Incredible Filipina war heroes who played key roles during the war

Many are asking, what is the definition of a woman? The answer can be stretched to a million words and not even countless adjectives can describe womanhood. They are beyond words, beyond expectations, and beyond standards.

The late Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago has said, “I always put myself in harm’s way because that is where I am most effective.” Women are not limited to what society has dictated them to do, they put their lives in harm’s way just to fight for what is right, to protect the ones they love, and to carry on with the principles they believe in.

Women are smart, fierce, and strong—like these amazing kick-ass heroines who were not afraid to “put themselves in harm’s way.”

Teresa Magbanua

Considered the Visayan “Joan of Arc,” Magbanua was a school teacher and military leader, an Ilongga from the clan of Magbanua, a prominent family in Iloilo. The second of six children, she was married to Alejandro Balderas, a wealthy landowner.

She followed her two brothers in the revolutionary movement, despite her husband’s objections. She went into battles, leading troops of rifle and bolo men into combat and winning the battles under the command of General Martin Delgado.

Remembered as one of the few Filipinos who participated in all three resistance movements against colonizers from Spain, America, and Japan, Magbanua was a true, fearless, unstoppable woman.

The actress-turned-guerrilla warrior was a sharpshooter. She often disguised herself with a mustache so the Imperial Army wouldn’t recognize her.

Trinidad Tecson

A native of San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan, one of 16 children, Trinidad was given the title of “Mother of Biak-na-Bato” by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. At 47, Trinidad joined the women chapter of Katipunan. She was also the first woman ever to undergo the “Sandugo” pack by signing her oath with her own blood. Besides fighting dozens of battles, she also tended and fed the wounded Katipuneros, and because of that she was given the title “Mother of Philippine Red Cross.”

Fun Fact: Trinidad Tecson was almost captured while she was delivering food. She managed to escape by playing dead. Clever!

Magdalena Leones

The first and only Asian to be awarded a Silver Star Medal, the third highest military decoration given by the US, Magdalena Leones or Maggie was born in Lubuagan, Mountain Province to an evangelical missionary family. She was working as a teacher and preparing to be a nun when the Japanese invaded the Philippines.

When the church became the headquarters of the battalions, she attended to the wounded guerrillas. Refusing to surrender to Japanese forces, Leones was held captive with her fellow missionaries. During her captivity she managed to learn Nihongo. After she was released, she witnessed multiple executions of her fellow Filipinos, which prompted her to join the guerrillas as a spy. Leones’ knowledge of Nihongo helped her share vital information to the US Army Forces.

Trivia: She was able to help a fellow Filipino escape execution by telling the Japanese soldiers that he, with her along, was just attending a wedding.

Agueda Kahabagan

Henerala Aguada Kahabagan, a native of Santa Cruz, Laguna, was the only officially listed woman general during the Philippine Revolution. She was best known for her contributions to the three-day battle in San Pablo, Laguna. The Henerala was often seen in the battlefield dressed in white and armed with bolo and a rifle. And because of her contributions to the revolution she was hailed as the “Tagalog Joan of Arc.”

Nieves Fernandez

A school teacher-turned-guerrilla commander, Nievas Fernandez fought the Japanese soldiers fearlessly. When the Imperial Japanese Army occupied the Philippines, her life was turned around when she witnessed that the Japanese were taking all the Filipino’s possessions, so she and her makeshift rifle and bolo, along with the 110 native men she gathered and trained to fight, eliminated about 200 Japanese soldiers.

Fernandez was known for her unique skill of killing the enemy in their unconscious state, which led to a quiet death. For this, she was dubbed as the “Silent Killer,” which made the Japanese army realize she was a real threat. The Japanese Army even offered a bounty of ₱10,000 for her head, but she was never captured.

Fun Fact: Nieves Fernandez became the first and only female guerrilla commander in the Philippine Revolution.

Josefina Guerrero

They say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Born in Lucban, Quezon, Josefina Guerrero was orphaned at a young age. She was taken in by the Sisters of Good Shepherd. Soon, as she contracted tuberculosis, the nuns were unable to care for her and left her in the care of her grandparents. When she recovered from the disease she was sent to Manila to study at a convent. Many described her as attractive, jolly, and lively.

At the age of 16 she was married to a medical student named Renato Guerrero. They had a daughter. Soon after, Josefina was diagnosed with leprosy. Fear of her disease made Josefina’s husband flee, taking with him their daughter. Devastated, she thought she could at least have an honorable death, so she spent her life helping her fellowmen by volunteering to the Allied forces as a spy against the Japanese Imperial Army. She accomplished many heavy missions and carried vital information that led the American forces to infiltrate the base camps of the Imperial Army, as the Japanese were afraid to check on her fearing that her disease was contagious.

Josefina Guerrero took advantage of her disease to contribute to the independence of her country and countrymen. Because of her amazing contribution she was awarded the Medal of Freedom by the US government.

Carmen Rosales

Not all sweet, charming, and beautiful faces are just made for show. Carmen Rosales was a classic example. The actress-turned-guerrilla warrior was a sharpshooter. She often disguised herself with a mustache so the Imperial Army wouldn’t recognize her.

The popular singer-actress decided to join the guerrilla army when her husband Ramon was killed by the Japanese forces. The Pangasinense native joined the Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon to continue the fight her husband started.

—Mark Amaranto