Born: 19 March 1731, Philippines
Died: 20 September 1763
Country most active: Philippines
Also known as: María Josefa Gabriela Cariño de Silang
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
María Josefa Gabriela Cariño de Silang was a Filipino military leader remembered for her leadership in the Ilocano independence movement against Spanish colonial rule.
Gabriela’s path to insurgent leadership began with her marriage to Diego Silang in 1757, following the loss of her first husband. The backdrop of this historical period was the Seven Years’ War, during which the Kingdom of Great Britain declared war on Spain in 1762. The British captured Manila, leading to their temporary occupation of the city and nearby Cavite.
Diego Silang started a rebellion to oust Spanish officials in Ilocos and replace them with native-born leaders. He aligned himself with the British, who appointed him as the governor of Ilocos. Gabriela played a key role as one of Diego’s closest advisors and served as his unofficial aide-de-camp during confrontations with Spanish forces. She emerged as a key figure in her husband’s collaboration with the British.
In response to this rebellion, Spanish authorities offered a reward for killing Diego, which his former allies, Miguel Vicos and Pedro Becbec, did in Vigan on May 28, 1763.
Following Diego’s assassination, Gabriela sought refuge in Tayum, Abra, at the residence of her paternal uncle, Nicolás Cariño. There, she appointed her first two generals, Miguel Flores and Tagabuen Infiel. She assumed her husband’s role as the commander of rebel forces, earning the title of “priestess” among her community and followers. Her iconic image as “La Generala,” wielding a bolo while on horseback, originated during this period.
On September 10, 1763, Silang attempted to lay siege to Vigan, but the Spanish forces counterattacked, forcing her to go into hiding. She retreated once more to Abra, where the Spanish ultimately captured her. On September 20, 1763, Silang and her were executed in a public hanging in Vigan’s central plaza.