13 STEPS TO MARTYRDOM By 1762, the Philippines was already 200 years under Spanish Rule.

But something odd happened in September of that year. The British invaded Intramuros, the walled City of Manila and the center of Spanish colonial power. However, the British could not extend their rule over the entire Philippines as they lacked the manpower and ammunition to do so. So the Spanish flag still waved on the entire Philippine Islands, except in Intramuros. The following year, a young man named Diego Silang led a revolt against the Spaniards in Ilocos province, on the northern part of the archipelago. His wife was a beautiful lady by the name of Maria Josefa Gabriela Silang (march 19,1731-Sept.29,1763), or more popularly known in Philippine history simply as Gabriela Silang. Diego s revolt was successful at first but was thwarted later on by fellow Ilocanos who sided with the Spaniards named Pedro Becbec and Miguel Vicos, the latter orchestrating his assassination together with the hated and dreaded Spanish priests. Diego eliminated heavy taxes and forced labor which the Spanish authorities enforced . But later these were reinstated when Diego was repulsed at one point. Diego even entertained thoughts of seeking help from the British because they promised him reforms favorable to the Filipino people. But he was assassinated ,thus ending abruptly his 33 years of existence. After his death, his courageous wife Gabriela continued the struggle for freedom. She, together with Diegos uncle, Nicolas Carino amassed a total of 2,000 men, loyal to her husband. She led several attacks on Spanish forces , some won but others lost and with heavy casualties on both sides. After several clashes, it was over.Gabrielas forces were overwhelmed and she was captured and taken prisoner by Spanish forces led by her husbands assassin, Miguel Vicos. Some 90 of her lieutenants and men were hanged in Vigan and in other towns where they were caught.The rest were imprisoned or flogged. The Spanish authorities prepared a special kind of death for Gabrielas men. Because they were the most defiant among the rebels, one by one, each soldier was hanged, lined along the coastal towns for everyone to see. Their bodies were left hanging to sway along the breeze from the sea. This was a painful reminder for all those who wish to defy the ruling power! For Gabriela, the pain was even greater because she was the last one to die. She witnessed how each of her men would go. The Spaniards said she fought

like a man and so she deserved a mans sentence! Poor Gabriela was brought to the town plaza one morning and hanged before a curious crowd of Spaniards and Filipinos, all cheering for Mother Spain, all in a festive mood, as if a hardened criminal was about to die! But the brave Gabriela, then only 32 years old, went calmly and courageously to her death. She took the 13 steps that led to the scaffold silently without any sign of fear or frustration. Thus , this woman warrior passed away, her final resting place still remaining a mystery to this day. Looking back at her life, Gabriela was a good wife, religious and caring. She was also very generous. A story told about her was that one night she was going to a sick friends house to bring dinengdeng a kind of Ilokano dish. Along the way, she met an old woman who was shivering in the cold. She gave not only the dish to this old lady but also her shawl. Gabriela is referred to as the Joan of Arc of the Philippines. But, sadly she is not that well-known or highly venerated in the Philippines like Rizal or Bonifacio. Except for a group advocating womens rights bearing her name, Gabriela is known merely as Diegos wife and a woman general who took over when he died. She should be an inspiration to all Filipino women. She should be emulated by young girls and her true story of courage told from all over the country. She should be studied in depth in schools and given as much attention as her husband and other male Filipino heroes. In my hours of darkness she shines like a light of inspiration in my dull and uninspiring life. Gabriela Silang is a rare gem in Philippine history. Gabriela Silang makes me proud that I am a Filipino woman! (Source: Martinez, Manuel F. Assassinations and Conspiracies (From Rajah Humabon to Imelda Marcos). Pasig City, Philippines: Anvil Publishing Inc. 2002.)

Mara Josefa Gabriela Cario Silang (March 19, 1731-September 29, 1763), or Gabriela Silang, was the first Filipino woman to lead a revolt during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. An active member of the insurgent force of Diego Silang, her husband, she led the group for four months after his death before she was captured and executed. Born in Caniogan, Ilocos Sur, Silang was a mestiza of Filipinos of Spanish and Ilocano descent. She was adopted by a wealthy businessman who later married her at the age of 20, but left after three years. In 1757, she married again, this time to 27-year-old indigenous Ilocano rebel leader, Diego Silang. She became one of his closest advisors, a major figure in her husband's collaboration with the British and the brief expulsion of Spanish officials in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. On May 28, 1763, her husband was assassinated by order of royal and church authorities in Manila. After her husband's death, she fled on horseback to the mountains of Abra to establish her headquarters, reassemble her troops, and rally the Tingguian community to fight. They descended on Vigan on September 10, 1763. But the Spanish garrison was ready, amassing Spanish, Tagalog, and Kapampangan soldiers and Ilocano collaborators to ambush her and rout her forces. Many were killed. She escaped, alongside her uncle Nicolas and seven other men, but was later caught on September 29, 1763. They were summarily hanged in Vigan's plaza, with Gabriela being the last to die. Her ferocity and death became a symbol for Filipino women, their pre-colonial importance in Filipino society and their struggle for liberation during colonization.

Mara Josefa Gabriela Cario Silang, born March 19, 1731, and known as Gabriela Silang, is remembered as a fearless warrior and a great leader of the people of the Philippines. She was a military general in the resistance to Spanish colonialism and led the longest sustained revolt against the colonizers. Her brave legacy has persevered long past her death. The memory of Gabrielas actions has continued to guide women and men in the struggle against imperialism. Gabriela was the daughter of an Ilokano peasant living under Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. For hundreds of years, Spain dominated the Philippines through forced labor, excessive tax collection and payment of tributes. Imperial Spains three centuries of colonialism were not accepted passively by the Filipino people. At least 300 significant armed revolts against cruel Spanish repression were launched by the indigenous peoples of the Philippines. Gabriela first married a wealthy man when she was 20 years old. After three years, she left the marriage and later remarried a 27-year-old indigenous Ilocano resistance leader named Diego Silang. Gabriela was not only Silangs partner; she was his equal and closest advisor. During the Seven Years Wara war between Spain, Britain, France and other colonial powers of the dayDiego Silang was imprisoned by the Spanish. Spain was allied with France and others against Britain during the war. Britain was attempting to diminish the Spanish empire. It invaded the Philippines. Diego Silang was imprisoned after he suggested to the Spanish authorities that they abolish the tribute, colonialist tax, and replace Spanish functionaries with native people. He Gabriela Silang volunteered to head Ilocano forces against the Portrait: Carlito Rovira British. The newly appointed Catholic Bishop of Original painted with acrylic colors on 2 x 3 foot canvas. Nueva Segovia rejected his call. Diego Silangs imprisonment stirred an Ilocano revolt. After his release, he roused his people to action once again. His effort was cut short when he was assassinated by a traitor paid by the Catholic church. Following his death, Gabriela took on full leadership of the resistance. She moved into the Abra mountains to establish a new base, reassemble her troops and recruit from the local Tingguian community to fight the Spanish. Gabriela led the resistance group for over four months before being captured. She and around 100 resistance fighters were executed by the colonizers on Sept. 20, 1763. Liberation struggle continues The people of the Philippines eventually defeated Spanish colonialism in 1898, only to begin a new anticolonial struggle against the United States. Despite harsh, racist repression and vicious massacres, the U.S. imperialists faced the same problems as the Spanish had. They too were unable to subdue the Filipino people. The courageous fighting spirit and leadership of people like Gabriela still marks the anti-colonial, antiimperialist struggle being waged in the Philippines.

The ongoing class struggle in the Philippines bears not only Gabrielas mark, but also her name. Her deeds inspired the creation of the countrys leading grassroots womens alliance, named GABRIELA in her memory. GABRIELA, formed in 1984, is the General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership and Action. Its sister organization in the United States is the GABRIELA Network USA. GABRIELA is a powerful force in the fight against U.S imperialism and for democratic rights in the Philippines. Its principles are stated clearly on GABRIELAs website: "We believe that the freedom women seek will be brought about by the resolution of the problems of foreign domination, landlessness and political repression, and in the changing of patriarchal value systems and structures in Philippine society."

Mara Josefa Gabriela Cario Silang (March 19, 1731 September 20, 1763) was the wife of the Ilocano insurgent leader, Diego Silang. Following Diego's assassination in 1763, she led the group for four months before she was captured and executed. Born in Barangay Caniogan, Santa, Ilocos Sur, Silang was a mestiza, of Spanish and Ilocanodescent. The people of Abra do claim she was born in what is now Pidigan, Abra (those two places are not far from each other, and Abra was not incorporated as a province until early in the 20th century). She was adopted by a very wealthy businessman Toms Millan, who later married her at the age of 20, but died after three years. In 1757, she re-married again, this time to 27-year-old Ilocano insurgent leader, Diego Silang. The groups goal was to ensure an independent Ilocos. She became one of his closest advisors, whenever the troops battle, Gabriela always went with them to give support and help with the battle, a major figure in her husband's collaboration with the British and the brief expulsion of Spanish officials from Vigan, Ilocos Sur during the British occupation of the Philippines. On May 28, 1763, two of her husbands close friends Miguel Vicos and Pedro Becbec betrayed them, which resulted to Diegos demise; he was assassinated by order of royal and church authorities in Manila. After her husband's death, she fled on horseback to her uncle Nicols Cario's residence in the mountains of Abra. Together with Cario, and Sebatian Andaya and Manuel Flores, there she regrouped her troops, and rallied the Tingguian community to fight. Gabrielas troops of 2000 fighters attacked the Spanish in Vigan on September 10, 1763. With a larger number of the Spanish troops, the 6000 men strong Spanish garrison was ready, with amassing Spanish, Tagalog, and Kapampangan soldiers, and Ilocano collaborators recruited from other regions to ambush her and rout her forces. Many were killed. She escaped, alongside Cario and seven others, but later caught on September 20, 1763. They were summarily hanged in Vigan's plaza. She was the last to be hanged.

In honor of Gabriela Silang as a Philippine heroine, Ilocos Sur's provincial hospital was named Gabriela Silang General Hospital. As an inspiration to heroism, a Filipino organization that advocates women's issues was founded in April 1984 and named GABRIELA, or the General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action. Located in the heart of Ayala Avenue in Makati City the business district of The Philippines lays the Gabriela Silang Monument. This monument was created by Jose M. Mendoza in 1971 and was placed by the Zobel de Ayala Family and inaugurated by Gabriela Silang's great-granddaughter Gloria Cario and her great-grandson Mario Cario Merritt. The Gabriela Silang Monument stands as a reminder to all Filipinos that in everyones heart there is a hero inside. Another monument stands at the town plaza of Pidigan, Abra to remind every one of the gallant stand and the ideals she and her husband fought and died for. The Tangadan Welcome Tunnel in Abra now has the Gabriela Silang Memorial Park with the Monument of the great heroine. Her unique policy of harassment was so successful that the name generala, which was given to her by the masses, struck, terror to the Spanish troops and to Ilocanos who collaborated with Spain.

[edit] Belonging to the family of the first Galician who arrived in Candon in late 17th century, Ignacio Cario. Gabriela Silang, the noted Ilokano revolutionary of the 18th century, was a daughter of Ignacios eldest son Anselmo and a Tingian house servant in the Cario household in Candon. When her husband was executed, she fled to Abra and took refuge in Tayum, in the house of her uncle Nicolas, Anselmos brother. The names above are the direct descendants of Nicolas and their ancestral home is home also today to the Cario museum "CASA MUSEO CARIO". Maintained with loving care by Rosario Cario one can visit the room occupied by Gabriela when she lived there. The family are still living in the ancestral house and former headquarters of Gabriela Silang in Tayum, Abra. It is now a Museum and Art Gallery that holds one of the most diverse art work and Antique collections in the Philippines the collection includes Thousands of Antiques from all around the world with some paintings from great painters like Pablo Picasso, Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, Domenico

Ghirlandaio,Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, XIX originals collected by the Family over the centuries.

Gabriela Silang was a Filipina national hero considered by many as the Philippine's version of Joan of Arc. Silang was the wife of Ilocos revolutionary leader Diego Silang. Hence, upon the assassination of Diego, Gabriela took charge and led the resistance in the Ilocos province. Gabriela was born on March 19, 1731 in Canlogan, Santa, Ilocos Sur to a family of peasants and commoners. Thus, at an early age Gabriela was adopted and raised by a certain Don Tomas Millan, a rich entrepreneur in Ilocos. Hence, upon reaching 20 years of age and due to her immense beauty and attractiveness, Gabriela was able to marry the old yet rich and prominent Millan. Shortly, after their marriage, Millan died of old age. In 1757, Gabriela remarried Diego, a young insurgent who conspired with the British forces to overthrow the Spanish tyrannical officials in Ilocos. During the Seven Years' War featuring the alliance forces of Spain and France against Britain, the Silangs took the opportunity to revolt. While Spanish forces were busy protecting Manila against British pursuers, the Silangs heightened their resistance and launch numerous attacks and ambushes against Spanish camps. Gabriela played the role of the woman behind the successful leader, Diego. However, unknown to many, Gabriela herself aided the revolution in her own little way. As the Silang's popularity grew, they quickly become a thorn in the neck for Spanish officials. Thus, an assassination plot against Diego was planned together with Diego's supposedly close friends; Miguel Vicos and Pedro Becbec. On the night of May 28, 1763, Vicos and Becbec visited the Silang household in Vigan where they shot and killed Diego. Gabriela, now widowed for the second time, step up the plate and assumed the duties and responsibilities Diego left. Together with Nicolas Carino, the uncle of Diego and a few of the latter's most loyal commanders, Gabriela launched guerrilla attacks in Spanish camps and garrisons. Gabriela's reputation as a revolutionary leader grew tenfold and her war policy was so successful that she was feared by many especially Ilocanos who conspired with Spain. Gabriela was often referred to as "generala" - meaning lady general.

By the time Gabriela's forces reached 2,000 men, she immediately ordered an attack against Vigan which was captured by Spain upon Diego's death. However, Gabriela's forces were greatly outnumbered by the opposition, resulting in heavy casualties for Gabriela and her forces. Gabriela, on the other hand, was eager to recapture Vigan - the capital of Diego's independent Ilocano government. Moreover, a second attack was launched - perhaps a desperate move ordered by the generala. Gabriela's forces retreated in the nearby province of Abra but were captured by pursuing Spanish forces. Thus, Gabriela and some of her 80 men were executed and hanged on public on September 20, 1763.