Marcela Marcelo

Marcelo was born in 1869 at Malibay, Pasay. She belongs to an upper class family that owns an areca nut farm.[3] She married Quirico Lugo, a man from Aguho, Pateros, and bore him a son.[4]

One day, Marcelo's husband was arrested by Spanish civil guards. She quietly watched as her husband was taken away, without wailing nor protesting.[1] Marcelo's husband was a member of the Katipunan and was therefore seized. It was believed that right after his capture, she entrusted her son to her sister and sought revolutionaries to attack the Spaniards on their trenches.[5] The Spaniards, however, successfully killed her husband. Since then, Marcelo had been active in the Katipunan as a general, leading revolt. It was rare and unexpected for a woman, but as opponents saw her fight, she was hailed as Selang Bagsik. Marcelo gathered and trained young members of the Katipunan ranging from 14–18 years old. She also managed and organized the nursing of wounded Katipunan members in Bulacan.[6]

In 1897, Marcelo died at the Battle of Pasong Santol in Dasmariñas. She led a troop to rush towards the center of the Spanish army, but the Spaniards were able to shot Marcelo in the head.[7]

Former president Emilio Aguinaldo's private secretary, Carlos V. Ronquillo, described Marcelo as:

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...

— Carlos V. Ronquillo, Some Minutes of the Revolution of 1896 – 1897

Marcela Marcelo–Lugo monument

Marcela Marcelo–Lugo historical marker

A bust of Marcelo was built in the plaza of Malibay in memory of her. It is situated in front of the principal road, C. Jose Street.[1]

A school is also named after Marcelo: Marcela Marcelo Elementary School, which is also located in her hometown, Malibay.[4]