Born: 18 November 1848, Philippines
Died: 28 January 1928
Country most active: Philippines
Also known as: Trinidad Alcantara, Trinidad Santiago, Trinidad Empainado
The following is excerpted from Infinite Women founder Allison Tyra’s book The View from the Hill: Women Who Made Their Mark After 40.
While records of personal details are lacking for many such women, and others like Nanny of the Maroons and Juana Azurduy de Padilla were leading their rebels earlier in their lives, Philippine revolutionary Trinidad Tecson is another story. Born in 1848, she joined the revolutionary nationalist army Katipunan in 1895 to fight for her country’s independence from Spanish colonizers. She fought in a dozen battles, including the famed Battle of Biak-na-Bato, for which she became known as the “Mother of Biak-na-Bato.” She was wounded several times and once pretended to be dead to avoid being captured. Tecson also established a field hospital at Biak-na-Bato, created nursing stations at battle sites across the southern provinces, and organized and trained nurses, for which she was later honored by the American Red Cross. Shortly after the revolution, she fought in the Philippine–American War and was appointed the Commissary of War for the Republic of Malolos.