DIEGO SILANG

Liberator of the Ilocos

ne of Ilocandia’s heroes who played a significant role in the libertarian epic of the Filipino nation was Diego Silang. He led the famous Ilocos Rebellion of 1762, liberated his people from Spanish tyranny, and sacrificed his life for the sake of freedom. His heroic life and exploits are now part and parcel of Ilocandia’s history and legend, reflecting the greatness of the Ilocano people. Truly, as Don Isabelo de los Reyes felicitously commented, he was “one of the most important figures who illumined the annals of the Filipinos.”

Diego Silang the first liberator of the Ilocos, was born in Aringay, La Union, on December 16, 1730, the son of Miguel Silang of Aringay and Nicolasa de los Santos of Vigan. He was baptized in Vigan in January, 1731, his godfather being Tomas Andaya. His baptismal certificate gives his full name as Diego Baltazar Silang y Andaya. Orphaned at an early age, he was taken in by the kindhearted Spanish friar cura of Vigan, who gave him a good education. He grew up to be an adventurous and sturdy youth and, through the influence of his patron, the good padre, he got the job as mail carrier between Vigan and Manila.

One day while on his way to Manila, carrying the mail, the sailboat was wrecked by typhoon off the coast of Bolinao (Zambales). Many passengers were drowned and few who were good swimmers were able to reach the shore alive. The savage Zambals killed the survivors, except Silang whose life was spared because of his youth . For a few months, he lived with the Zambals who became his friends, until he was ransomed by a kind Recollect missionary who returned him to the parish priest of Vigan, Silang’s benefactor.

After his return to Vigan, he resumed his mail-carrying service, making periodic trips to Manila by land or by sea. In the course of these trips, he acquired many friends, Spaniards as well as Filipinos, because of his unusual ability and high intelligence. Historical accounts written by Spanish friars depicted him as a “wise, sagacious, educated, and brave man, speaking excellent Castilian.”

In 1757, at the age of 27, Silang married a rich young widow, Maria Josefa Gabriela, a native of Santa, Ilocos Sur. This widow is a pretty Ilokana of remarkable courage. She proved to be a fitting mate for Silang, who was then rising to prominence in Vigan as the leader of  kailanes (peasants) who were deplorably oppressed by the Spanish authorities and their rich mestizo satraps. Having sprung from the lowly masses, Silang naturally sympathized with their cause. Despite his affection and devotion to the kind Spanish padre, he came to hate the bad friars and civil officials who represented Black Spain. It should be noted that during his time, as it was during the time of Dr. Jose Rizal, there were also good friars and honest civil officials but they were rather few in number. These handful of noble-hearted Spaniards represented vanishing white Spain – the glorious Spain of Philip II, Santa Teresa de Avila, El Greco, Lope de Vega, Cervantes, Legaspi, Father Urdaneta, and Bishop Salazar.

The capture of Manila by the British invaders in October, 1762 inspired Silang to petition the Spanish authorities to redress the grievances of his people. Instead of heeding his petition, the corrupt Spanish authorities arrested him on the charge of fomenting sedition. His imprisonment enraged his followers who rose in tumult. Bloshed was averted by Provisor Tomas Millan, a beloved Spaniard, who secured Silang’s release from prison, thereby pacifying the angry Ilokanos.

After regaining his freedom, Silang audaciously submitted the following demands to the Spanish authorities: (1) dismissal of the hated Antonio Zabala as alcalde mayor, (2) appointment of Provisor Millan as his successor, (3) abolition of the obnoxious tribute and force labor, (4) expulsion of the bad Spaniards and mestizos from the Ilocos, and (5) his (Silang’s) appointment as commander of the Filipino army to fight the British invaders. These demands were rejected by the haughty Spanish authorities.

On December 14, 1762, two days before his 32^nd birthday, Silang raised the cry of rebellion against Spain. He proclaimed the independence of his people and the government of Free Ilocos. Near the town of Santo Domingo, about ten miles from Vigan, he fought his first battle against the Spanish forces and won. Emboldened by his initial victory, he led his army of Ilokano patriots towards Vigan. Outside the walls of this historic town, he crushed the Spanish troops. After this second victory, he proudly entered Vigan as a conqueror. Bishop Beranrdo Ustariz and the shattered government forces fled across the river and took refuge in the fortified convent of Bantay. Alcalde Mayor Zabala and other Spaniards fled in terror to distant towns.

Silang after resting his army in Vigan,  marched towards in Bantay and captured it after a short siege. He was magnanimously spared the lives of the bishop and other friars and permitted them to stay unmolested in the convent. Other towns in Ilocos rose in arms , joining Silang’s libertarian cause. The hated Alcalde Mayor Zabala was taken captive in San Esteban, whiter he had fled. The indignant town folks who have killed him, but Silang came and persuaded them to spare his llife.

Silang was a good ruler as he was energetic militarist. He established his capital in Vigan and his war camp on fortified hill over looking Vigan, which is now known as Pantok ni Silang (Silang Hills). To raise money for his army, he levied contributions from the people on a proportional scale – the rich giving more and the poor, less. In place of the ejected Spanish officials, he appointed Ilokano civil and military officials who were men of merit and well acceptable to the people. He promulgated good laws which were announced in the different towns by public criers. Nhe sent emissaries to Pangasinan, Zambales, and Cagayan urging their people for concerted action against their common enemy – The Spaniards. He was ably assisted by Gabriela, his brave wife; Nicolas Cariño, his uncle and chief lieutenant; Miguel Flores, leader of Tayum; Botargas, leader of Laoag; Benito Estrada, leader of Paoay; and Corcuera, leader of Bacarra.          

New’s of Silang successes in the Ilocos reached the British conquerors of Manila. In sore need of his help against Don Simon de Anda, who was upholding Spain’s rule in the provinces around Manila, they solicited his allegiance and friendship. On September 24, 1762, Dawsonne Drake, British Governor of Manila, sent an edict to Silang offering British protection and friendship in exchange for his aid against Spain. Silang astutely accepted British protection because he, on his part, needed foreign assistance in his war against the Spaniards. He had no intention, however, of bartering his people’s freedom for British imperialist rule.

On May 6, 1763, Captain B. Brereton, British naval commander of Cavite, sent a letter to Silang, addressed: “To Don Diego Silang, Alcalde Mayor and War-captain for His Majesty in the Province of Ylocos.” Full text of his historic letter is as follows:

            My Dear Sir:

Yesterday the governor [Dawsonne Drake - Z] handed me the letter which you Grace was pleased to send him, in which your Grace promises to be loyal to sacred Majesty, the king of Gran Bretaña, my master. You may believe me, Don Diego, that your letter gave me special pleasureand great joy – so much so that I resolved to send you one oh his Majesty’s ships under my command, in order to assure your Grace of my protection and aid in the name of my master, against the common enemy, España. I have been very sensible of the many injuries which your Grace has suffered under the tyrannical government of the Spaniards; but I am very pleased to know that your Grace has opened to your eyes; and that your Grace will strengthen and encourage your people to humiliate the sovereignty of so cruel a nation…………….

The Admiral [Samuel Cornish – Z] went with the greater part of the squadron to protect the dominions along the coast and Yndia. He has left me particular instructions to cultivate the harmonious relations and friendship with the Province of Ylocos and the other nations of the north. I am sorry that I have not paid your Grace a visit, but important business has prevented me. However, your Grace can rest assured that I shall be most vigilant in extending help to you.

In a short time, your Grace will have troops and war supplies. This dispatch is to assure your Grace of our friendship and my satisfaction at receiving your letter, and because of your loyalty. In order that your Grace may communicate it to all the people, especially to those under your command, I am sending your Grace a small bronze cannon in token of affection.

I hope that the provinces of Pangasinan and Cagayan will soon follow your worthy example and tear off the chains of Spanish slavery.

I am also sending your Grace the edict published by the two leaders of sea and land [Admiral Cornish and General William Draper – Z], when we conquered our enemy. For my part, I assure you that I shall religiously observed it, and I invite you when time permits, to despatch your boats to this capital where they will be welcomed for their trade. The bearer of this letter is a captain in his Britannic majesty’s service, and he will inform your Grace of particulars. Hence, I shall not cease to beseech God, our Lord, to preserve your Grace for many years.  

The Spaniards authorities were worried because Silang would become more powerful with British aid. Being unable to crush him by force of arms, they resorted to liquidate him by assassination. It was their belief by killing Silang, the guiding genius of Yloko independence, the rebellion in Ilocandia would inevitably collapse. Accordingly Bishop Ustariz and his henchmen hatched a dastard plot to assassinate Silang. A mestizo friend of the hero named Miguel Vicos wa choosen to be the assassin. He was to be assisted in the evid deed by Pedro Buecbuec (Becbec in Spanish accounts).

After receiving the blessings of Bishop Ustariz at the convent of Bantay, Vicos and Buecbuec ascended the hill (Pandok ni Silang). They were able to enter the camp because the captain of the guards knew them to be friends of Silang. At that time Silang was inspecting the battery of the fort. On seeing his approaching friends, he welcomed them and conversed with them. During the conversation Vicos adroitly stepped behind Silang and shot him in the back. Mortally wounded, the hero fell on the ground, exclaiming to his wife who was in a nearby barrack: “Matayakon, Maria!” (I am dying, Maria).

The courage wife rushed to his side, and he expired in her arms. Thus the heroic Silang died on May 28, 1763, at the age of 33. to avenge him, his valiant widow carried on the libertarian struggle until she, too lost her life for the sake of freedom on September 30, 1763.

Years later the Spanish authorities, to glorify Vicos the Assassin, erecbted a monument in his honor beside the presidencia (municipal building) of Bantay. It was in the form of a monolith of brick with the figure of a dog on top and contained the dedicatory inscription. “In honor of Miguel Vicos, a Spanish mestizo, for having shot and killed the seditious traitor Diego Silang in the year 1763, after having invoked the blessings of the Holy Virgin of his deed.” The dog of the monolith represented the “fidelity” of Vicos to Spain.

In the year 1914, when Don Juan Villamor, a veteran of the Philippine Revolution, became provincial governor of Ilocos Sur, he ordered the removal of the dog on top of the monolith and replaced the Vicos Inscription with another honoring Diego Silang.

Later, 1931, the municipal officials of Bantay, for some strange reason, caused the erection of another monument honoring Vicos in front of the municipal building. As the construction was going on, a civic-spirited citizen, Mr. Teodoro Purugganan, called the attention of the Governor Alejandro Quirolgico as to such an unpatriotic project which would glorify a hero’s murderer. Thanks to his patriotic zeal, the Vicos monument was abandoned. Mr. Purugganan also spearheaded the building of the Diego Silang Elementary School between the barrios of Pospos and Aggay in Bantay. Later, when he was elected councilor of Vigan. He sponsored the naming of one of the town streets in honor of Diego Silang.