Fernandez would be one of many who fought against the Japanese occupation in the Philippines. Barefoot and wearing mostly a frock, she began recruiting native men that numbered 110.[3] Her group initially only had three American rifles, relying mostly on homemade grenades, explosives, bolo knives, and single-shot pipe shotguns that fired nails.[1] Later on, they acquired Japanese weapons and more American guns.[3] South of Tacloban became the place where Fernandez and her guerrillas conducted their war.
She earned the name “Captain Fernandez” and “The Silent Killer” due to her exploits.[1] She trained her men vigorously in manufacturing weapons and conducting ambushes. She herself was knowledgeable in the use of the bolo during stealth, even demonstrating it to the Americans who had met her.[3] Her actions cost the Japanese, killing 200 of their men, and forcing them to place a bounty of P10,000 for her head.[2] She was wounded three times, bearing a scar on her forehead.
The Philippines was finally liberated from Japanese occupation in 1945. It is unknown what happened to Nieves Fernandez in the years afterwards, although it's said that she lived to her nineties in Tacloban with her sons and grandchildren.[9]
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