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Josefina Guerrero was born on August 5, 1917, in Lucban, Quezon, province. She was religious and revered Joan of Arc; as a child, she also fantasized she was a heroine.[5] Upon her parents' sudden and early deaths, she was taken in by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. After she had contracted tuberculosis, the nuns were unable to care for her, and her grandparents looked after her. Once she recovered, she was sent to Manila to be educated at a convent. Guerrero enjoyed art, poetry and music and actively participated on sports teams.[5] She was described by many as attractive, lively and jolly.[6] On April 21, 1934, she married an affluent medical student, Renato Maria Guerrero, the son of a renowned doctor, Manuel Severino Guerrero. She was sixteen years old, and he was twenty-six. They had a daughter two years later.[5] In 1941, Guerrero was diagnosed with Hansen's disease (leprosy).[6] Her husband immediately moved out, and she was separated from their daughter.[7][8] Having leprosy at the time was a stigma.[7] . . As the Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1942, there was a shortage of medical supplies.[7] Guerrero lost access to medication; she felt hopeless and depressed until she decided that if she was going to die, she would die with honor.[7] She reached out to a friend, expressing her desire to become a soldier, and tracked down a man who was a member of the resistance. Guerrero was twenty-four. The man responded that they did not accept children. Guerrero retorted that he would be surprised what children can do, reminding him that Joan of Arc was a young girl. She joined as a spy,[9] working as a courier to deliver important news about the war to Filipinos.[5] She memorized the appearances of the Imperial Japanese army men and reported their troop movements.[9] As Guerrero's disease worsened, the Japanese soldiers who were aggressive towards her avoided her as soon as they saw the telltale lesions on her skin. The Japanese frequently conducted full body searches of Filipinos, but they left Guerrero alone when she told them of her disease.[7] Guerrero successfully transmitted secret messages, information, weapons, and vital supplies to the resistance and soldiers.[2] Her tasks later escalated to mapping out Japanese gun emplacements and fortifications.[5] On September 21, 1944, the Americans successfully used her map to crush the Japanese defenses in Manila Harbour.[7] Months later, Guerrero was sent on her most dangerous mission—to bring a map of minefields to American headquarters, 35 miles (56 km) away. The map would help ensure the safety of the Americans as they proceeded to Manila to end the Japanese occupation. Guerrero accepted the task. She walked and reached the town of Hagonoy 25 miles (40 km) into her journey. The area was an active combat zone; she rode a boat which had to outrun river pirates. After landing on the coast, she walked 8 miles (13 km) to her final destination, Calumpit, and realized that the Americans had already progressed to Malolos. She walked further to Malolos and gave the map to Captain Blair of the 37th Infantry Division. She suffered paralyzing fatigue and headaches throughout her journey.[5][7] At the Battle of Manila, Guerrero tended wounded soldiers and civilians and carried children to safety, all while avoiding flying bullets.[7] . . . .