He was born in Pangasinan on December 16, 1730. Silang conspired with British forces to overthrow Spanish rule and to establish an independent Ilocano nation. The military help by the British did not happened, probably too busy fighting the French in the Seven Years War. British naval forces captured Manila from Spain in October, 1762. He was assassinated on May 28, 1763 by one of his friends, Miguel Vicos, a Spanish Ilocano mestizo, who was hired by church authorities of Nueva Segovia (Vigan) to target him. After his death, his mestiza wife, Josefa Gabriela, took over and fought bravely against the Spaniards but had to retreat with her men to farther north in Abra. She was caught and hanged on September 20, 1763.
Statue of Diego Silang and Josefa Gabriela in a promontory along Vigan highway. What a way to honor the hero couple with unwashed graffitis and a shelter that became a urinal for drivers and passersby. The place stinks!
Published 3/18/11 lib's labyrinth blogspot
Blog Page: Diego Silang & Josefa Gabriela
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