AGAINST COWARDICE Diego Silang's Revolt

It was in the Spanish Period in the Philippines were several revolts were brought up into the community that led to important turning points in the history of the Philippines. It was in those times that the Filipino Nationalism sprung into reality, and the abstract concept of liberty and independence materialized in the minds of the Filipinos..and the cowardice of an oprresed soul will be thrown back to the wind.

During the colonization of the Spaniards, the indios received the cold stares of the high-standard residents of the country. These residents who belong to the upper classes were the peninsulares, and the insulares, who were both very cold and cruel in their regards to the Filipino natives. The spanish government had planted into the hearts of the indios great dislike and despair towards them and their way of ruling the people. They exacted unreasonable tributes, and cruel abuses to the Filipinos, these fueled the spirit of one of the heroes to fight against these injustices, the brave Ilocano who wanted to put into leadership some of the well-trained Ilocano officials. It was Diego Silang, an Ilocano born in pangasinan. The person who believed in self-government, justice and fairness, freedom and independence. In his time, he saw the cruelty of the Spaniards, not just in the Ilocos region, but as well as in Manila and other neighboring towns and provinces, he then, started an uprising together with his fellow Ilocanos. Diego Silang was an intelligent man, he speak the spanish language fluently and speaks his native language in that manner also. This helped him in his correspondence to other natives in sharing his plan of rebellion towards the spaniards. In the other parts of the Ilocos region, different revolts led by different leaders were executed. Now, it is his time to execute his own. He had gathered all other of his companions into a secret assembly to discuss about the matter, not knowing one of them was a spy and later will cause the death of an important Ilocano hero. Their attempt to overthrow the Spanish power in the Ilocos province was succesful, hence, making Vigan its capital. The goal of Diego Silang of putting Ilocano natives as officials of the Ilocos province. It was a grace God has given to them, allowing a chance for change in the lives of the Filipinos. During those times, Great Britain is at war with France, who was allies to Spain. Diego Silang planned to unite with the british forces, however, the british help didnt materialized.

After their dominion of the province, finally capturing the preists and held self-government, the irony happened. Along with success, came death. During the meeting with his companions where a Filipino spy of the priests overheard the issue, they never knew what fate could bring them, but death itself. The spy was a friend to Silang, his name was Miguel vicos, a Spanish-Ilocano mestizo. Diego was at his own home together with his wife Josefa Gabriela Silang, when Miguel Vicos with a company, who were paid by the spanish officials of the church, shot him to death. This ended the life of a brave Filipino hero.

Diego Silangs death was not the end of the uprising of Filipino nationalism and dream for independence and liberty. Silang's wife, Gabriela Silang later continued her husbands aspirations. She also led the Ilocanos into rebellion to the Spanish government. Not just her, but many filipinos who have the same belief in embracing freedom for the happiness of ones country, led heroic revolts to finally grasp these aims.