Generala Agueda Kahabagan

A heroine who is considered as the "Tagalog Joan of Arc". History records depict her bravery as a woman dressed in white and armed with a rifle and bolo engrossed in frequent combat against the Spanish and American forces. She was the only female General in the armed forces of Katipunan. General Miguel Malvar commissioned Agueda to lead a formidable detachment of forces armed with rifles and machetes. She was among the soldiers under the command of General Artemio Ricarte. One of her successful attacks was on the Spanish San Pablo garrison in October 1897. Having survived the battles against Spain, she joined again in battle against the American Forces. Along with General Pio del Pilar, she fought against the Americans in the Southern Tagalog region. It was General del Pilar who recommended that she be granted the title of "General." Her appointment as General was on January 4, 1899. After the war, her name seems lost in the memory of many Filipinos.