Ilocano Heroes - Diego Silang

Perhaps he was the greatest Ilocano revolutionary leader during the Spanish colonization.
Diego Silang y Andaya was born in Aringay, Pangasinan (now an area in Aringay/Caba, La Union) on
December 16, 1730.
He was a messenger of a Spanish priest in Vigan, Ilocos Sur and travelled to Manila from Ilocos in line
of his work. During these travels that he saw the many colonial injustices and these lead him for rebellion.
He then wanted to end these abuses and to overthrow the Spanish government in Ilocos and establish an
independent Ilocos nation.
When the British came and captured Manila from the Spanish, he conspired with them by offering his
help to lead Ilocano forces against the Spanish in the North. In turn he was appointed as governor of
Ilocos in their place and promised him military reinforcement.
He lead the attack of Vigan and imprisoned the priests when they resisted his demand to leave Ilocos and
transfer the government to Ilocano natives. He victored many more battles over Ilocos.

But Ilocos was not freed as he wanted under his leadership because he was killed on May 28, 1763, by
an Spanish-Ilocano mestizo, Miguel Vicos, who was one of his friends.
After his death, the revolt was continued by his wife Gabriela.

Diego Silang - an Ilocano pride. His shown bravery and patriotism is an inspiration to every Filipino.
Posted by mirokoto at 11:23 PM 

GABRIELA SILANG
Maria Josefa Gabriela Silang (March 19,1731 – September 20,1763)
 Maria Josefa Gabriela, also known as Gabriela Silang was born on March 19, 1731 in
Caniogan, Santa, Ilocos Sur. She was married to Don Tomas Millan a wealthy and known businessman in Ilocos.
Shortly, after their marriage, Millan died of old age. Gabriela met Diego Silang, a man of great intelligence,
courage and determination who believed and fought towards the independence of the Filipino people. The two
wed in 1757 and in 1762, she joined the revolt against the Spaniards alongside Diego. His revolt was successful
at first but was derailed by fellow locals, Pedro Becbec and Miguel Vicos, who sided with the Spaniards. Miguel
Vicos, along with the hated and dreaded Spanish officials, orchestrated Diego’s assassination on May 28, 1763.

After Diego was assassinated, Gabriela vowed to avenge his death, and to continue the struggle. She was in
great affliction, but had no time to lose. The rebels lost hope after the death of their leader. None of the men
stepped up to be the new face of the rebellion. So Gabriela did something very heroic, and took her husband’s
place as the leader of the rebellion. She greatly armed herself and informed the people that the struggle was
far from over. She soon gained more followers. Gabriela began to assist people living in other cities. The people
began to call her “Henerala” which meant woman general and were gratified that Diego’s fighting spirit was
continued with Gabriela.

Bolo Sword

Silang Revolt
Gabriela Silang successfully led her men through their first battle in her hometown, Santa. After the
Spaniards devastating loss against Gabriela, the Spanish were insistent on defeating Gabriela. They had never
before felt threatened by a Filipina woman. Gabriela and her men then traveled to Pidigan, Abra to establish a
new base. Pidigan was not too far from Santa, but the Spanish could not track down the rebels due to the land’s
rocky soil. In Pidigan, Gabriela was reunited with her mother after being parted since her childhood.

 
 

She was joined by Diego’s uncle, Nicolas Cariño who temporarily took command of the rebel forces gathering
2,000 men loyal to her husband. Gabriela and her troops descended on Vigan on September 10, 1763 then took
lead on several attacks against Spanish forces; some won but others lost with many casualties on both sides.
When the attacks were over, Gabriela’s forces were overwhelmed and as a result, she was captured later in the
mountains of Abra and taken prisoner by Spanish forces led by her husband’s assassin, Miguel Vicos. Some
ninety of her lieutenants were caught. One by one, each lieutenant was lined along the coastal towns and
paraded in front of the townspeople to gawk. As a result, they were hanged publicly.

Due to resistance among the rebels, the Spanish authorities prepared a special kind of death for her. Gabriela
was brought to the town plaza one morning and hanged before a curious crowd of Spaniards. The brave
Gabriela, then only 32 years old, went calmly and courageously to her death. To this day, the final resting place
of Gabriela Silang remains unknown. Her undaunted determination, along with her skill and strength is what
the people of the Philippines will never forget, and why she is regarded as the pioneering female Bayani. Today
her courageous leadership became a symbol for the importance of women in Filipino society, and their struggle
for liberation during colonization.

Author, Margarita Mansalay

( Additions by Robin Kitana Aquilizan )
> Check out some Gabriela Silang products
 Gabriela Silang

Ilocano Heroes - Pedro Almazan, King of Ilocos

He was known as the leader of the first Ilocano revolt against the Spaniards. He was the rich leader
of San Nicolas. Along with the leader of Bangui, Juan Magsanop, they planned secretly to free Ilocos
from the Spaniards. When the Pangasinense revolt led by Andres Malong in 1660 and the Spaniard
troops left Ilocos to fought the revolt in Pangasinan they find the best time to . They contacted another
leader, Gaspar Cristobal, the chief of Laoag. Cristobal burned the church of Laoag as a sign of his
support. They also sought the help of the Kalingas also to kill the Spaniards.

The Ilocanos and the Kalingas crowned Pedro Almazan with a stolen crown of a statue from the burned
church. They proclaimed "Long live Manong Almazan, the King of Ilocos". The people waved banners in
the street.
The revolt reached the towns of Cabicungan (now Claveria) and Pata (now Claveria) in Cagayan.
On February 1661, the revolt was known by the Spaniards in southern part of Ilocos who were then
celebrating the victory over the Zambals and Pangasinenses. They sent a large troop led
by Lorenzo Arqueros along with some natives of Cagayan and Southern Ilocos and attacked Almazan's
troops. They were taken in sudden so Almazan retreated his troop to the forest. The Spaniards followed
them with the help of the natives. Juan Magsanop's group were the first to be captured. Before the
Spaniards captured Magsanop, he killed himself with a knife.
When Almazan's group was surrounded next. Filled with rage, Almazan attacked the enemy and died
while fighting.
With the two leaders dead the rest of the troop escaped and the revolt ended.

Pedro Almazan - an Ilocano pride. His love of his native land that lead him fighting the enemies until his
last breath is a good picture of patriotism.
Posted by mirokoto at 11:19 PM 

Manuel E. Arguilla

Manuel E. Arguilla was born on June 17, 1911 in Nagrebcan, Bauang, La Union to parents Crisanto
Arguilla, a farmer, and Margarita Estabillo, a potter.Their mediocre living was not a hindrance for Manuel
to attain his dreams especially in literature.
He finished his elementary school in his hometown and his high school in San Fernando where he
became the editor-in-chief of his school's newsletter, the La Union Tab. He was also an athlete where he
became champion in swimming events he joined.He entered the University of the Philippines where he
joined the UP Writers Club and later became the president and the editor of the UP Literary Apprentce.
He finished Education in 1933. He married Lydia Villanueva, a fellow artist and writer and lived
in Ermita, Manila.Upon graduation, he practive his profession in University of Manila. He later joined the
Bureau of Public welfare where he was the editor of Welfare Advocate, the bureau's publication.As a
writer, his famous works were compiled in a book entitled How my Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife
(And Other Stories) published by Philippine Book Guild in 1940. These stories were written when he
was 22-29 years old. This collection of stories won first prize in short story category during the first
Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940.
When the Japanese invaded the country in 1941, Arguilla join the freedom forces of the country and led a
division of the Marking's Guerillas. He was captured by the Japanese in 1944 and was imprisoned in Fort
Santiago together with his family. His family was later freed but Manuel was sentenced to death. He was
executed on October 1944 at age of 33.
Manuel Arguilla, an Ilocano pride. His shown love to the country as a teacher, a writer, and a freedom
fighter was a virtue of patriot who offered his talents and life for the country.
Posted by mirokoto at 5:41 PM 

Ilocano Heroes - Juan Luna, The Great Filipino Painter

Juan Luna was a patriot, but he was more known as the great Filipino painter if not the greatest. He was
born on October 23, 1857 in Badoc, Ilocos Norte to parents Joaquin Luna and Laurena Novicio.
He received his first education at the Ateneo de Manila Municipal. He became an apprentice officer at
the Escuela Nautica de Manila on 1873 and received his certificate as a seaman at age 17. While
pursuing this course he took painting lessons at the Academia de Dibujo y Pintura of Fr. Agustin Saiz.

Later in 1877 he left for Barcelona for advanced painting lessons as he was encouraged

by Don Lorenzo Guerrero, his first painting tutot. He entered Escuela de Bellas Artes de San
Fernando in Madrid where he received the school's only academic prize at that year. He also took
private lesons under Alejo Vera, a famous contemporary painter in Spain. Vera took him in high regard
and brought him to Rome to undertake certain commissions.
In Rome, Luna was exposed to the immortal works of the Renaissance. In here he painted his "Daphne
e Cleo" where he received a silver palette from the Liceo Artistico de Manila. He exhibited several
works at the National Exposition of Fine Arts in 1881 where he received silver medal with "The Death
of Cleopatra".

While in Rome, Luna worked on the Spoliarium. It was said that the scene in this painting was based on
the situation of the Filipinos under the Spanish government. He entered it at the National Exposition of
Fine Arts in 1884 where he won one of the three gold medals. Because of his growing fame, he received
several government commissions. With these commissions that he produced his many great canvases
like the Peuple et Rois, Espa Filipnas and the Battle of Lepanto where he won his second gold medal
at the Barcelona Exposition.
In 1885, he moved and established a studio in Paris. His studio became a gathering place of the Filipino
community there. It was here that Jose Rizal together with other Filipinos organized the Indios Bravos.
The following year, 1886, he married Maria de la Paz Paz Pardo de Tavera, a prominent Filipina, with
whom he had a son, Andres.
"Parisian Life", also know as "Interim d'un Café" was painted in 1892. It won a silver medal at the St.
Louis Exposition (World Fair) held in 1904.

At the center of the delicately painted masterpiece is a young and pretty woman languidly sitting in sofa.
But more important, historically, is the scene at the side of the painting which shows our national hero, Dr.
Jose P. Rizal, Dr. Ariston Bautista-Lin and Dr. Juan C. Luna in a vivid conversation.
Luna`s marriage ended in tragedy. In a fit of jealousy over his suspicion of infidelity on the part of his wife,
he killed his wife and her mother and wounded his brother-in-law, Felix, on September 23, 1892. He was
acquitted of the charge of parricide and murder by the French court on February 7, 1893. He was
subsequently convicted in 1893 and sentenced to pay the victims' immediate kin but one franc each for
their loss, as the court had deemed the murders a crime of passion. Later he moved with his son to
Madrid, where he finished few paintings.
After an absence of 17 years he returned to the Philippines on April 27, 1894. While in Manila, he finished
some Philippine scenes. Early in 1896, he again departed, this time for Japan. He returned a few weeks
after the Cry of Balintawak. On the evening of September 16, 1896, he was arrested and confined for
complicity in the Katipunan revolt and imprisoned at Fort Santiago. He was among those pardoned
during the birthday of King Alfonso XIII on May 27, 1897. The following month, he left for Spain to work
for the release of his brother Antonio.
In 1898, after the United States defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War, the executive board of
the Philippine revolutionary government appointed him as a delegate to the Paris convention, working for
the diplomatic recognition of the Philippine Republic. When the Treaty of Paris was signed on December
10, 1899, he was named a member of the delegation to Washington, D.C. to press for the recognition of
the Philippine sovereignity and independence.
Upon hearing the death of his brother Antonio, Luna hurriedly returned to Hong Kong from Europe. He
suddenly died on December 7, 1899, because of heart attack. He was buried in Hong Kong. His remains
were exhumed in 1920 and were kept in the house of his son, to be later transferred to a niche at
the Crypt Chapel of San Agustin.
Among his last paintings was El Pacto de Sangre which won a first prize in Paris and at the St. Louis
Exposition, USA in 1904, five years after his death.

Juan Luna - an Ilocano pride. His genius in painting showed the Ilocano artistry and his love of the
country.
Posted by mirokoto at 11:26 PM 

On February 9, 1837 Father Jose Apolonio Burgos, one of the three

Filipino Martyr Priests collectively called GOMBURZA, was born in the
town of Vigan, Ilocos Sur. His father was Jose Burgos, a Spanish
lieutenant in the Spanish militia of the Ilocos, and his mother was
Florencia Garcia, a native of Vigan. He was baptized on the 12th of the
same month. He received his first education from his mother, herself a
woman of education and fine qualities.

Father Jose Apolonio Burgos may not have made contribution in the most
outstanding way to the establishment of Philippine freedom, but he did
make the first important contribution, both in his life and in his death,
toward the achievement of independence for the Philippines.

In his early teens he was sent to Manila to study in the San Juan de
Letran College. Later he went to the University of Santo Tomas, where
with his unusually brilliant intellect, he made a good impression on his
professors. He received the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in 1855,
Bachelor of Theology in 1859, Licentiate in Philosophy in 1860, Licentiate
in Theology in 1862, and Doctor of Theology and Doctor of Canon Law in
1868.

His studies finished, and having passed a competitive examination to

secure an office in the Manila Cathedral, he was ordained second priest of
the Cathedral, Fiscal of the Ecclesiastical Court, and Professor and
Master of Ceremonies of the University of Santo Tomas.

The general demand for reform at the time had its religious as well as its
political aspects, and under the leadership of Father Burgos, the native
clergy began to insist on their just rights and to demand that duly trained
secular priests (priests who do not belong to the religious orders), most of
whom were natives and who were discriminated against by the religious
authorities, be again permitted to hold parishes, a right they had once
enjoyed but which had been withdrawn. Father Burgos hereby made
powerful enemies among the friars, and the cause made very little if any
headway.

As a result of the Spanish Revolution of 1868, however, a liberal Governor

in the person of Carlos Maria de la Torre was sent to rule the Islands.
Filipino reformists rejoiced over the victory of liberalism in Spain which
also meant the triumph of their cause, and when the Governor gave a
great reception in celebration of the Revolution, Father Burgos, with his
leave, organized a procession in honor of the occasion. The liberalism and
democratic spirit of the new Governor were manifest throughout his
incumbency, although he met with rabid opposition from most of the
Philippine Spaniards. Unfortunately, de la Torre's administration lasted
only a year or two, for the anti-liberals again came into control in Spain
and Rafael de Izquierdo, a blood-thirsty despot, succeeded him. On the
night of January 20, 1872, a mutiny among the native soldiers at the
Cavite Arsenal broke out, led by one Lamadrid, a Filipino sergeant. They
killed some of their officers, but the unrising was soon suppressed by a
force of Spanish soldiers from Manila and their leader killed.

The arrest of a large number of Filipinos who has been conspicuous

during the previous regime followed, foremost among them Father Burgos
and two other priests, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora. It was
charged that they had urged the people of Cavite to rise against Spain. A
council of war condemned some of these men to death and others to
imprisonment and exile. Among the former were the three priests. Gomez
was parish priest of Bacoor and Zamora, like Burgos, was one of the
curates of the Cathedral. All three were hated because of their advocacy
of reforms and their ability and influence.

On February 15, after a secret trial, during which the three clerics steadily
maintained their entire innocence, they were, together with one Francisco
Saldua, condemned to die by the inhuman garrote, and the sentence was
carried out two days later on Bagumbayan Field. The people believed
them innocent, and the Spanish Archbishop of Manila, also doubting their
guilt, refused to unfrock them before execution.

Father Gomez, a venerable old man in his eighties, was the first to be
garroted. He was followed by Father Zamora, not yet in his forties. Then
came Father Burgos, the youngest, only thirty-five, and most distinguished
of the three. As his guilt was considered the gravest, he was executed
last.

Seated on the fatal bench, he again protested that he was innocent. One
of the friars present is reported to have answered him, "Jesus Christ was
also innocent". The executioner said, "Father, forgive me for I am going to
kill you". Father Burgos replied, "I forgive you, my son. I want you to
comply with your duty".

In his prison cell in Fort Santiago, shortly before his execution, he wrote
the following message (translated from Spanish) to the youth of the land:

"Get educated. Use the schools of our country for as much as they can
give. Learn from our older men what they know. Then go abroad. If you
can do no better, study in Spain, but preferably study in freer countries.
Read what foreigners have written about the Philippines for their writings
have not been censored. See in the museums of other lands what the
ancient Filipinos really were. Be a Filipino always, but an educated
Filipino. Heretofore we have had thinkers among us but their thoughts
have died with them. Such progress as has been made has been
individual and not of the country. I have tried to pass on to you what I
received from my teachers. Do you now do the same for those who come
after you."

References
1. Philippine News Agency archives
2. Padre Burgos, The Philippine Magazine, Volumne 34, Number 2, January 1937