Simone de Beauvoirs Feminist Perspectives Evident in Dekada 70 and

Para kay B along setting, characters, themes, motifs and language

Character. The characters are the persons represented in a dramatic or

narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with particular

moral, intellectual, and emotional qualities by inferences from what the persons

say and their distinctive ways of saying it the dialogue and from what they do

the action (Abrams, 1999).

In Lualhati Bautistas novel Dekada 70, the main characters are Amanda

and Julian Bartolome, their sons Jules, Gani, Em, Jason and Bingo; Ganis wife

Evelyn and Jules wife Mara.

Amanda Bartolome. Amanda is the primary character and narrator in the

novel. She is the wife of an engineer and a mother of five boys. As keeper of the

house, her major concerns are the management of household affairs, the needs

of the family and organization of the family's economic, spiritual, and physical

(health) life (Sevilla, 1989). Like in most Filipino middle-class families, Amandas

full-time job was to be a stay-at-home mom who dotes on her children and attends

to all her husbands needs. Growing up in a feudal household, she was pre-

conditioned to believe that women were secondary to men and that women exist

to merely serve them. Her father also deemed that education is only for men and

that a womans role is merely at home. This household orientation expectedly acts
as a barrier to active and meaningful participation in community or social activities

that improve womens lot (Sevilla, 1989).

According to de Beauvoir, in a patriarchal society, man defines what it is to

be human and even what it is to be female. Relating this to Amanda, all her life,

men have told her what to say and how to act. She has been told to keep her

thoughts to herself, to stay quiet when her opinion is not wanted and to just do

what her husband demands. For this reason, in the first part of the story, Amanda

is seen as rather docile and timid towards the people around her. Much of her

thoughts, ideas and feelings are bottled up for fear of being ostracized and

misunderstood. For instance, when Amanda expressed her interest in getting a job

and consulted one of her husbands colleagues, Julian takes it as an insult to his

pride and an attack on his masculinity. Because of her fear of getting hurt and

disrupting the order in their family, Amanda opted to stay silent rather than to stand

up for herself. Just like the majority of the women at that time, she chose to remain

as the typical submissive housewife whose sole purpose is to bear children and

serve their husbands.

Aside from their lives being controlled, women, during that time, did not

have the right over their own bodies. Women were still bound by societal

constructs forcing them to embody the stereotypical Maria Clara the shy, diffident

and puritanical Filipina (Torres, 1985). It was taboo for women to flirt or to become

too forward in a relationship. Hence, any form of self-assertion takes away from

ones femininity and seductiveness (de Beauvoir, 1949).

Anut anuman, nong mga panahong yon ay hindi basta

nagpapaganon ang disenteng babae hanggat wala pa
 siyang kasamiyento, wala pang lisensiya para paganon, at
hanggang sa ikasal kami ni Julian ay hindi ko naranasang
mahalikan man lang ng ibang lalaki.
Back then, women were also told they were not supposed to think about

sex because it would lead to masturbation and would cause skin problems.

Moreover, women were constantly reminded of their innate danger to men as the

seductive Eve and were relentlessly exhorted to follow an impossible model the

Virgin mother (Lopez-Rodriguez, 1990). In the novel, the discussion about

kahinhinan between Julian and Amanda defines the function (trabaho) of a wife in

a middle-class Catholic household as a virtuous, modest woman who preserves

the sanctity of the home by preserving her own (Siapno, 1995). During an

argument, Julian calls Amanda mahinhin

"Masyado kang mahinhin, di ba? Masyado kang inhibited!"

Mahinhin is an adjective which is used to describe passivity and demure

behaviour and is associated with the preservation of moral values, applied only to

women (Siapno, 1995). Earlier in the book, Amanda tells the reader that she too

wants to "undress" herself of kahinhinan;

Gusto ko rin maghubad ng kahinhinan, Julian pero natatakot

akong mag-alala ka na baka kung ano nang nangyari sa kin!

Amanda wanted to be more daring and bold in her actions but is afraid of

being judged. Those who seek the freedom to be in control or to express sexuality

were shunned by society and were considered low-class, cheap and easy. On the

other hand, men do not suffer the same stereotyping and discrimination. This

gender ideology imposed was heavily paternalistic, with women largely deprived
of human rights and told time and again that they were to be secondary and

subordinate to men (Owen, 2000).

Pero pag hindi nahiyang maghubad ang babae, hindi kaya isipin ng
lalaki na sanay na siyang paganon, na mababang uring babae siya?

After many years, however, Amanda has grown tired of simply bowing her

head down and doing whatever shes told. In this excerpt, the reader sees the

beginning of Amanda's critical questioning of her weakness and her desire for a

life beyond the domesticated role of wife and mother:

Sa loob ng dalawamput pitong taon ng pagiging asawa koy hindi

ako ganap na umunlad bilang tao. Nanganak lang akot naging ina
at wala na. Tumigil na ko sa pagiging ganon. Nawala na ko
pagkatapos nyon.
Nagsilbing bantay na lang ako sa paghanap at pagkatagpo ni Julian
ng katuparan niya bilang tao, sa paglaki ng mga batat pagtuklas ng
kanilang kakayahan at kahalagahan.
Sa proseso nito, walang nag-abalang magtanong kung ano kaya ang
mga kaangkinan ko naman ko naman. Ni ako, hindi ko alam kung
ano pa ba ako liban sa asawat ina.

Amanda begins to see her worth as a woman and begins to question

societys views on women as well. She realizes that even if women were chained

or made to wear chastity belts, they still possess a kind of freedom that can never

be taken by anyone: the freedom to think. Finding herself trapped in and seeking

to transcend the domesticated roles of wife and mother, Amanda eventually

comes to the ambivalence-laden realization that the only way she can express

herself is through her (autoerotic) sexuality (Siapno, 1995). She then decides to

finally speak out and demand to be treated with respect and dignity.
 Hinarap ko na siya. Ibig kong sabihin, ayoko nang maging
doormat mo lang. Taga-abot ng tsinelas mo, taga-timpla ng
kape mo! Sa kagaganon, nawala tuloy ako, naging walang
klaseng tao ko! Habang panahong nanay na lang! Habang
panahong asawa mo lang! Pinaghubad pag gusto mo,
pinahiga pag gusto mo, ginanon kung kelan mo gusto!
Napaiyak na ko. Diyos ko, ito ang mga bagay na hindi ko
dapat sabihin! Bakit hindi pag gusto ko?
Her refusal to stay as her husbands doormat allowed her to reinforce her

place in their marriage and redefine her sexual identity as a woman capable of

tenderness and strength. Amanda finally understood that unless women confront

issues directly affecting them, their full and equal participation in the movement for

democracy and economic emancipation will not be possible nor their liberation as

women be insured (Camagay, 1985). Through confronting her problems head-on

instead of staying quiet and through refuting the patriarchal structures (i.e. the

Catholic Church and the state) which have socialized her to believe that her full

capacity as a person is limited to being a wife and mother (Libed, 2010), Amanda

was able to break the bonds of patriarchal society.

In the past, Amandas day to day life revolves around taking care of her

husband, pampering their children and looking after their home. Aside from

household chores, however, she also manages their finances and is in charge of

menial tasks such as buying her childrens school supplies and even making

arrangements for Ganis wedding. But even with all her hard work, she is still

unappreciated and taken for granted. Her services were not considered as an

economic activity but as a labour of love which did not need qualifications or reward

(James, 1985). Hence, for many years in the Bartolome household, Amanda felt
that she has been treated as a live-in maid instead of an important member of the

family.

Napahindig ako. Hindi dahil pinagbagsakan niya ko ng pinto

kundi dahil sa bitaw niya ng salita na porke lalake siyay siya
ang boss! At porke babae koy tauhan lang niya ko?
Pero kahit ano pang galit ko, iyon ang malungkot na
katotohanan sa amin. Tagatimpla lang naman talaga ko ng
kape ni Julian, a. Tagamasahe pag masakit ang likod niya.
Live-in maid.
Hindi tuloy ako makatulog. Binabalisa ko ng usaping may
kinalaman sa magulang na pagraranggo sa lalakit babae. Sa
unang pagkakataon sa loob ng dalawampung taong nagdaan,
gusto kong pagsisihan na naging nanay lang ako ng mga
anak ni Julian!
However, as the story progressed, Amanda began to question the limited

and passive role she played in her family and in the community. As her sons grew

into adults and go on with their separate lives without her, she begins to notice

how she has been left with nothing that her housekeeping had done nothing to

improve her growth and development as a person. This feeling of worthlessness

grew deeper as Amanda began to compare herself to her daughters-in-law, Evelyn

and Mara who, unlike her, have lives outside of being a wife and a mother. Meeting

these two distinct women made her re-evaluate her own situation and realize how

unhappy and unsatisfied she truly is with her routine life. This bitter realization has

caused Amanda to see women from a different perspective such as her thinking

of childbearing as a powerful tool that men cannot take away from women. With

this new perspective, Amanda gains a refined sense of understanding and

boldness in her thoughts and actions. She lets go of the timid and quiet nature

enforced upon her by men and starts standing up for herself.

 Tagisan kami ng mata, si Julian at ako. May nakasungaw
nang galit sa mata niya, may galit din sa mata ko. Sinigawan
ko siya. Nabigla ako, pero hindi ako hihingi ng paumanhin.

Bat ako hihingi ng paumanhin? Nagsasawa na ko na puro

akong tagadala ng problema, ako lagi ang punong-abala,
puro akin ang dirty work!

Nag-uumpisang mabigyan ko ng paliwanag ngayon kung

bakit bigla na lang may mga isiping sumusulpot sa isip tulad
ng pagkaisip ko sa panganganak bilang isang kapangyarihan
na babae lang ang mayroon. Dahil all along, si Julian ang
boss dito sitting pretty lang kahit kandaluhod ako sa dami
ng problemang pasan ko!

Unbeknownst to Amanda, her husband had already been noticing some

changes in her attitude. Julian has noticed that his once agreeable and timid wife

is now defying his orders and talking back to him. For instance, when he invited

her to bed one night, Amanda stubbornly declined. She would also pester him with

questions regarding his views on women. Like most people in society, Julian thinks

that a womans only purpose in life is to be a wife and a mother. A woman is not

expected to go beyond those roles. He believes that there is no need for women

to aspire for success since they have their families to take care of. But Amanda

adamantly disagrees with her husband, she insists that for most women, being a

wife and a mother is not enough.

Julian: Napakaraming importanteng bagay para sa

isang lalaki: ang kanyang trabaho, ang kanyang
ambisyon, ang gutom niya sa lakas at
kapangyarihan. Sa babae, tama na ang
kanyang asawat anak.
Amanda: Hindi totoo yon, mabilis na tutol ko.
Julian: Pag-aralan mong mabuti.
Amanda: Ikaw ang mag-aral ng mabuti! Hindi totoo yon,
Kung totoo man yon ay sa ibang babae lang,
hindi sa lahat!
 At first, Amanda could not convince her husband to think otherwise. Over

the years, Filipinos were socialized into the firm belief that womanhood was

equated with home, husband, and children (Torres, 1985). Thus, he would still

insist this traditional belief that a womans place is in the house. But she would

have none of it she would get into arguments with him just to prove her point.

Julian assumes this change in Amandas attitude has something to do with his wife

losing her affection for him. She tells him that it was not the case; she has merely

realized her worth as a woman and as a person. Naturally, Amandas outbursts

came as a shock to her husband who is used to being the boss in the house. After

years of discontent, she finally broke her silence and was able to realize that she

is free to do and say whatever she wants.

Amanda: Inulit ko. "Gusto ko nang humiwalay sa 'yo."

Julian: At lalo na siyang hindi magkantututo sa
sasabihin. "I... a... h-hi... pero... Bakit? My God,
A-manda, anong nangyayari sa 'yo? May
dinaramdam ka ba or something?"
Amanda: Gusto ko matuwa sa pagkagulat niya. "Wala,"
umiling ako. "Maayos ang pakiramdam ko.Ang
totoo, ngayon lang umayos ng ganito ang
pakiramdam ko. No'n ko pa gustong sabihin sa
'yo 'yan. No'n ko pa gustong gawin."
After so many years of suppressing her feelings, Amanda was finally able

to speak out against her husband and express how tired and unhappy she is with

their marriage. Despite having these sentiments for a long time, she stayed silent

out of fear and uncertainty. But now, she is no longer afraid and hesitant to think

and consider her wellbeing and her happiness. In her own little way, Amanda was

able to define herself and not ascribe to the definition given by men. She was
able to transcend by realizing her worth, refusing her previous passive role in her

family and exercising her freedom.

For years, Amanda was just a simple housewife. Aside from doing her

motherly duties, she did not have any other businesses to take care of. Since she

is usually stuck at their home, she did not concern herself with the news or current

events. The only news she knows are the usual chismis she gets from her

kumares. That is why when it came to important matters and events happening in

the country, Amanda is rather oblivious. Her knowledge and awareness of current

political and social issues were quite limited that when she had to deal with her

eldest sons sudden fixation on subversive articles and songs, she had no choice

but to seek help from her husband whom she deemed as more capable of handling

this type of situation. Aside from socio-political issues, Amanda is also clueless

when topics about the arts, culture, business, and literature are being discussed.

Despite her efforts to engage in these types of conversations, her lack of familiarity

in these departments hinder her from contributing to discussions such as in

Chapter 2;

Amanda: Sining, kultura, pangkabuhayan at panlipunang

mga balita wala akong nalalaman diyan. In
fact, nang minsang tangkain kong
magcontribute sa isang pagkikipagkuwentuhan
ni Julian sa mga kaalyado niya kung saan
nabanggit si Amado Hernandez, nagkamali pa
ko.
Kala ko kasi talaga, libro niya yong He Who
Rides the Tiger.
Nagtawanan ang mga bisita ni Julian, at
tiningnan ako ni Julian ng masamang tingin
 Julian: Hwag ka ngang sasali sa mga usapang hindi
mo naman naiintindihan.
But this all changed with her sons involvement with politics. Jules, her

eldest son, left their home to become an activist and joined the communist New

Peoples Army while, on the other hand, his brother Em called for change through

the form of expression by writing articles exposing the injustices in the country.

Because of the paths her sons chose, Amanda had no choice but to delve into the

world of Philippine politics. As martial law progresses, the Bartolomes realize that

they are no different from the rest of the country in that their upper-middle class,

nuclear family status is not enough to protect them. This was also heightened when

her fourth son, Jason, was brutally murdered at the hands of authorities. Before

she knows it, her household, like the rest of the Philippine state, also becomes a

site for militarization. Yet, it is this militarized setting of the home and personal

experience with violence that gives a woman like Amanda an opportunity to

expand her consciousness as not only a citizen but as a woman as well (Libed,

2010).

Maaaring hindi pa ako mulat ayon sa depinisyon ni jules, pero mayron na

rin akong kamalayan sa mga pangyayaring kinasasangkutan ng mas
malawak na bilang ng mga mamamayang Pilipino.
As she understood more about the corruption and injustices in the

government, Amanda grew to accept and support her sons cause. She welcomed

Jules and his companions in their home whenever the wounded needed treatment

and whenever they needed a place to stay or hide from the police. In addition,

when Em rescued a little girl from a bloody massacre, Amanda did not think twice
to adopt and care for her. Through her efforts, the Bartolome household became

a hospital, an orphanage and a temporary refuge for the revolutionaries.

Nasisiyahan akong maging pansamantalang ina at yaya ng mga sugatan

pero matapang na tao ng kasalukuyang panahon.
Natuklasan ko sa kanila na mayroon pa akong silbi, may magagawa pat
maiaambag sa mundong ito.
De Beauvoir asserts that capabilities are clearly manifested only when they

have been realized. Amanda, through her own strength and hard work, finally

realizes her true calling. In the end, she eventually finds her place and purpose in

society by being a mother and a nurse to those in need. She used her motherly

nature which was first seen as a weakness and turned it into her new found

strength. Thus, Amanda was able to assert herself in the arenas of politics,

society, education, and arts.

Julian Bartolome, Sr. He is the husband of Amanda and the head of the

Bartolome household. He is a good man and a good father if measured by the

money that he puts in the table. As the sole breadwinner, he works as an engineer

to support his family in maintaining their upper middle-class lifestyle. At first glance,

Julian seems to embody the typical Filipino machismo brave, aggressive,

independent and good at controlling their emotions (Dionisio, 1994). Amanda

describes him as one who exuded confidence and carried himself with dignity and

class.

However, early on, Julian can be considered as rather sexist and

chauvinistic because of his prejudiced views on women. Just as de Beauvoir

stated, representation of the world is the work of men; they describe it from their
own point of view, which they then confuse with absolute truth. He believes that

the world they live in is a man's world wherein boys, not girls, were created to lord

over the mountains and rule the seas (Bautista, 1988). He also stubbornly adheres

to the gender roles wherein women are tasked with the primary responsibility of

caring for the children and the home, while men are only in charge of providing

income (Dionisio, 1994). Hence, from their eldest son to their youngest, he did not

bother to help his wife with the children and with the household chores even during

the time she was still recovering. When confronted about it, hiring a maid was

always his solution to the problem.

Maid: yon ang solusyon niya lagi sa mga problema sa mga

ganong pagkakataon. Kailangan natin ng maid.
O si Mama. Kailangang papuntahin natin dito si Mama.
Minsay naiisip ko na hindi kaya porke babae ang mama koy
hindi rin ganon kalaki ang paggalang niya rito.

Aside from the aforementioned masculine qualities, men also strive for

dominance men were not real men unless they dominated weaker individuals

regardless of gender (Valledor-Lukey, 2012). At home, men solidified their roles

as fathers and heads of the household by keeping their families in order. They

took their role as the dominant gender in public and brought it to the private space

to highlight the gendered hierarchy (Libed, 2010). In the Bartolome household,

Julian reigns with an iron fist; he makes the rules and always has the final say in

major decisions. He would also dismiss Amandas opinions and take no interest in

her likes and fancies. So when Amanda wanted to have a job in public relations,

she had to ask permission from him. But he did not allow his wife to work because

having a job would keep her outside the home and threaten his sense of
masculinity. When things do not go his way or when Amanda talks back to him,

Julian would resort to intimidation and emotional battering.

At ayusing mong timbre ng salita mo, Amanda, pag akong

kausap mo! Baka nakakalimutan mo: ako ang lalaki sa tin!
sabay labas ng kwarto. At balabag ng pinto.
In truth, no one is more arrogant toward women, more aggressive or

scornful, than the man who is anxious about his virility (de Beauvoir, 1949). These

qualities and traditional beliefs of Julian are indicative of his rich family background

and reminiscent of his traditional Spanish roots which ingrained to him that women

have no place in business or politics (Bautista, 1988) and that women are

subordinate to men. Thus, signifying man as the subject and women as the other;

the subject as the absolute while the other is the inessential (de Beauvoir, 1949).

Julians negative views on women mirror that of the countrys patriarchal society

and contradict de Beauvoirs perspectives wherein women must assert themselves

in the arenas of politics, society, education and arts. He believes that it is

impossible for women to go against men for they have dominion over the world.

Aside from being a traditionalist when it comes to gender roles, Julian is

also a staunch nationalist who supports President Marcos. Despite the

questionable political choices Marcos made, he is still pro-government which is

why he gets into a lot of debates with his son Jules regarding political and societal

issues. He then tries to divert from subversive topics so his other sons won't be

influenced by Jules leftist political beliefs. However, Amanda noticed that Julian no

longer had heated conversations with his son; not because he lost interest in the

countrys political issues, but because Jules kept rebutting his arguments. But,
although their political views differ, the two still respect each others beliefs and

principles.

Perhaps being steadfast and committed to his principles is one of Julians

redeeming qualities. Early on, he can be seen as the kind of person to have strong

principles and will stand by them no matter what happens (Libed, 2010). He is also

shown to have restraint in his actions; despite being infuriated, he does not beat

his wife nor his kids. But along with power and strength, came shortcomings. The

stereotypical macho Filipino man is considered to be emotionally unavailable as to

show emotion and vulnerability is to be effeminate (Aguiling-Dalisay, 1995).

Hence, Julian was also perceived as a typical man who does not show his

emotions nor talk about his feelings. In the end, however, Julian became open with

his feelings and frustrations with being a father.

Ina ako, Julian.

Biglang bangon si Julian. Amanda,ama ako! Mga anak ko
yan! May damdamin din ako sa kanila!
But apart from being able to show his vulnerable side, the most drastic

development in Julians character is his changed perception on women. After

seeing his wifes own development and transformation into a more independent

and resolute woman, he was able to realize her capability and her worth. He

now believes that women can become independent members of society and

be able to define themselves without mans help. By the end of the novel,

Julians attitude and treatment towards Amanda improved considerably. This is

highlighted when Julian tells her that Its a womans world, too. Further, he was
able to support Amanda in her mission to serve and aid the victims of militarization.

Instead of dismissing her desire to work, Julian asserted her place in society.

Julian Jules Bartolome, Jr. The oldest son, Jules, is a compassionate

person who deeply cares about and is drawn to the plight of the less fortunate

(Libed, 2010). When he was still studying, he was very active in his university and

was even part of the student council. As a student leader and activist, Jules

participated in rallies and protests ranging from criticizing the authoritative nature

of the school administration to U.S. imperialism in the Philippines. Although he was

noble and valiant, his mother questions how her son who lived in the comforts of

their subdivision and who never experienced hardship in his life be interested in

leftist politics.

At first, his parents would scold him and advise him to cease his subversive

activities. However, after his friends death from a police encounter, his parents

could not stop him from leaving and joining the guerrilla. When Jules left to become

part of the revolution, he does not realize his actions would bring danger to his

family. But it was his involvement with the New Peoples Army that impelled his

mother to learn about the political status of the country. Though it was

unintentional, Jules had a hand in Amandas national and feminist consciousness.

Thus, Amanda was able to find her place in the community and become

relevant in society through his help.

While in the NPA, Jules met Mara, a woman who was also part of the

revolutionary. Later on, the two got married and had a son together. However, their
relationship is cut short when Jules was caught and imprisoned at Camp Crame.

But unlike his father, Jules trusts his wife and is fine with her being away from him.

He thinks that Mara is fully capable of taking care of herself and their son. He does

not see her as weak and as someone who needs to be protected but instead

recognizes her strength and self-reliance. In summary, Jules does not treat his

wife as his subordinate but rather, as his equal.

Isagani Gani Bartolome. Gani is the second son in the Bartolome

household. After he finished high school, he only planned to take 18 units in college

and then join the United States Navy. This resulted to a fight with Jules; unlike his

brother, Gani is not as politically or socially radical. He only planned to join the

Navy because of the good benefits and pay the U.S. military provides. But before

he had done any of these, Gani got his girlfriend, Evelyn pregnant. In order for both

Ganis and Evelyns families to save face, the young couple weds before their child

is born.

While living together, the couple would often get into fights. Since his wife

would not back down during their arguments, Gani feels that Evelyn does not have

respect for him. He tells Amanda that he is envious of their relationship because

she and Julian were rarely seen fighting. He assumes that it is because his dad

was in control of the marriage. He sees his father as a masculine role model and

as the image of an ideal husband. Since he is the opposite, Gani feels insecure

and is full of self-doubt.

Luma pa rin ako kay Dad. Minsan, naiisip ko, wala yatang respeto
sa kin si Evelyn, e. Mahinang klase yata ako.
 He believes that Evelyn, as his wife and as a woman, should be obedient

to him since he is a man and is the head of the household. But after Evelyn

gave birth to their daughter, Gani realizes that he truly cared about his wife. He

then leaves for military duty with the U.S. Navy to give his family a better life. He

urged them to follow him and live in the U.S. but Evelyn decided to stay and

continue working in the country. As a result, the couple grew apart and eventually

broke up. Despite being hurt, he did not force his wife to do what he wanted.

In the end, Gani respected Evelyns decision to end their marriage and remain in

the Philippines.

Emmanuel Em Bartolome. The Bartolomes third son, Em, is deemed

as the smartest in the family. He has similar political and social views as his eldest

brother, Jules, but instead of becoming an activist, Em chooses to fight through

journalism. He writes articles on workers demonstrations, trade unions, political

graft, etc. However, his stories rarely get published in mainstream print media

because the state implemented media censorship during martial law (Libed, 2010).

Em also writes articles for the leftist, underground newspapers that Jules would

help put together and distribute. Just like his brother, Ems inclination to political

and social issues lead to Amandas enlightenment and awareness.

It was Em who made Amanda realize that because she was in a well-off

family, she could not understand the situation (elaborate!!!).

 Jason Bartolome. The fourth son, Jason, is described as a charming,

mischievous teen with a magnetic personality. Although he usually gets in trouble

for breaking curfews and getting bad grades, he is still loved by his parents. In fact,

he is Julians favourite because they share the same charismatic personality. For

Amanda, no matter what childish antics he pulls, he is essentially a good son.

Jason cared for his mother so much that he always gave her gifts with images of

kittens because it was his moms favourite. Unfortunately, it was his murder which

became the catalyst for his mothers nationalist and feminist awakening.

Because of her sons death through the hands of authorities, Amanda vowed to

get justice for him.

Benjamin Bingo Bartolome. As the youngest of the Bartolome clan,

Bingo is playful and fun-loving. Compared to what his brothers have gone through,

his youthful innocence is a breath of fresh air for his parents. As a child growing

up during martial law, his parents, especially his mother, does a decent job in

preventing the militarized violence from touching him directly (Libed, 2010). Amidst

the chaos and disorder in society, Amanda still hoped that Bingo would have a

normal childhood. It was his brothers activities, however, that exposed him to

politics and the dangers of the authoritarian state. But despite being young, Bingo

was, to a certain degree, aware of the situation his family was in. If there were

things he did not understand, he would often ask his parents.

Sabi ni Dad: wala raw kuwenta sa communist country. Kung

mayaman ka, kukunin lahat ng kayamanan mo.
Sinabi yon ni Dad
Parang ganon na rin dahil sabi ni Dad, lahat daw ng
kayamanan don, lahat ng puhunan, gobyerno ang may-ari.
Lahat ng tao, nagtatrabaho.
 Di mabuti! Para walang tamad.
Pati babae, Mom?
So what? Mabuti nga, pati babae, kasama sa pag unlad.
Kahit may anak kang maliit?

It was during her conversation with Bingo that Amanda realizes she shares

the same political and social leanings as Jules. Further, it was through Amandas

children that she was able to assume the position as the protector of her family; a

role which is commonly played by the father.

Evelyn. She is the wife of Amandas second son, Gani. Despite being too

young, the two were forced by their parents to get married. Since Evelyn was

already pregnant, the couple had no choice but to carry on with the wedding.

Although Evelyn lived at the Bartolomes house, she still fought regularly with her

husband.

Because of her brash and stubborn nature, her husband is often intimidated.

Even though Evelyn is a woman, she does not easily submit to her husbands

demands. Unlike Amanda, she does not just keep quiet but prefers to fight for what

she wants. This was evident when she still opted to pursue a career even though

her husband was already earning well as a Navy officer. In addition, she decided

not to follow Gani in the United States and remained here in the Philippines to

continue her job. It can be discerned that Evelyn, while being a woman, a wife and

a mother, was still able to become independent, exercise her freedom and

become a relevant person in society by being part of the workforce. Evelyn

can be seen as a representation of a modern Filipina daring, independent and

obstinate.

Mara. She is described as a woman who is smart, strong-willed and full of

conviction. She shares the same principles and political views with her husband,

Jules as they are both part of the rebel group trying to overthrow the government.

At first glance, Mara seems like the total opposite of Amanda. Although they are

both women, Mara does not conform to the gender roles imposed by society

wherein women are perceived as timorous, passive and emotionally dependent

(Dionisio, 1994). She is not afraid to speak her mind and voice out her thoughts.

Amanda envies this quality of hers which can be gleaned during Maras

conversation with Julian.

Pero sino ang may gusto ng digmaan? sasabihin niya. Hindi

magandang pangitain ang pagdanak ng dugo, iha.
Si Mara, hindi siya natatakot sumagot kay Julian. Hindi siya
natatakot tumingin dito ng tuwid.
Ang mga kabilang sa naghaharing uri hindi sila kailanman
pagmumulan ng tunay na pagbabago. Kahit ngayon lalo
ngayon halos lahat ng batas ay pumapabor sa mga
dayuhang korporasyon at naglalakihang kompanya.
Well, dear meron tayong Ministry of Labor, para sa
karaingan ng mga mangangawa
Meron din tayong total banning of all strikes, mahinahong
sagot ni Mara.
Pero pag may strike ay natitigil nang husto ang
produksiyon
Strike lang ang pinaka-epektibong sandata ng mga
mangagawa Matalino siya at matatag tumingin at
sigurado sa kanyang sarili, si Mara. At sa loob ng sarili ko,
nawi-wish ko na sanay gaya niya ako.

Despite being a woman, she is well aware of the socio-political issues in the

country and has no problem getting involved in these issues. She used to work at
a factory but now she partakes in cultural presentations, political rallies and

protests. Even though politics at that time was heavily dominated by men, this did

not hinder Mara in taking part in revolutionizing the country. Being a part of the

workforce and joining the revolutionaries enabled her to take an active role in the

community. Therefore, unlike Amanda, she is able to assert herself in the social

and political arena despite it being patriarchal in nature.

Para kay B

Irene Magsinoc. The first chapter of Para kay B is about a woman named

Irene with a unique photographic memory. The story starts with Irene hanging out

with her friends, Brenda and Susan, at a coffee shop. They are asking Irene to

show Donald, a call-center agent they are pairing her up with, her skill in

memorizing. In one look, she memorized the menu of the coffee shop and the

prices for each dish, as well as calculated the sum total of the prices. Donald, along

with everyone in the caf, was astounded. She explains how her brain has a filing

system which allows her to remember certain bits of information only when she

needs it. However, she has one memory she could never control which pops up in

her head at random, even when she does not want it to. It was a memory of the

events that happened in 1994 in her hometown, San Ildefonso.

At an early age, Irene had gone through a series of difficulties in her life.

Her mother died when she was just ten years old while her father married again to

Aling Siony. Just like Cinderella, she was mistreated by her stepmother who, with
her two children, took over Irenes home and forced her to stay in a tiny room.

Irenes uncanny resemblance with her mother, Elena, was the reason her

stepmother hated her so much.

Wirdo yang anak mo ha, sabi ni Siony, ang kanyang madrasta.

Mataba ito at lubog ang ulo sa mga balikat. Dalhin mo kaya sa circus!
Saka nagtawa.

Sick of being treated badly by Aling Siony, Irene would often play pranks to

get back at her. One time she placed her mothers picture on her father and

stepmothers bed. Her father did not allow her to return home that day which she

actually preferred. Since Irene did not have any friends, she would spend most of

her time alone, walking around the town of San Ildefonso or staying by the lake,

watching the Ignacio Lumber Corporation cut down trees in the nearby forest.

Because of her habit of solving math equations in her head and randomly blurting

out the answer, the people in San Ildefonso call her a weirdo. Instead of

appreciating Irenes unique ability and intelligence, everyone in her town, including

her own family, makes fun of her and calls her a freak. But one day, Irene finds the

courage to approach the ill-tempered Jordan whom she impressed using her

photographic memory.

Jordans parents were accused of being NPA sympathizers and were then

killed by unknown assailants. He survived the attack and since then, he was taken

in by the parish priest, Fr. Zuiga. When Irene befriended Jordan, it was the first

time since the death of his parents that someone was being nice to him. Similarly,

it was the first time since her mothers death that Irene felt appreciated by

someone. Because of the similar situation they were in, the two soon felt a strong
bond that eventually got disrupted due to an unfortunate series of events. After a

fight with the Mayors son, Jordan was forced to leave San Ildefonso. But before

he left, Jordan gives Irene a cheap watch with a promise that someday he will

marry her.

Years passed and Irene never heard of Jordan again. She tried to forget

him by loading her brain with countless memories but she never could. After she

finished high school, she left her hometown and went to Manila to study Statistics.

In college, she entered different non-government organizations and joined in

rallies. But since she did not want to be known for just being a rallyist, she became

the opposite of the feminine, and shy Maria Clara ideal the exciting, independent

and intelligent contemporary Filipina (Banzon-Bautista, 1989).

Kaya pinaiksi niya ang bestida at ang buhok, ipinagmalaki ang

malalaking boobs, nakipag-date sa kung sinu-sinong lalaki, and
being a woman of this age after all, she fucked around.
Being beautiful and intelligent, Irene gained a lot of attention from men. She

has had many relationships in the past but none have been successful. Her friends

blame the broken cheap watch Irene has been holding onto; they tell her that just

like the watch her heart has stopped working. Irene realizes that in her

relationships, there was always a feeling of tentativeness, as if she was looking for

something else. This also explains why she had an odd fixation in turning down

any man whose name starts with the letter J. When Susans co-worker, Donald,

casually mentioned that his full name was Jerome Donald, Irene never texted him

again; she feels that the letter J is only reserved for Jordan. Because of her

obsession with her childhood friend, Irene has never had a serious relationship

and her friends are growing impatient.

 Get real, girl! sabi ni Susan, 25 ka na!
You have to do something with your life! susog ni Brenda.

Irene questions why they think marriage is the only fate of women. Just

because Filipino society strongly encourages marriage as the ultimate destiny of

women (Banzon-Bautista, 1989) does not mean that those who are in their mid-

twenties and early thirties should be pressured into getting married. Also, she

thinks that if she and Jordan were truly meant for each other, they shall again be

brought together by fate.

On the next day, fate finally worked its magic, Irene meets Jordan in a hotel

lobby. After fourteen years, she notices just how much Jordan has changed. He

was like a completely different man the scar on his neck has faded, he has grown

taller and he had no memory, whatsoever, of Irene. She tried to let Jordan

remember his past, even showing him the watch he gave her but he could not

recall anything. He simply laughed at her, thinking she was making up the story.

In her final attempt to make him remember her, she brings him to a motel and

sleeps with him.

In the last chapter of the novel, it is revealed that Irene is only a fictional

character created by Lucas.

Sandra. The second chapter of Para kay B is about a 32 year-old mother

of three named Sandra who works as a cashier at Travellers Inn. She is a beautiful

and neatly dressed woman who is admired for being fair. She weighs both sides

equally and take things into perspective. After mediating an argument between a

janitor and a waiter at the hotel she was working at, Sandra meets the writer,
Lucas, who praises her for her fair-mindedness. She explains how, as a mother,

she is used to being the peacemaker especially when her children are quarrelling

with each other. Sandra then asks the writer about his work. He tells her that he is

writing a book featuring five love stories based on his theory that love has a quota.

He then asks her if she is willing to share her own love story so he could write

about it. Sandra was hesitant at first but eventually gave in after much convincing

from Lucas. Her only condition was for him to change her name in his version.

Her story happened fifteen years ago, when she was still a first year student

taking up Home Economics at a college in Quezon. Sandra was a beautiful girl

who had a lot of men pining after her. But because she did not want to break

anyones heart, she did not choose from her suitors. However, the real reason

why she rejected them was because she does not feel anything for them. She

wonders why she was not attracted to anyone when the answer finally hits her

upon meeting the gaze of her older brother, Lupe. One hot afternoon, when the

two were sent to their storage room to get some supplies for their mini-grocery,

she and her Kuya Lupe kissed. Sandra then realized she was in love with her

brother.

The two hid their relationship, sharing their intimate moments together in

the storage room until, one night their parents caught them. This resulted into a

fight with their father, but Sandra, who was paralyzed with fear, could not even

help her brother.

Nanghihinang natumba si Lupe. Awang-awang napatingin si Sandra.

Gusto niyang daluhan si Lupe pero ayaw gumalaw ng mga paa niya.
 Even when her brother was being beaten up to death by her father, Sandra

just watched and kept still out of fear of getting hurt.

Nagkatinginan sila ni Sandra. Nagsusumamo ang mga mata ni Lupe

kay Sandra pero nanginginig si Sandra sa takot. Lumapit and ama
nila at itinulak si Lupe paalis. Sandra! sigaw ni Lupe habang hila-hila
ng ama palayo. Sumama ka sa akin, Sandra!

Babaguhin ko ang buhay ko, iniisip ni Sandra habang nanginginig na

nakayuko at ini-imagine na umaalis na at palayo na nang palayo si
Lupe. Patawarin nyo po ako, babaguhin ko ang buhay ko.

According to de Beauvoir, since women are already deprived of the lessons

of violence, physical weakness disposes her to passivity. Moreover, woman's

weakness constituted a flagrant inferiority. Instead of saving her brother and

fighting for their relationship, Sandra chose to remain quiet and unmoved. Hence,

Sandras inability to help her own brother was a clear display of womens

weakness and powerlessness. When she became aware of her weakness, a great

part of her assurance crumbled (de Beauvoir, 1949).

After the incident, Sandra and her parents never heard of Lupe again. She

left for Manila to study vocational lessons and eventually dated a man named

Ruben. One night while they were on their way home from one of their dates, the

couple were mugged by a man who turned out to be her brother, Lupe. After that

fateful encounter, Sandra never spoke to Ruben again; she did not reply to his

messages, cancelled their plans and cut all communication with him. She then met

with her brother at a cheap hotel in Pasay. Just like before, Sandra and her brother

rekindled their relationship which lasted for a while, however, Lupe, afraid that he

will become a threat to his sisters life, decided to leave for good.
 When Sandra found out she was pregnant, she was afraid that the child will

have abnormalities. She only found relief after she gave birth to her daughter,

Belinda, and saw that the baby looked healthy and normal. During Belindas

christening, the priest wondered why Sandra was alone. When she became

pregnant, Sandra, afraid of what people will say about her, avoided her relatives

and close friends. Since motherhood can only be accepted within marriage, unwed

mothers and children out of wedlock are a social disgrace and suffer social

ostracism (Lopez-Rodriguez, 1990).

Walang nakaalam dahil mula nang magbuntis siyay umiwas na siya

sa mga kamag-anak at dating kaibigan. Mag-isa siyang nakatira sa
isang maliit na kwarto sa Sampaloc kasama ang kanyang baby.

Even after she gave birth, Sandra still kept going to the motel where she

and Lupe would meet. Until, one day, her ex-boyfriend Ruben came with a bouquet

of flowers. Sandra ended up getting married to Ruben and having two children with

him. Ruben, despite not being Belindas biological father, accepted her as his own

child. Their family then lived happily together but the day came when Sandra

received a call that a thief broke in their old house.