Gender Roles in the Philippines

Just like in every other culture, gender roles are prominent in the Philippines. In today’s world, the
stereotypical woman can be described as a stay at home mother and the stereotypical man can be
described as the moneymaker who provides for his family. The gender differences in the Filipino culture
can be seen in dating, marriage, education, workforce, and families. Before we delve further, we have to
take a moment to examine the change in genders roles that occur in the Philippines throughout history
and today.

As stated in an article written by Edgar Perez, during the year 1521 there were evidence that women were
able to divorce their husbands without any problems or costs. Women also had a central role in society.
Back then; the women in history were able to become political authorities. A shift in gender roles began
during the arrival of the Spanish (Perez, 2013). After the Spanish had arrived, they were stunned by how
much freedom the women had. During the colonization process, the Spanish rule affected gender
differences as the women began to adopt more of a traditional role (Perez 2013).

Continuing after Spanish Colonization, when Filipinos are born, they are immediately expected to play a
specific role in their lives. Filipino men are brought up to take after their fathers and the elder men in their
lives, as women are raised to become less dominating roles and take after their mothers/ elder women
("Gender Roles Within the Philippines"). However, in the modern Philippine society, changes and
constitutions are and have been made in order to shed a positive light in women’s gender role such as:
granting rights to women to be part of nation- building as well as being provided safe working conditions
taking account of maternal functions.

In family and labor life, the traditional roles of Filipino women are to work in gardens, care for the house,
care for the children because they are basically the pattern of conduct for the entire family (“Philippine
Culture”). On the other hand, Filipino men are in charge of cultivating land, and are categorized into the
more dominating roles in society (“Gender Roles Within the Philippines”). Overall it is seen that the men in
the Philippines hold a higher rank than women in regards to gender roles. The men are expected to have
more freedom and provide for their families, while the women usually stay at home and complete chores
as well as take care of the elderly and children of the household. However, in certain circumstances within
labor, men have the ability to work as nurses and teachers and women have the ability to become
attorneys and doctors.

In regards to gender roles in marriage, the Filipino culture does not take part in arranged marriages. The
average age for marriage in the Philippines is twenty-two. Couples who are married are expected to be
established in jobs as well as take care of their families or the education of their siblings.

I believe that every country in the world strives for gender equality. While the norm for gender might not
be as equal today, there are still changes and improvements that occur for a better medium in gender
roles. The dignity of women in different societies should be held up to a higher standard and needs to
grow in gender equality. Throughout the future, I believe that the Philippines will continue to build a
society and culture that will realize the capabilities of both sexes.
ANG DAGLI SA KASALUKUYAN

Karaniwang napagkakamalang katumbas ng flash fiction o sudden fiction sa Ingles ang dagli. Nguni't ayon sa panayam
kay Dr. Reuel Molina Aguila, naunang nagkaroon ng dagli sa Pilipinas (1900s) bago pa man nagkaroon ng katawagang
flash fiction na umusbong noong 1990. Maaari itong nagmula sa anyong pasingaw at diga ng magbabarkada kung kaya't
masasabing marami sa
mga probinsya at malalayong lugar ang nagkaroon ng ganitong paraan ng kuwentuhan.
Noong 2007, lumabas ang antolohiyang “Mga Kwentong Paspasan” na pinamatnugutan ni Vicente Garcia Groyon. Taong
2011 naman nang mailathala ang “Wag Lang Di Makaraos (100 Dagli Mga Kwentong Pasaway, Paaway at Pamatay)” ni
Eros Atalia kung saan, ayon sa blogger na si William Rodriguez, tinatalakay ang “samu’t saring pangyayari sa lipunan sa
paraang madaling unawain dahil simple lang ang paggamit ng wika.” Inilathala naman nitong Mayo 2012 ang koleksiyon
ng mga dagli ni Jack Alvarez na may pamagat na "Ang
Autobiografia ng Ibang Lady Gaga" na ayon kay Aguila: "Naiangat ni Jack Alvarez ang dagli sa isang sining ng paglikha ng
malaking daigdig mula sa maliit
at partikular na karanasan… Isang makabuluhang kontribusyon ito sa panitikan ng bansa.
Sa kasalukuyang panahon, ang dagli ay halos ihambing din sa tulang tuluyan, pasingaw, at proto-fiction o micro-fiction sa
Ingles.
Narito ang isang halimbawa ng dagli na isinulat ni Salvador R. Barros
"Tungkol sa mga bagay na pumapasok sa pandinig, ang lalaki, babae, at reporter ay may malaking ipinagkakaiba.”
"Ang pumapasok sa isang tainga ng lalaki ay lumalabas sa kabila.”
"Ang pumapasok sa dalawang tainga ng babae ay lumalabas sa bibig.”
"At ang pumapasok sa dalawang tainga ng reporter ay lumalabas sa pahayagan."

(Sampagita, 8 Nobyembre 1932)

Sa pagdaan ng panahon, maraming katawagang nagsulputan na hinango sa flash fiction. Batay sa naging karanasan ni
Abdon Balde Jr., isang manunulat, mula sa isang pulong ng lupon ng manunulat sa Pilipinas ay pinagtatalunan din kung
ano ang itatawag sa higit na pinaikling maikling kuwento. Lumabas ang “Mga Kuwentong Paspasan,” na inedit ni Vicente
Groyon noong 2007; ang mga kuwento ay walang sukat at karamihan ay lampas ng 150 salita. Si Vim Nadera ay
nagpanukala na ang dapat itawag ay Kagyat. Sabi ni Virgilio S. Almario, Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa Panitikan ay
maigi ang pangalang malapit sa Flash Fiction. Nang magpanukala si Michael Coroza ng Iglap ay saka naisip ni Abdon
Balde Jr. ang Kislap, Kuwentong ISang igLAP. Kung kaya ang naging bunga ng pag-uusap ay naisulat at nailathala ang
aklat na “Kislap” ng manunulat na si Abdon M. Balde Jr. Ang aklat na ito, ayon sa manunulat ay kalipunan ng mga
kuwentong maaaring umabot, maaaring hindi, ngunit hindi hihigit sa 150 salita.
Narito ang isang halimbawa ng KISLAP ni Abdon Balde Jr. na umabot sa 116 na salita.

HAHAMAKIN ANG LAHAT

Abdon M. Balde Jr.

(Sangguniin ang aklat na 100 KISLAP ni Abdon Balde Jr., p. 29 na inilathala ng ANVIL PUBLISHING, INCORPORATED upang
mabasa ang kabuuan ng dagling katha)

Matapos ang pagkakalathala ng 100 KISLAP ni Abdon Balde Jr. Sinundan naman ito ng pagkakalathala ng “Wag
Lang Di Makaraos” ni Eros Atalia na kinatatampukan ng kaniyang 100 Dagli. Ayon sa manunulat, halos tatlong taon din
niyang isinulat ang aklat. Mas nahirapan siyang isulat ito kaysa sa mga nauna niyang aklat na nalathala.
Narito ang isang Dagling Katha ni Eros Atalia mula sa pahayagang Pilipino Mirror na nalathala noong Oktubre 29,
2012. Una itong nailathala ng Visual Print Enterprises noong Disyembre, taong 2011.

SKYFAKES
Eros Atalia
(Sangguniin ang aklat na “WAG LANG DI MAKARAOS” na inilathala ng Visual Print Enterprises upang mabasa ang
kabuuan ng dagling katha)