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Gabriela Silang | |
|---|---|
 Gabriela Silang on a 1974 stamp of the Philippines | |
| Born | María Josefa Gabriela Cariño (1731-03-19)March 19, 1731 |
| Died | September 20, 1763(1763-09-20) (aged 32) |
| Other names | Gabriela Silang La Generala Joan of Arc ofIlocandia |
| Spouses | |
| Father | Anselmo Cariño |
María Josefa Gabriela Cariño de Silang (Tagalog:[siˈlaŋ]; March 19, 1731 – September 20, 1763) was aFilipino military leader best known for her role as the female leader of theIlocano independence movement from Spain. She took over from her second husbandDiego Silang after his assassination in 1763, leadingher people for four months before she was captured and executed by the colonial government of theCaptaincy General of the Philippines.
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Gabriela Silang was born in barrio Caniogan,Santa,Ilocos to a SpanishIlocano father named Anselmo Cariño,[1] a trader who ferried his wares from Vigan to Abra along theAbra River and a descendant of Ignacio Cariño, the firstGalician from Spain to arrive inCandon in the late 17th century. Her mother was aTinguian who was from a Tinguianbarrio inSan Quintin (nowPidigan,Abra).
She received aCatholic upbringing from the town'sparish 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]
After being widowed by her first husband, Gabriela met future insurgent leaderDiego Silang and married him in 1757.
In 1762, as part of what would later be known as theSeven Years' War, theKingdom of Great Britain declared war on Spain, andcaptured Manila, resulting in theBritish occupying the city and nearbyCavite. After the capture of Manila, an emboldened Diego sought to initiate an armed struggle to overthrow Spanish functionaries inIlocos 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 unofficialaide-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 inVigan on May 28, 1763.[3]
After Diego's murder, Gabriela fled toTayum, now part ofAbra, 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 thebolo-wieldingLa Generala on horseback stems from this period.
On September 10, 1763, Silang attempted to besiegeVigan but the Spanish retaliated, forcing her into hiding.[4] She retreated once more toAbra, where the Spanish later captured her. On September 20, 1763, Silang and her troops were executed by hanging in Vigan's central plaza.[4]
She is remembered as the “Joan of Arc ofIlocandia”[4] TheOrder of Gabriela Silang is the sole third classnational decoration awarded by the Philippines whose membership is restricted to women.[5] The organisation andparty listGabriela 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] TheBRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) is named after her.[7] Asteroid7026 Gabrielasilang, discovered byEleanor Helin atPalomar in 1993, is named in her honor.[8] The officialnaming citation was published by theMinor Planet Center on November 8, 2019 (M.P.C. 118218).[9]
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