Diego Silang was born on December 16, 1730, in Caba, La Union, Philippines. He was the son of Miguel Silang and Nicolasa de los Santos. He was baptized on January 7, 1731, with the name Diego Baltazar, Tomas de Andaya, uncle of Sebastian Andaya who later became his devoted follower and secretary, becoming his godfather.
As a boy, Diego Silang became a servant of the parochial priest of Vigan, Fr. Cortés y Orriosolo, whose confidence he won in time.
When Diego Silang was old enough he was entrusted with messages to deliver to Manila. It was in one such trip that the small vessel he took was wrecked along the Zambales coast and the passengers were either drowned or killed by some wild people. However, Silang's life was spared but he was taken captive and made a slave. Whether to ascribe this luck to his good fortune or some personal quality in the man, it is not an easy matter to say but he learned to adapt himself to his new surroundings, learned of the customs of his captors whom he served carrying a spear and lance and he accompanied them in their raids.
Then the Augustinian Recollect father of Bolinao heard of him and without wasting much time ransomed him for a quantity of native cloth and other articles. Silang in turn served his savior for a while and later on, he was allowed to rejoin his relatives in his birthplace. Then he returned to the service of his former master in Vigan carrying the usual dispatches for him and returning with the communications from Manila and the mail brought by the annual galleon.
At the age of twenty-seven, he married Maria Josefa Gabriela, a young widow brought up under the tutelage of Provisor Tomas Millan. It appears that this woman inherited considerable property from her deceased husband consisting of fields and fishponds, knew Spanish well enough, and was a respected member of the household of Provisor Millan who adopted her as a daughter. This incidental relationship limited to a certain degree Silang's decisions when he later lead a revolt.
When the British fleet anchored in Manila Bay on September 22, 1762, Silang was in Manila waiting for the arrival of the galleon Philippino which was being expected to arrive from Mexico. He learned from Santiago Orendain, a practicing lawyer whom he had served previously, much of the significance of the events then fast transpiring in Manila. Upon the capitulation of the city, Silang left for the Ilocos region. He tarried for a while in Pangasinan among his relations and friends from whom he learned a great deal of the causes of the discontent of the people and of the revolt then in the making in that province. He also attended meetings initiated by local leaders such as those planned by leader Lopez. It became clear to him that the same socio-political conditions existing in Pangasinan were also prevailing in the Ilocos region.
News of the fall of Manila reached Vigan about the end of October 1762. About the beginning of the following month, a dispatch from Don Simon de Anda was received notifying the alcalde mayor of events in the capital and his assumption of governmental power and authority over the entire archipelago. When Silang arrived in Vigan, the population was agog and eager to receive more news.
Before he departed for Vigan, Fray Vivar is the authority for saying that Silang reached an agreement with Lopez on various points about which they discussed although this source did not specify them further. It is clear from what happened later that Silang thought of leading a similar revolt in the Ilocos region. For along the way he tarried and held day or night meetings will the local leaders, acquainting them with what was occurring in Manila and Pangasinan. It appears that he at first persuaded the masses to take up arms because the English whom he painted as heretics were coming to invade the region. This catechizing started in Namacpacan and continued in many towns until he reached Vigan.
Silang's mind ran along the following line of thinking: if the Spaniards in Manila had been vanquished, then they no longer ruled and hence there was no reason for paying the tribute. That it would be necessary to convene a provincial council to oppose or fight back the British invasion, for the Spaniards would not be able to defend the region. That upon the implantation of British rule, the loss of Catholic faith would necessarily follow. That this council could then suppress so much oppression and abolish the personal services, so much injustice and vexation practiced by the alcaldes mayores and could establish a Christian union of the ruling and free classes in order to better serve God.
That by neglecting to act thus in unison, the British will surely come to dominate the region by catching a disunited people who will lose their souls because they will lose their religion. That the Pangasinan people, zealous Christians as they were, had already taken up arms and anxious to come to help the cause of the Ilocano people if they themselves had forgotten their religion and would not take such wise counsel for their peace, permanency of the Catholic faith, service to God and the Spanish king, and the relief of so many oppressed poor people from the heavy burden of tributes and services.
It appears that Vigan was most disposed to receive Silang's ideas. But Silang did not select his audience, and Alcalde Mayor Antonio Zabala imprisoned him and ordered him whipped. However, Provisor Tomas Millan interceded in his behalf and he was set free. Regaining his freedom, he held meetings in the fields, but more discretely this time. With his day and night campaign, he was able to form an opinion along his line of thinking and persuaded many people to take a line of action which was as follows: that Alcalde Mayor Zabala must relinquish the staff of authority to Provisor Millan, that personal services be abolished, that they ask the bishop for the expulsion of the Spaniards and mestizos from the province, that Silang be allowed to organize his troops to regain the flag that had been lost by the Spaniards to the British, that anyone who dared oppose this convention was to be considered a traitor to God and the King, and that finally, all expenses to be incurred were to be borne by the public funds in the hands of the alcalde mayor.
Silang made quick progress with his propaganda work. The South was eager to see the execution of the program of action. The mountain peoples of Abra promised to align themselves with their leader, Pedro Becbec, the local chief of Santa. Silang was also gaining adherents in the North: Tomas Corcuera was propagating the seeds of revolt in Bacarra and Laoag, and the captain of Paoay, Jose Cristobal, a friend of Silang, was leading the way in Batac, San Nicolas, Sarrat, and Dingras with the assistance of a certain Botargas and his son. At this time the adamant Simon de Anda was too preoccupied with his defenses in Bulakan and the Chinese were chafing between loyalty and taking up arms. Pangasinan was already in rebellion and its leaders were planning to carry the uprising to the Ilocos region if the people there vacillated. Anda himself had intercepted communications disclosing an understanding among the Ilocanos, Pangasinans, Chinese, and English.
Under such circumstances, the ground was ripe for an uprising. On December 14, 1762, a group of people, armed in one way or another, assembled before the house of Alcalde Mayor Zabala. They followed their program of action: they demanded that the alcalde cede the staff of authority to Provisor Millan, who was to select one of the four chiefs of Vigan as an officer of justice. Seeing the vociferous but mad multitude, Zabala complied with the demand right away, and fearing for graver consequences, he fled to Santa, then to Santa Maria, and to San Esteban where he hid in the convent.
Then the crowd proceded to the bishop's place. The people demanded the cessation of the tribute and the abolition of personal services from Bishop Bernardo Ustariz. These demands were granted forthwith. But a certified statement was immediately asked. Bishop Ustariz demurred and disclaimed any authority to grant this demand except verbally. The people were dissatisfied and showed their wrath. They next demanded the delivery of all arms with the aim of using the same for defense purposes against the British invasion in prospect and they asked that Miguel Pinzon and all Spaniards and mestizos be banished with the exception of four persons they named. The people then declared Silang their chief. Silang thus found himself master of Vigan and vicinity.
Meanwhile, notices of what was happening in Vigan had filtered out to the North, The religious there responded immediately. They started recruiting men for the pacification of Vigan. From as far north as Laoag a considerable force of principles and followers were enlisted in the loyalist camp. An initial force was thus formed which gathered in strength and numbers as it marched through the towns toward the capital. This loyalist force started from Cabugao on December 24, 1862, and arrived on the same day in Bantay exhausted and hungry. The 350 men that reached Bantay were soon augmented, and after they had rested and heard mass in the evening, marched in the following day to Vigan. Silang's citadel was located on top of a low hill, now known as "Pantok ni Silang", at the outskirts of Vigan.
The loyalist force carrying two small cannons and fifty guns then stormed Silang's garrison. It appears that the battle lasted for two days. Other men from the South attempted to join with those from the North, but since there was no unified command, both forces were dispersed and those that escaped annihilation returned to their native towns afterward. The bishop and friars joined the principals and escaped to the North. Meanwhile, the rebels became emboldened and retaliated by taking possessions of the provisor's house and despoiled it of gunpowder, cannons, lantacas, mortars, etc.
Bishop Ustariz now took a more drastic move. He issued an order declaring himself head of the province in view of the deposition of the titular alcalde mayor. He took more active efforts in quelling the uprising, reorganizing the towns, and electing local officials. The bishop also campaigned for adherence from town to town until he reached Laoag. Local leaders recruited their own followers, although it was apparent that they lacked a strong command. Having learned of this counter activity in the North, some 2000 Christian and pagan adherents of Silang were gathered and they marched as far as Cabugao to oppose the invading forces. The troops from Bacarra arrived in Cabugao, but they were persuaded to lay down their arms for a parley and upon their doing so, were overcome. The loyalists from Sinait sent fifty men on horseback, but these seeing the dead littering the road and figuring the strength of the rebels, they fled, thus causing precipitate dispersion of other loyalist forces along the way.
After this second attempt to crush the uprising failed, Silang began to strengthen and consolidate his position and leadership. He sent his lieutenants to the North and to the South. He tried to set up local authority in the hands of three or four chiefs in each town, these to receive their appointment from him. He abolished the office of captain. These chiefs were empowered to select the other town officials, peace officers, and clerk and these, in turn, were to form the tribunal. He continued to recognize the sovereignty of Spain and the need for preserving the Roman Catholic church and was careful to instruct local officials to assist the churchmen in whatever way they could.
Evidently, Silang was much against the continuance of the office of the alcalde mayor and the town captains who concentrated too much power in their hands and oppressed the people, who did not understand the true laws of God and the dictates of mutual compassion, love, respect, and equality. And he preached that all God's creatures were not different from each other and that no one was superior to the others. He continued the practice of the Roman Catholic religion and ordered the children to go to schools. He governed by issuing orders and promulgating rules of conduct. He imposed fines upon those who opposed his mandates, especially the captains and friars, causing the imprisonment of those who disobeyed his orders. Later he exacted levies on the principles and tribute from the churchmen.
His edicts carried a running caption of his high office. He thus placed himself at the head of the provincial organization. He formed his own tribunal, named an advisor, public notary, and interpreters. Decisions made by local officials he ordered elevated to his office for review, admonishing them to dispense justice equally to everyone. On March 22, 1763, he appointed Cristobal Sales as his public notary, Julian Miranda as an advisor, and Martin Crispin, Bartolome Farolan, Juan Salazar, Carlos Lucas, and Juan Alfonso de Santa Cruz as interpreters and assistants. Silang also appointed commissioners who were sent to the various towns to see to it that his orders were obeyed and to serve as inspectors and secret agents.
Meanwhile, Anda had received notices of the Ilocos revolt, its leaders, and what were transpiring in the North. All that he could do under the circumstances was to issue an edict outlawing the acts of Silang and forbidding him from exercising any power and giving him a number of days to present himself before him to account for his acts, otherwise, he would be considered a traitor and punished accordingly. Anda also threatened to send an army if he remained obstinate or acted contrary to his orders. This edict was issued at Apalit, Pampanga province, on February 1, 1763. Silang did not comply with the orders of Anda excusing himself by stating that chaos would ensue the moment he left the province. He in turn made preparations should Anda make good his word: he looked for a way of retreat in Abra and he posted men at strategic places to guard the communication lines. Then he also replied to Anda that he would align with the British as he did not have any regard for him.
Thinking that Anda might make good his threat and send a punitive expedition, Silang sought to enlist the aid of the British. In formal communication, he enumerated the grievances of the people which made him justify his acts. Then he placed himself at the service and command of King George III by making himself a vassal. One thing he asked: he did not as the people molested in their religion. He sent the British, as an act of good faith, quantities of food in a letter of May 4, 1763.
Then he sought for a sort of protective alliance that would strengthen his position. Commander Dawsonne Drake readily accepted such manifestation of friendship and recognition by Silang of British sovereignty and forthwith appointed Silang alcalde mayor of the Ilocos. He had been excommunicated previously and the religious were spreading the rumor of a punitive expedition, which Silang dismissed not lightly. As the British had barely enough force to send to assist him actually, a small cannon was sent as a token to strengthen the promise. He was also requested to deliver the Spaniards and clergymen in his custody to Manila, but Silang bided time.
That Silang had no intention to wreak vengeance upon the officials and churchmen of the Spanish regime appears to be clear. During all this time it is a noteworthy record in his life that no clergymen were killed or harmed. Even the life of Mayor Zabala, the hated official, was spared. The revolt was directed against the maladministration and oppressive practices of the alcalde mayor, not against the church nor its ministers. Silang wanted to do away with despotic Spanish officials, their exploitive practices, and oppressive Spanish colonial system.
To show an appearance of compliance, he sent a circular to all religious asking them to come to Bantay for a conference and to discuss matters. The churchmen differed in their interpretation of this move, but there prevailed the fear that they were going to be liquidated by Silang. There were timorous souls who became frantic of the consequences and they fled or hid in safety. Finally, a Spanish mestizo presented himself to Bishop Ustariz and laid out a plan for the assassination of Silang. The bishop himself extended his blessings to Miguel Vicos after the latter had taken confession and communion. This happened in the afternoon of May 28, 1763. The assassin was accompanied by Pedro Becbec, for Vicos vacillated and was nervous. Silang fell after a brief rule of five months. He received a musket shot through the back between two and four o'clock in the afternoon of that date and died in his wife's arms.
With Silang's death, church bells were rung and a Te Deum sung. The old regime was restored by the strong hand of Manuel de Arza who came just in time from Cagayan with a force to hunt down and destroy the remnants of Silang's followers. But this was not the end of the revolt. Some of Silang's leaders together with his wife had successfully escaped by the Abra River. They were the followers who continued the uprising under the leadership of Nicolas Cariño and Mrs. Silang. But with Silang gone, the revolt was soon put under control and the leaders either killed or executed.
Diego Silang was a prominent and outstanding figure and one of the earliest revolutionary leaders in the history of the Philippines. He is considered to be one of the remarkable leaders the Filipinos ever had. Austin Craig, biographer and historian, regarded him among the forty famous Filipinos before the advent of the American period, while Dr. Leandro H. Fernandez, historian, considered Silang in 1930 among the twenty greatest Filipinos that ever lived.
In his honor, barangays in two Filipino cities were named.
Diego Silang married Maria Josefa Gabriela Cariño in 1757.
Maria Josefa Gabriela Cariño was the first Filipino woman to lead a revolt during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. An active member of the insurgent force of Diego Silang, her husband, she led the group for four months after his death before she was captured and executed.
