Pinay Guerrilleras: The Unsung Heroics of Filipina Resistance Fighters During the Pacific War

December 8th, 1941 marked the start of the full-scale invasion of the Philippines. With the surrender of the Bataan Peninsula and the fortified island Corregidor in the Spring of 1942, all hope seemed lost. But, almost overnight, the Philippine underground resistance began to take shape. Units made up of guerrilla volunteers from all walks of life participated in the liberation of the Philippines. The women guerrillas of the resistance, or guerrilleras, are one such group who have received less attention in Pacific Theater histories.

The names and faces of those Filipina guerrilla soldiers, who led their own units, conducted espionage, nursed the wounded, led raids, or raised armies, have nearly been forgotten. The rigid gender barriers guerrilleras faced both on and off the field of duty resulted in their stories being silenced or relegated to less commanding roles in the aftermath of the war. This book attempts to bring these stories to light so that the legacy of these unsung Filipina resistance fighters lives on.

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"Filipino female freedom fighters who fought bravely against Spanish colonization like Gabriela Silang, Gregoria de Jesus, and Melchora Aquino are more or less staples in Filipino history textbooks. But mentioning just a handful of female historical figures may sometimes make it appear that women’s involvement and participation in the various resistance movements were rare or exceptional, rather than integral to them. Stacey Anne Baterina Salinas’ book challenges this assumption and introduces us to more of these brave women, particularly those who risked their lives during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during the Second World War. Commander Guerrero, a.k.a. Simeona Punsalan, Dayang-Dayang, a.k.a. Felipa Culala and Kumander Mameng, a.k.a. Elena Poblete (just to name a few) deserve to take their places not just in the history of freedom fighting, but in history-making."

- Carolina Ruiz, ALPHA Education

“It is a must-read book. It provides a brief and comprehensive summary of the unsung heroes of female Filipino resistance fighters during the second world war. The Pinay veterans took on the roles that their male counterpart was not able to do during the time, they bravely volunteered to risk their lives being captured, raped and sent to be Comfort Women, to do soldiering and reconnaissance mission. They contributed not only in the struggle against Japanese Imperial Army, but they also played a significant role to the liberation of the Philippines, yet their contributions and efforts were not recognized or acknowledged in a male-dominated society even up to the present time.”

- Nancy M. Lee, co-founder, Education for Social Justice Foundation

"Stacey Anne Baterina Salinas has unearthed an intriguing gem of Pacific history: the gripping stories of the women warriors of the Philippines. In Pinay Guerrilleras Salinas traces their history from the medieval exploits of the renowned warrior princess Urduja up through the brave Filipinas who fought and gathered intelligence during the Japanese occupation and were probably the most important allies of General MacArthur that you've never heard of. If you've not thought of beautiful Filipinas as capable of wielding rifles and running a resistance movement you will be quite surprised by Salinas's well-researched book."

- Paul Johnson, Director of 731 - How America Exploited Japan's Biological Weapons Crimes

"Salinas explores the unique stories of ordinary Filipina women who led extraordinary lives in the turbulent time of the Japanese occupation and also highlights some of their experiences as immigrants in the United States. They were everyday women whose roles and tasks were critical in the liberation of the people of the Philippines; many times, it was the women who put themselves on the line as combat warriors, informants, and even generals, and risked their lives for their families and country. Through their remarkable stories, Salinas also touches upon the impacts of the war and how the Philippines, one of the richest countries in natural resources, became a battling ground for imperialism. This is a great eye-opening book into learning more about the pinay guerrilleras whose stories are historical illustrations of female resistance and revolutionary movements, but are often overlooked in times of war and in mainstream history."

- Kirby Pábalan-Táyag Aráullo,
Founding Member of the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies
Author of Black Lives & Brown Freedom: Untold Histories of War, Solidarity, and Genocide

Pinay Guerrilleras: The Unsung Heroics of Filipina Resistance Fighters During the Pacific War

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