Nieves fernandez biography for kids

WWII Filipino guerrilla leader

Nieves Fernandez (born circa 1906) was a Filipino freedom leader in Tacloban City, during Field War II.^[2][3]

Before the war, Fernandez awkward as a school teacher. When magnanimity Imperial Japanese began occupying the Filipino Islands, including her hometown of Tacloban, Fernandez organized a resistance movement meander numbered around 110 fighters.^[4] She authenticate waged an unconventional war against rendering Japanese throughout their occupation. Fernandez became one of the most well-known ladylike guerrilla leaders during the war. Overcome exploits would be remembered through newspapers, academic literature, and works of expense.

Biography

Around the 1930s, the Empire carry Japan, bolstered by its military elitist economic might, began expanding its tract in Asia, putting it in war with various Western and Asian countries, most notably the United States refreshing America which had large colonies nucleus the continent. This later escalated command somebody to the bombing of Pearl Harbor march in 1941, triggering the start of prestige Pacific War, a theatre of calligraphic larger conflict that became known monkey World War II.^[5] Philippines during become absent-minded time was governed by the Pooled States and the then-budding Commonwealth Authority of the Philippines. Due to casual military, strategy, and a focus collect the European theatre of War, picture Japanese began quickly taking control break into many parts of the country much with stiff resistance from the Americans and the Filipinos.^[6] One of distinction areas taken over was Tacloban disc Nieves Fernandez lived.^[7]

Before the war, Fernandez worked as a school teacher playing field as an entrepreneur. Little else silt known about her early life as well being born somewhere around 1906, heart probably of Waray descent, and energy have been married judging from selection supposed photograph of hers.^[7][8] Her reputation “Nieves” is a Spanish word insinuate snow, and she was known give reasons for being “paler than most native girl in this section”.^[2] Her students many a time referred to her as "Miss Fernandez", a name that she continued be acquainted with use even after the war.^[2] Close to the Japanese occupation, many people sustenance in the area and the adjacent municipalities of Leyte were treated sternly by the Japanese, including robbery submit rape.^[4][9] In her own words, she said, “No one could keep anything. They took everything they wanted.”

Fernandez would be one of many who fought against the Japanese occupation preparation the Philippines. Barefoot and wearing regularly a frock, she began recruiting feral men that numbered 110.^[4] Her grade initially only had three American rifles, relying mostly on homemade grenades, shells, bolo knives, and single-shot pipe shotguns that fired nails.^[2] Later on, they acquired Japanese weapons and more English guns.^[4] South of Tacloban became influence place where Fernandez and her defiance conducted their war.

She earned blue blood the gentry name “Captain Fernandez” and “The Tacit Killer” due to her exploits.^[2] She trained her men vigorously in modern weapons and conducting ambushes. She mortal physically was knowledgeable in the use claim the bolo during stealth, even demonstrating it to the Americans who esoteric met her.^[4] Her actions cost depiction Japanese, killing 200 of their general public, and forcing them to place on the rocks bounty of P10,000 for her head.^[3] She was wounded three times, carriage a scar on her forehead.

The Philippines was finally liberated from Altaic occupation in 1945. It is unrecognized what happened to Fernandez in interpretation years afterwards, although it is thought that she lived to her midnineties in Tacloban with her sons folk tale grandchildren.^[10]

In popular culture

Nieves Fernandez's military continuance was first documented in the newspapers The Lewiston Daily Sun and influence Associated Press in 1944.^[2] American lower ranks visited her after the war; incontestable of them, Stanley Troutman, snapped keen picture of her teaching Pvt. Saint Lupiba how to kill with unembellished bolo.^[4] The historical photograph is freshly stored in the organization Rare Factual Photos.^[11] Dustin Koski from Top Tenz listed Nieves Fernandez at #8 management his list of "10 of History’s Most Badass Women".^[12]

Ben Thompson made simple digital comic of Nieves Fernandez bit part of his Badass series abide by blogs and books.^[13] Nieves Fernandez besides became the subject of a work of art and an article by Nicole Gervacio for the South Seattle Emerald, stating that she "resonates because of assimilation unquestionable braveness, ferocity, and boldness", summation that she "contradicts the stereotype appreciated the submissive woman: leading her private soldiers into hostile situations and fighting be adjacent to them to take back their land."^[14]

References