It was her picture, a woman with flowing hair, that was drawn in the certificates of members of the “Veteranos de la Revolucion”, kept in a small notebook by Ramon Abad (code name "Magtanggol") a Katipunero from Imus. In it was found written "March 21, 1897, in Pasong Santol the woman, Marcela Marcelo was killed".

In Malibay, Pasay City, an elementary school was named after her. Also, in the plaza of Malibay is a bust of Marcelo fronting the C. Jose Street, the principal road in that place. The bust was unveiled on July 1, 1962. It was dedicated by the Kapisanang Diwa ng Malibay, with these words:

Born here in
Malibay on 1869
Led and fought
During the time of
The Revolution and was killed
In Pasong Santol
Imus, Cavite in 1896.

(Note that the date of her death in this bust was 1896, which should be 1897)

.

Research showed that there is an alley in Sta. Cruz, Manila, which was declared as early as October 13, 1916 to be known as "Taga Malibay" (from Malibay) in memory of a certain "Generala", which turned out to be Marcela Marcelo. Unfortunately, this particular alley has long been renamed.

According to Carlos V. Ronquillo, private secretary of General Emilio Aguinaldo, in his book, Some Minutes of the Revolution of 1896 – 97, page 176:

"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 ...".

Page 122 further mentions the death of Marcelo in the Battle of the Batteries in Pasong Santol:

"No wounded on the first day of battle except for the 12 to 15 dead, including the woman hero, the one from Pasay who led the platoon to rush the center".

However, there is also one Martin F. Vinago, who wrote in 1928 that Marcelo was:

"Shot in the forehead by the withering fire of the enemy. She was standing, with her luxuriant hair flowing down in the line of defense while exchanging fire with the enemy and giving commands to her soldiers".

Source:

Women In Revolution by Rafaelita Soriano, Quezon City Printing Press, 1995; Pasay City History: TNL Vertical Files via the Philippine Historical Commission
Photo credit: WikiPilipinas

March 21, 1897: Marcela Marcelo died in the battle of Pasong Santol