeanne d'Arc) is a national heroine of
France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl
born in what is now eastern France, who claimed
divine guidance, she led the French army to
several important victories during the Hundred
Years' War, which paved the way for the
coronation of Charles VII. She was captured by
the Burgundians, transferred to the English in
exchange for money, put on trial by the proEnglish Bishop of Beauvais Pierre Cauchon for
charges of "insubordination and heterodoxy,"and
burned at the stake as a heretic when she was
only 19 years old. Twenty-five years after the
execution, an Inquisitorial court authorized by
Pope Callixtus III examined the trial, pronounced
her innocent and declared her a martyr. Joan of
Arc was beatified in 1909 and canonized in 1920.

In the Philippines, more than being the wife of

revolutionary Diego Silang, Gabriela Silang is
regarded as the countrys Joan of Arc and the
first Filipina general who fought Spanish invaders
in the 18th century. As the wife of the
famous Diego Silang, Ilocandias liberator, Maria
Josefa Gabriela was popularly known as Mrs.
Diego Silang. By her own right, she was equally
great as her husband. After her husbands
assassination, she continued his libertarian
movement, fighting valiantly on the bloody
battlefields and died with heroic courage at the
hands
of
the
Spanish
enemy.

On September 10, 1873, the fierce battle between

Gabriela's troops and the Spanish occured in
Vigan. They faced a larger army of the enemy
with the help of Tagalogs, Kapampangans and
some Ilocano conspirators. Many was killed on
her side. She escaped along with her Uncle
Nicolas and seven remaining members. They
were later caught in Santa on September 29,
1763. They were summarily hanged in the plaza
of Vigan with Gabriela being the last to die.

While
most
would
consider Diego and Gabriela Silangs effort as a

futile attempt to rid of Spanish rule, it should be

noted that they already imagined freeing the
Philippines from colonial rule some 130 years
before the Gomburza, Jose Rizal or Andres
Bonifacio. This is the reason that the husband and
wife were sometimes referred to as the precursors
of Filipino nationalism as they fought for the same
ideals penned by Rizal and which Bonifacio took
into armed revolution,
More than anything else, Gabriela and Joan's
contribution to history shows that women are
indispensable partners of in the great task of
nation building,
Kusang-loob na sumapi si Gabriela sa kilusan ng kanyang asawa. Masidhing
layunin nila ang palayain ang buong bayan ng Ilokos mula sa kamay ng mga
mapagsamantalang Kastila. Madalas na kasama si Gabriela sa mga labanan
upang sumuporta at ipaglaban ang sariling bayan.
Sa kasamaang palad, ang kaibigan na tinuring ni Diego na isang mestizo na
Kastila na nagngangalang Miguel Vicos ang siya ring nagtraydor at pumatay
sa kanya. Labis na dinamdam ni Gabriela ang masalimuot na pagkamatay ng
kanyang kabiyak. Dahil dito, lalo niyang pinag-alab ang pakikipaglaban sa
mga kastila. Pinangunahan niya ang grupong iniwan ng kanyang asawa. Ang
pagmamahal sa tinubuan at hapdi ng karanasan ang nagbunsod sa kanya
upang lupigin ang lahat ng mga Kastilang nais sumakop sa Ilocos.
Siya ang kauna-unahang babaing namuno ng rebolusyon sa Pilipinas.
Kasama ng mga tauhan ng kanyang asawa, hinikayat nila ang ibang mga

gerilya upang magkaisa at palawigin pa ang pakikipaglaban. Sa pangunguna

niya'y buong tapang nilang sinalakay ang mga mapagsamantalang mga
dayuhan sa Ilocos. At dahil dito'y lalong tumindi ang pagnanais ng mga
Kastila na patayin na siya. Nabalitaan naman ito kaagad ni Gabriela kaya't
pansamantala siyang nagtungo sampu ng kanyang mga tauhan sa Piddig,
Abra, kung saan nagtago at nagtayo sila ng mga "headquarter."
Ika-10 ng Setyembre 1763, muli silang nagbalik sa Vigan upang muling
makipaglaban, ngunit sa pagkakataong ito'y, naging handa, mas lakas at
higit na marami ang mga sundalong Kastila na sinalakay nila. Nalupig ang
marami niyang kasamahan. Ang balong si Gabriela'y naiwanan lamang ng
walong tauhan.
Ilang araw matapos ang engkuwentro, noong ika-29 ng Setyembre 1763
isang karimarimarim na pangyayari ang naganap. Nadakip ang ating bayani
kasama ng walong tapat niyang tauhan na agad din namang pinugutan sa
mismong Plaza ng Vigan, Ilokos Sur.
Namatay si Gabriela Silang, subalit naipaglaban niya hanggang sa huli ang
ninanasang kalayaan sa kamay ng mga mananakop.