WATAWAT

THE FLAG OF THE REVOLT DIEGO SILANG 1762-1763

Diego Silang y Andaya Was a rebel leader who conspired with British forces to overthrow the Spanish in the northern Philippines and establish an independent Ilocano nation. His revolt was fueled by grievances stemming from Spanish tributes and abuses, and his belief in self-government, that the administration and leadership of the Roman Catholic Church and government in the Ilocos Region (at this time did not include Pangasinan) should be led to trained Ilocano officials.

Born in Aringay, Pangasinan (an area in present-day Caba or Aringay, La Union), he worked as a messenger for a local Castilian priest in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Bright, passionate and conversant in Spanish, he ferried correspondence from the Ilocos to Manila, journeys that gave him his first glimpse of colonial injustice and that planted the seeds of rebellion.

Spain allied with France during the Seven Years' War against Great Britain. In so doing, the British sought to diminish the Spanish Empire. British naval forces took over Manila in the early 1760s that inspired uprisings in the farthest north of Ilocos Norte and Cagayan, where anti-Spanish sentiments festered. While Silang initially wanted to replace Spanish functionaries in the Ilocos with native officials, and volunteered to head Ilocano forces against the British, desperate Spanish administrators transferred their powers to the Catholic Bishop of Nueva Segovia (Vigan) who in turn rejected Silang's call. Silang's group attacked the city and imprisoned its priests. He then began an association with the British who appointed him governor of the Ilocos in their behalf and promised him military reinforcement. The British force never materialized.
He was killed by one of his friends, a Spanish-Ilocano mestizo named Miguel Vicos who was paid by church authorities to assassinate him.
After Diego Silang's death, his wife, Josefa Gabriela, took over the revolt and fought courageously. A strong force was then sent against her. This time, she was forced to retreat to Abra. Riding a fast horse, Gabriela led her troops towards Vigan, but she was driven back. She fled again to Abra, where she was captured. On September 20, 1763, she and about 100 followers were executed by the Spanish authorities.

THE FLAG:

In 1764, as Spanish Governor-General Simon de Anda sent to King Carlos III a report with some interesting notes on the Silang's revolt and his flag : "...... Don Pedro Hernani, lieutenant of Spanish infantry, with one sergeant, one corporal and twenty soldiers, began to cross the river in pursuit of the Cagayans.... Don Pedro Hernani invested the trenches with great courage, that he succeeded in taking the banner from them, although he suffered the misfortune of being run through the breast with a lance and fell dead...but Don Pedro Tagle substituted for him and picked up the flag, which he delivered to his commandant.... The latter afterward presented it to Don Simon de Anda."..It was two "varas" long and a trifle more narrow; at each corner it had a two -headed eagle , and in the center an escutcheon with its border, and within it the Arms of the Dominican Order .."
The four two-headed eagles placed on each corner of the flag do represent the fourcardinal points: the North , the South, the East and the West; the eagle with two heads ,do represent the spiritual and temporal power of the Dominican Order under Ilocandia.

MEANING OF THE DOMINICAN COLORS AND SYMBOLS :

The white color for the Dominican Friar is symbol of purity and of charity, while the Black one, of renunciation and penance.
The Star, for the Dominican tradition, is symbol of Predestination and personal sign of Saint Dominic;according to the tradition, in the day of the baptism, the godmother of Saint Dominic saw a shining Star on the forehead of him.
The lily it is instead symbol of integrity and morality, It represents, like ideal, the martyrdom. Saint Dominic.The "gigliata"(stylized lily ), said Cross also “Cross of Saint Dominic” famous papal coat of arms in which is The symbol of the Dominican Fathers. Faithfuls and the unfaithful, for work of Saint Dominic and of Its sons Spiritual, the Preachers Friars.

THE DOMINICAN SEAL FOUND IN GAMU, ISABELA *






















* From : SIMBAHAN - Philippine Heritage Churches and Related Structures ( www.simbahan.net )