The Hukbalahap (Hukbong Laban sa Hapon) was a rebellion during the

Japanese occupation in the Philippines, it was first formed by farmers and workers.
According to Lanzona (2009) The Huk rebellion was the most important peasant
movement in Philippine history, the most successful resistance army in Asia during
World War II, and the first major communist rebellion defeated by U.S. counter
insurgency operations. The movement ultimately grew as time passed by and many
women joined as they were vulnerable to the Japanese military and their fathers or
husbands were already a member or a leader of the movement. During the 20 th century,
the roles of women have given confusion to various people due to the fact that
numerous women were captured by the Japanese to become comfort women.
However, women played a central role in the Huk movement and many of them
abandoned their traditional roles in the society to participate in the harrowing brutality
and war against the Japanese. The works of women in this time of difficulty played a
major impact to the movement, they served as medical nurses that aided the wounded
soldiers and they searched for food to feed and supplies that are needed by the
organization. They have also contributed to the resistance by giving hope to the
Filipinos in these desperate times by singing songs and composing short plays that
displayed camaraderie. Women have also served in communication networks,
distributing education and intelligence networks. Some of the well-known Filipina
warriors during the Japanese colonization are Maria Rosa Henson, Remedios Gomez
and Simeona Punsalan Tapang.

Remedios Gomez-Paraiso (1919-2014)

Remedios Gomez was also known as Kumander Liwayway and Joan of Arc of
the Philippines not only because of her known beauty but also because of her strong
reputation and identity built from leading a successful military army against the
Japanese and redefined the roles of women in this era. Remedios Gomez was a high
efficient commander and a brave warrior. “Rather than die without putting up resistance,
we had to defend ourselves,” she said. She was also a part of the medical team that
treated the wounded. Remedios Gomez was a chief of the military provision division.
According to Lanzona (2009), her efforts to preserve her femininity while assuming a
“masculine” role in the movement endowed Liwayway with an aura of respect and
authority. One of the best-known and amusing stories about Liwayway, and one that
endured for many years after the war, was about the fact that she always combed her
hair, manicured and polished her nails, and applied lipstick before going into battle. She
acknowledged the truth of these stories, explaining that it gave the guerrillas under her
command greater confidence when they saw her well groomed and wearing lipstick and
convinced them that their commander was fearless and calm.
María Rosa Luna Henson (1927-1997)

'Don't be ashamed, being a sex slave is not your fault. It is the responsibility of
the Japanese Imperial Army. Stand up and fight for your rights.” As Task Force on
Filipino Comfort Women looked for women to testify on the alleged sexual enslavement
by Japanese soldiers, these were the words that gave Rosa the courage to speak up
and to recall her experiences during the terrible war crime as she was the first woman to
do so. María Rosa Luna Henson or also known as "Lola Rosa" was born on December
5, 1927. Born as the illegitimate child of a wealthy landowner, Don Pepe and a single
mother, Julia. She was part of Hukbalahap Guerillas as her mother brought her to a
village in Pampanga for her safety. Coming out and breaking the long silence as one of
the comfort women was the most courageous and heroic thing to do as it inspired other
victims to finally come out and tell the dark stories they kept to themselves because of
fear of embarrassment for nearly half a century. In 1996, Henson wrote an
autobiography in a detailed narrative, COMFORT WOMAN: Slave of Destiny (the only
autobiography ever written by over 200,000 victims in Asia) which includes all the
painful recollection of her life. According to Mydans, S. (1997) Mrs. Henson was also
the lead plaintiff in a class action suit against the Japanese Government seeking
damages for forced prostitution. Despite of everything that life thrown at her, she
remained resilient to fight for the justice not just for herself but for all the victims who
chose and never lived to tell their stories. A woman who conquered numerous odds to
advocate the justice for the most silent victims of our history.

Simeona Punsalan-Tapang (1923-2016)

Popularly known as Lola Mameng, and as Kumander Guerrero during her time,
Simeona Punsalan-Tapang was described by Luis Taruc as “a big-bodied woman with a
man’s strength, fond of wearing men’s clothes and adept at handling an automatic rifle
and known for commanding on the firing line.” Like Lola Rosa, she was also part of
Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon (Hukbalahap or Huk). According to Caballes, A
(2015) Lola Mameng started out as an officer of Squadron no. 104 with the rank of
captain in 1942. In 1944 she was then promoted to major under the 1st Regiment,
Second Battalion Staff of Regional Command No. 7. Lola Mameng then joined and
participated in the Battle of Mandili in Candaba, Pampanga and commanded several
encounters against Japanese forces in Arayat. Last year she was recognized by the
provincial government of Pampanga during the Most Outstanding Kapampangan
Awards night. She lived her life mostly to be a leader and the protector of people who
were not able to lift themselves up as she fought for the rights of the farmers when she
joined the Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan. Being the Kumander and her love for the
country during the horrible war crime against the Japanese Soldiers sums up her life as
a Filipino citizen. The love and service she had shown are really the ones that paved a
way for her and her comrades to get the attention and support they deserved.
Rosa Henson

Remedios Gomez “Kumander Liwayway” “Joan of Arc”

Simeona Punsalan Tapang “Major Guerrero” (Lola Mameng)