Gabriela Silang (1731-1763)

Gabriela Silang is perhaps 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 first Filipina to lead an uprising against a foreign power.”
Silang was a fearless Ilocaña warrior who assumed her husband’s 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 in their home province of Ilocos,
launching guerrilla attacks against Spanish garrisons — attacks that caused Spanish
soldiers to fear her name.

For her final battles at the liberation of Vigan, she led over 2,000 men to go against an
army of over 6,000 Spanish soldiers backed by a powerful artillery. The battle proved
unsuccessful for the General, so she and 80 remaining troops retreated to unexplored
regions of Abra, where they were eventually captured. The Spanish made her witness
the public executions of her men before publicly hanging the General herself in
September 1763. Despite the loss, Gabriela Silang is still recognized for her immense
courage in fighting for the independence of Ilocos.

Trivia: Gabriela Silang was widowed twice in her lifetime. At 20, she was forced to
marry a wealthy old man who passed away after three years. It was after his death that
she met Diego Silang, who was a mail carrier at the time.
https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2017/06/07/5-filipino-heroines.html