Gabriela Silang

Description

The most well-known among all the Filipino heroines, but she is almost always mentioned in tandem with her husband Diego. Since their achievements are usually written about together many forget that she had her own fair share of heroic acts as the “the first Filipina to lead the uprising against foreign power.” Silang was fearless Ilocana warrior who assumed her husbands role as commander of rebel troops after his assassination in 1763. She rallied fighting forces (including the native itneg people) to carry on the war against Spain their home province of Ilocos, launching guerrilla attacks against Spanish garrisons, attacks that cause Spanish soldiers to fear her name.