Gabriela Silang

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Gabriela Silang

Gabriela Silang on a 1974 stamp of the Philippines

Born María Josefa Gabriela Cariño

19 March 1731

Santa, Ilocos Sur, Captaincy General of the

Philippines, Spanish Empire

Died 20 September 1763 (aged 32)

Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Captaincy General of the Philippines,

 Spanish Empire

Other names Gabriela Silang

La Generala

Joan of Arc of Ilocandia

Spouse(s) Tomás Millan (1751–54)

Diego Silang (1757–63)

Anselmo Cariño (father)

Parent(s)

María Josefa Gabriela Cariño de Silang (Tagalog pronunciation: [silaŋ]; 19 March 1731 –

20 September 1763) was a Filipina military leader best known for her role as the female
leader of the Ilocano independence movement from Spain. She took over from her
second husband Diego Silang after his assassination in 1763, leading her people for
four months before she was captured and executed by the colonial government of
the Captaincy General of the Philippines.

Contents

 1Early life
 2Revolutionary involvement
o 2.1Relationship with her spouse, Diego Silang
o 2.2Revolutionary leadership in Abra
o 2.3Assault on Vigan and execution
 3Legacy
 4In popular culture
 5References
 6External links

Early life[edit]
Gabriela Silang was born in Barangay Caniogan, Santa, Ilocos Sur to
a Spanish Ilocano father named Anselmo Cariño,[1] a trader who ferried his wares from
Vigan to Abra along the Abra River and a descendant of Ignacio Cariño, the
first Galician from Spain to arrive in Candon, Ilocos Sur in the late 17th century. Her
mother was a Tinguian who was from a Tinguian barrio in San
Quintin, Abra (now Pidigan).
She received a Catholic upbringing from the town's parish priest, and attained
elementary level education at the town's convent school. After being separated from her
parents early in her childhood, she was raised by a priest, who eventually arranged a
marriage between her and the wealthy businessman. They married in 1751, and he died
three years later.[2]

Revolutionary involvement[edit]
Relationship with her spouse, Diego Silang[edit]
After being widowed by her first husband, Gabriela met future insurgent leader Diego
Silang and married him in 1757.
In 1762, as part of what would later be known as the Seven Years' War, the Kingdom of
Great Britain declared war on Spain, and captured Manila, resulting in the British
occupying the city and nearby Cavite. After the capture of Manila, an emboldened Diego
sought to initiate an armed struggle to overthrow Spanish functionaries in Ilocos and
replace them with native-born officials. He joined forces with the British, who appointed
him governor of Ilocos on their behalf. During this revolt, Gabriela became one of
Diego's closest advisors and his unofficial aide-de-camp during skirmishes with Spanish
troops. She was also a major figure in her husband's co-operation with the British.
Spanish authorities retaliated by offering a reward for Diego’s assassination.
Consequently, his two former allies, Miguel Vicos and Pedro Becbec, killed him
in Vigan on May 28, 1763.[3]
Revolutionary leadership in Abra[edit]
After Diego's assassination, Gabriela fled to Tayum, Abra to seek refuge in the house of
her paternal uncle, Nicolás Cariño. There, she appointed her first two generals, Miguel
Flores and Tagabuen Infiel. She later assumed her husband's role as commander of the
rebel troops and achieved a "priestess" status amongst her community and followers.
Her popular image as the bolo-wielding La Generala on horseback stems from this
period.
Assault on Vigan and execution[edit]
On September 10, 1763, Silang attempted to besiege Vigan but the Spanish retaliated,
forcing her into hiding.[4] She retreated once more to Abra, where the Spanish later
captured her. On September 20, 1763, Silang and her troops were executed by hanging
in Vigan's central plaza.[4]

Legacy[edit]
She is remembered as the “Joan of Arc of Ilocandia”[4] The Order of Gabriela Silang is
the sole third class national decoration awarded by the Philippines whose membership
is restricted to women.[5] The organisation and party list Gabriela Women's
Party ("General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership,
and Action"), which advocates for women's rights and issues, was founded in April 1984
in her honour.[6] The BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) is named after her.
[7]
 Asteroid 7026 Gabrielasilang, discovered by Eleanor Helin at Palomar in 1993, is
named in her honor.[8] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet
Center on 8 November 2019 (M.P.C. 118218).[9]
In popular culture[edit]

 Silang was portrayed by Tanya Gomez in the 1996 TV Series Bayani of ABS-CBN in the

two-episode "Gabriela Silang: Ang Alap" and "Diego Silang: Ang Sulat."
 Silang was portrayed by Kris Bernal in the 2013 GMA Network historical
drama series Indio and by Glaiza de Castro in the GMA News TV television romance
anthology Wagas.