ON MARCH 21, 1897, Marcela Marcelo, the Woman General of the revolution died in the Battle of Pasong Santol (Dasmariñas), Cavite. Marcelo also known as “Selang Bagsik” (Ferocious Sela) and “Henerala Sela” (General Sela), hailed from Malibay, formerly a part of Palanyag (now of Pasay City). Born in 1869, she married Quirico Lugo of Aguho, Pateros and bore him a son.
Marcelo was a member of an upper class family with a betel nut farm (Pasay was famous for its betel nuts).
She was reported to be a very brave fighter, one who would not flinch in the face of the Spanish onslaught. Her husband was said to have been captured by the Civil Guards. She did not utter a word nor took any action while her husband was being led away. It was also believed that she entrusted her son to the care of her sister, then headed a group of Filipino rebels that raided enemy trenches. Because of her bravery, the enemy feared her.
It was her picture, a woman with flowing hair, that was drawn in the certificates of members of the “Veteranos de la Revolucion”, kept in a small notebook by Ramon Abad (code name “Magtanggol”) a Katipunero from Imus. In it was found written “March 21, 1897, in Pasong Santol the woman, Marcela Marcelo was killed”.
In Malibay, Pasay City, an elementary school was named after her. Also, in the plaza of Malibay is a bust of Marcelo fronting the C. Jose Street, the principal road in that place.
Research showed that there is an alley in Sta. Cruz, Manila, which was declared as early as October 13, 1916 to be known as “Taga Malibay” (from Malibay) in memory of a certain “Generala”, which turned out to be Marcela Marcelo. Unfortunately, this particular alley has long been renamed.
According to Carlos V. Ronquillo, private secretary of General Emilio Aguinaldo, in his book, Some Minutes of the Revolution of 1896 – 97, page 176:
“One of our platoons was led by a woman of great courage: a middle aged married woman who had a child, a woman from Pasay (if we were not mistaken), who was always in the heat of the battle, with no weapons but a bolo. She died a heroine when the Spanish trenches were taken in Pasong Santol. This action so frightened the Spaniards that they ran and was driven by the infantry and Tagalog volunteers …”.
Page 122 further mentions the death of Marcelo in the Battle of the Batteries in Pasong Santol:
“No wounded on the first day of battle except for the 12 to 15 dead, including the woman hero, the one from Pasay who led the platoon to rush the center”.
