Hidden Hands of History

| Yana Aviel Domingo
Layout by Elijah Miguel Jardinez

When Filipinos celebrate Independence Day, familiar names echo through speeches and school programs—Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, and Emilio Aguinaldo. These heroes, immortalized in monuments and textbooks, symbolize the bravery and sacrifice that won the country its freedom.

But behind these towering figures stand countless others—warriors, women, farmers, and forgotten revolutionaries—whose contributions were just as vital, yet rarely remembered. These are the unsung heroes of Philippine independence.

Gregoria de Jesús: The Spirit Behind the Katipunan

Known as the “Lakambini ng Katipunan,” Gregoria de Jesús was not just the wife of Andres Bonifacio—she was a revolutionary in her own right. At just 18, she joined the Katipunan and became the custodian of its confidential documents. When Spanish authorities raided homes, she risked arrest by hiding critical papers under her clothes or burying them in safe places.

She also organized women in the fight for independence, proving that patriotism was never just a man’s duty and cementing women’s roles in shaping the nation.

Macario Sakay: The President Who Refused to Surrender

After the Philippines declared independence in 1898, the United States quickly asserted control, sparking the Philippine-American War. While many revolutionary leaders surrendered or collaborated, Macario Sakay refused. 

Sakay established the Tagalog Republic with himself as president, and continued the armed struggle against American occupation in the early 1900s. For years, he led guerrilla forces in the mountains, keeping the dream of true independence alive. In 1907, he was captured through deception and later executed by hanging—branded a bandit by the colonizers, but a patriot by history.

Today, more Filipinos are recognizing Sakay not as a criminal, but as one of the last true defenders of Philippine sovereignty.

The Babaylan: Women Warriors of Faith and Resistance

Long before the Spanish came, the babaylan—female spiritual leaders in pre-colonial society—held power in their communities. During colonization, many of them became symbols of resistance, using their influence to oppose foreign rule.

Spanish authorities labeled them as witches or heretics, but they were often fierce protectors of culture, land, and people.

Though their names are mostly lost to time, the babaylan represent the often-erased history of women-led resistance.

Indigenous Warriors: The Unyielding Defenders of Ancestral Land

While much of Luzon struggled under Spanish rule, indigenous groups in Mindanao and the Cordilleras continued to withstand foreign control. The Moro and Lumad fought to preserve their freedom for centuries.

Leaders like Sultan Kudarat in the south defied both Spanish and American forces. Though not always aligned with the Katipunan, their battles for sovereignty mirrored the same cry for freedom. 

Their resistance stories are often separate from mainstream narratives, but they are crucial chapters in the nation’s struggle for independence.

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Courage

Beyond famous leaders and warriors, independence was won by countless unnamed individuals—messengers who smuggled notes across enemy lines, mothers who nursed wounded fighters, and farmers who offered food and shelter to rebels. They may not be in statues or school books, but their acts of bravery stitched the fabric of the revolution.

Local communities also played crucial roles—bayanihan wasn’t just a cultural value; it became a revolutionary tool. In towns and barrios, people worked together to hide revolutionaries, pass on secret messages, and gather supplies. Many never asked for recognition—they simply believed in the cause of freedom.

These were people whose names history never wrote down—yet without them, our country wouldn’t be what it is today. 

Remembering All Who Fought

As we wave our flags and sing patriotic songs this Independence Day, may we remember that history is richer, deeper, and more diverse than we’ve been taught.

Our independence was not handed to us by a handful of heroes—it was earned by a nation of people, many of whom have yet to receive the recognition they deserve.

And perhaps the best way to honor the hidden hands of history is to bring their stories into the light—so their courage, though once overlooked, becomes part of the freedom they helped build.