St EkC c td of

shovtd& able ‹a: this chapt•r, the studenti

CSCr e AOW F!›0 FOIe

2, state a* cut thrcc,kin‹ls of Responses of

l ¥t WD flTfl ¥0. O }3I'CSSÏOR› Kfld

explain how oppreuion emerged in the

Philippine 5oCicty.

Pre-work la lhe Chopte›

Watch a fllm feaiuring the Philippine
Revolution Mo
could be Riel in Dapitan, H‹neral Leun, the
Sefies fäïi§xxn», Sakay, or any similar film.
Noticc the rolcs wonnen play and reflect on
the accuracy o( the portrayals. How
empowered ware tÏie women in these filrü si
 ”The ha‹aç orwoocn in ow •acicry should

PhttÎppin€t siEuaLÎon is uniqu at it i* routcd i!! the

of the country, The amid condition

peoplcc änd th«- testimonics of 5panish cf1ronic1rr,s. ’l’j„„

P or co Hispaoic colonizztion; it can rte

”8I•œJzolnaïion” bcrwccn sons
and .daü ¿h‹rr.s.
ttcÎzcn aqusÏÎy,n to rte poi»t

W”Ÿùscgua)ity regazdîng”divis”ion of irtl critai›«.

1 &also educated eqnally (sccording i‹›

A e point of first Spanish confaCt, s maJority

W ti( thr zÎzeir” own ”ord›ogrzphy. ”.lezual inl›ihi iun
usiztg
+t‹g d by in mazriagc wzs non univcrsaÎly valucJ, :in‹J .›«x cdui«tit›«

Mit£TÎage$ WefC drlaflgcd and a dnwry was [o:lit Ùy the

Amont ns ,@e æifc's fàmily. The women kept hcr name and, il’
.sltc ,*«s paczicularly meôtorioæ, Àe huiband mol her name
Bec.ausc cach
i &}¥O¢1sc I D/ ”her rela¢ionskip. with the ether spuoSc'S Ibn t\y,
I caclz. zo?fy mczobcz was z)so viewed an equal partner i» ntarrizye. I?
v«a ¥!tcx, waoca rao tlse housdiold and were mainly or €£tM»lIy
zǤpowib1c for zll zaajor decisions regarding the running of the
6ousehold. They also look pan in the negotiation of contracte o!/

the Spohi5h

I I
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 to ' Ac QoJß conccrning
optlon. Divorce was avnílable to
›¡gg hg•b«id u›d æïf•. end b»ch h,d бQtt I rigÏlø to ppperq and

b‘'n°.****° P n'* '* '*^P°'*°'*• ^° » ‹^ ù e economic life of the

and herveitiog,
xrt&°ä **- 8 P°**W' °'*: :°>d *ß' &omen -held a subøantŒ
agP*°•< •** >=#r• **P‹'* °''d •ven •smagcd the familp's land

cø$ØA@,șdșn**a. Womcn ^*8* noc diæ ¡o the public realm and

min .#b ' >d J3 liii clans. Hiaiorian Luis
Deiy need.,t nt wonen also fought aloiiJidc men in battle: and
many oomzĄi*ö Ö > >•^ °8 by them-cither x :dircci rulers,
cmtŁeri for @uR$ Æ4S› or jusi a$ inÊ uCntld people who cottÎd build
alliance$
or Ğ e outcomø of battles.
. . . .
TÎic iœson br Ğ iS lCvd of equali ty was gi ven by & d s 5antos-
hńAzgpAz.•. in Da Wàwm -AaÇ Hèłd UĄ Hałf the Sfiî.- Nacts x!n ıh•
JRgegr ñ fewmeur ix Ûr P!hìl'! ixrr.
, “ThØlocol pre-HlspOniC economics were gØored for sOciOl
use and to fulfil.cefioin kinship obllgofíons. Producłion was
not p%dicóted on exchange. There was no centralized
,!•!, ., , . . .., . . .. .
systam of the means of producłion. and the îamłly as
' ”’ "'! Ö unft hød fa faŃs charge ”oł its own neads. fulblling only
-'."' fhose that Ih membœs actually consumed. Thus. łhere
› ’\vas no need ło create relations of dependence or of
,, mxplolțełłon. In this, conłexf of social and procłuctive
,ș ., I@atlom, women had os much role and nghfs as
man. " Swcy łhe cončepf of pńvołe propërty
still had Io come olońg with the Spanish. üonqt/is/cióores.
”the concept of.womæ as poperfy of man had no social
bosìs for pdfitlng. However, the eoyș foms of
feuóołism had stQrfad fo føke roołs in some
communities, and clan›
atfUAhx¥ hot genrllnoted and wera well on their way ł

łasenfhe Packer ońô”Ińnuencø cf wo« » <

fiot‹/alg becö**** pofi of sociol and produc1i•e relat¡yyt
whËh had reed for”dependence”aï1dexploifotion.
Mamnm hi@lights an
we•nu wcm indepcndent b'ca•6è they dat cq6g ACC£S5 ä0•* cont‹j¿)
nf pmduoion resoü rcei. lt was n0‹ •n*il th• eonqu^st of ci.• Sp

ebnixos &at eoma htd bzcn subst/^*e* *‘** *^°’*” ’^-

Hiitoritn Eitelle Fmdman notes tha° when•**r women are
in»olvel» 4e.pnxla«lon offoodi 'h«* ' ° *'••• "'•° es^ality

. . . .
.E ndowedw ith fert¢e so il and di verse terrain, the
‘archipsiogo couid provide a variety of food fhroughoof
”ke year. Has, people fished o«d gathered food from
fha rivers ond thé. sea during fhe day season. hunted.
gathered, ofid planted on the land during the wet
”season: Within thase von»d economic activities,children
” and women |even when pregnant) could participate:
productioñ neifh‹sr required extrocfive nbr slave labor.”’
IB: tOfÏ8/'S Ë•ilipino Cömmunily, thtre iS Some njcasure
of eqaality xmong mcii and wonnen, espccially when women are
kivolwd @ oor anèvci inainlt rcspo>iblc for, the fa,ni1y'S income. ft

xad tBxt s j¡tï &aiOfÏ,aad iReqühy bccome an ¡ssue.

‹n*qtJBliCy bcvcei
mi ! ïlsped ië colonia
le° n!ltt-bconiki$niiy:

; (/ ‹milo:"lig in›fllUfe Of t¥ari1an*t Sfu‹ks‹: St, $Ch Ïoytlc0't ) ).

 ‘.„'. .2,k•9ä dd*• Å m(or chicú xin) and (Ö f
+•*+***"’”*c*a'txl P’**= i•a«*ș, a•6»șá • «om«o•Jy «h» to
i»Ávíduah whø have 'P'*" Lowledge or»^ unv«ru wia s
Dl1fi% Pfßú olnnial times,
u›Pl on- ù e penonz of womxx, said Eo be choscn by be spiriæ
a °e*gage Ac. unsetn of nature. A

These inÓviduals wcw

hexlen.who Cotlld speak to spirits and ‘negotiate for bltss'ings: avert
Predïc future evena, hed broken bodíes ziıd ipirit,

E6sen d * functioning of pre-Hispanic society, the ú nó @Ao

hdped people understand their cosmic order ro m«igitc: reality
>•*°'nøú +r If someone suffered a misfortune, the éaó qà s would
hdp htfØ or her 0VeŁC£ìine or even prevent future misfortunes: Th:is
«ay, ù e é•ró •çyà • srrvcd aid led a community. A babayłan was
a cяlttıic-bearer, priésfi, and mph-keeper, healing not only ones body
and soul but åso ones relaiionihip wirh. the spirits and nature.’"’
The Kbxyłan was depended on fio maintain the community's well-
being.
Babayàm are presently discussed nor only as mystics and
spirit intermediaries, :bцt also as community leaders and
propagaiors of ù c worİdview ù ar defined most people in ancient
Philippines. This eatly worldview ralucd nature and respected rhe
spirits. It is certainly
@ CO£tĘİCt WÍŁÍj £İlf í7'1ÍŞO İ5£Í( MOttO( tCİSfT1 tÌlßI tÌle ££lO£ilÎ İSt İ C

Casdû an Catholicism brotight to the islands. The following is an

cxcgipt ö f Á c Ğ ant by rhe babaylan Cariapa which foretold the
,Goering of-żc Spania«ls.
1ï‹ land wlll bá ch”onçjed.
Oßer peopa wlli poæss il”,
Wlth another culture.. othæ ppctițes:
1ła fówri ü to be utlarly destroyed.
: -" .di ' ‘”Tłæ pRvłnce wlß ma reêt of the islands
i .æs ło.bssubjUgoted.”°
”" at› rt•n Niłofco ČUru‹ó I Conical."” u. 2v2‹
 » “
›q,JJ;
lms‘
eéniriñ

" ‘“ „dié, Mild eulggg

*de!titir désim co acq
.ivi &' of Ae Hls
e;iae@@S fi•d •ot com«
.., âiné of opprecsisn-,(

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 ¡pgpp«cc bttwecnChrniiartiv ad ani«i»«i so
ths é«é«çàx c«uld
t}vd¢ resist and survive.‘ii1 ài C£ hà§pcncd
ry day in-vgioig
,gjttiffs of the Philippincs.
h !aibmatk. icudy by ethnoinusicologist Gracc Nono illustrates
jf;¢c Yt bxbxylan itadition 's alive in the Philippinès.2 The
qÀ ondity at supported the c@S p¡ç¡ Of Ò c éaó aJbn st‹fi•hapcs
tÍtp pre6cnt worldVjewç aditional communities from
4c urban centcrs ° WOfÍdS of the indigenous peDples. dany
w‘men who still functioii as hcaJcrs and ciiItiirú -
bcarcr5, philOSOphCFl and negotiators, storyiellen, and ritud
leadcrs. Incorporating Chtistlan and Islamic worldviws, they
perform ancient practices thac confer a sense of ä f1 Ordcred world
that is not dien but nurtuflrlg to those who understandit. In
other wor‹Js, thnc.tnditionaJ womcn leadcrs still serve their
communllics as they
did in ancient Times. They have taken on different aspects of Various
ulmmtinitics and havc lcarned to adapt the Westeinizcd Philippine

In sum, women were important in the Philippine society and

were genuinely equal with men in their old worldvirw—one
ihar did not curtail freedom or construct women as unequal. It was
wirh the coming of Spanish colonialism thar the Filipina was
constructed

Women in the HiSpaRİC PPFİOd

L claiming rhe Philippine islands, the Spaniards also culonixcd

the scxlers of th• land. These settlers, now Called Filipinos, had
to follow a foreign mDral and cultural code to be morally
ilccC/Iilblc ’in thc‘ic t›wii communitics. Women were no exception to
tht.sc' incidenu. The Spanish clergy saw early Filipinos as to‹i
scii.su‹›tis anal flee with their behavior, but were appreciated for
l›ciiip ini< l1tg•t›i,
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 admonishedwox•*
¡sh f•iai•
the lattCf S
loitú d
ad the new
. ch ğters regardiø$ ,$J
TM•'+„øwh hdlocentric religioh,,
men '^%“" th•i the Filipina wpp
t pt tht ïP*^"‘ father and • ‹h,
andpç her
@. ø/ąğÿctdą žșbï*8”-"
to husb¡ștp the alien notion of at
he
dmen
Tö temold » by keeping chaste, •»t
ğ pJ ğ gggg, ;ggy wre
hom e,
i
tan ą at
wöbtl«an
, keeping who wasănd
onlybeing
actives¢|(.
ai

ø
Thc.čö Ïonix crtit«d! «
lf they were allowcğ
pläced schools that forced in
Fìlipina. Filipino women
ng the
«em icòaccd to ì•stгuп›ents ,for, propagati colonial sy5tem
and prpd»cing ìhc ntxt gšțìéiaiiö ñ . that would ensure its survival.
Chastity, purity,a»d fuib«a cc were thus promoted sìmply to
tubdie ihc early Filİpina,to: her new role and constrict her creative
participation in ,the society.'7 Thìs kind of woman was
ironically portrayed by Rizal through the ,character of Maria
Clara who was “œect, doćile; ob’cdien‹;” self-iacrificing” and who
“ncver had the
courage to share the fate of her beloved.” She was “forced into an
cñ ğagement with a Spaniarğ, chose to enter the convent to flee from
a loveless muria¡;e, and madt a more permanent escape from the
vicissitudes of ltłe into insanity.
of the Spanish patriaícha
l system and its
version of CatholiCÎSm. BP•CălłSe weaiih
accumulatlon ’defined the'
Aö lc mistcaa of .ù ć sta„ ¢șd established
IHS Illü tiÍatİOfi, Wõ tpșn ñ o Ion
•' gained active ioles in the
spectrum of the society.

"
 ,hq_țțğ£ț
- .. . »nd ths°ahoidîsuf*Ï.ï¿a**.
¥ ü"°ra she ir@fjti!*ŸÏ:aæğg?%!'
ßed to bonish ffom the house quack doctors
ønd B' thh Is called to regenerate the
Indflersßł
, W!b fhe bne who should dtffusa ¥riowtedge ef
” , ø)ęruonłs of law and of pha/n›oey ., Løł
us the decorøŁve Óo4edge, pr.øt jeast
łhem obligatory. and in exchange let
us km fhose who osplrá to bø teacher.
elements dlńłńa, domesłtc pharmacy,
ønd aglËúlkrol

’“” " “ À/Îoyczococ, bowler; b to tccogaîzc tkc

' " "Üïiîdã a¥iuae’ÆjecîJlÿ” Á’Ömptżgc• ’nst
!! Îth' paȘãndz Movement
” ’țk'aăągłd Ø' -z4ł¥6 ŃC B¢atMs Of

aitd 'ăcädt of logistics

Ș?aaxonlc łodø cdled
” -women wltk
tea women such es
 ;at’Âăpana;p
*• ” •
. ;trj¿;ș¡yș ...
. ”,’ ’@ 6tt ¿@t
șțgy

=’\r›' •'
*’
•*’ o ”
ț"Ir› ".
w I°-t'" '

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 veopmõńÏ öf Omenc
QP he h pp e

WøŠfõfȚȚ}ă (a the WÖrndn's

war efforf. d to in Jhe Phirppine
h0llp
Îł1e LiÄõ emenì
“”°*’’*°^ or P hilPl pine Women's iaogue
PhIllțDğiń+’tsIø”ńds. in the u.t. pocificotion of tńe
Îh€ł AsOC/«cion * ^ °*i *'^°—<*^ ósoriaa»an that
crëated. It &O ated ocial łTh the Philippine’acat\=-was
chonge throughprison reforms.
s
woma”n), (which inClUdBd further educo”ton of
thè”íü
d i n rrient ot wömen
a o en n c n oc b d
C’ CDO /Ø'menisfo//oQ
for wömen's suffrage 9 nos c eoted.It fa ht
lê07 IN Polo de Leche was iamed to ossísł women in maternal
nò ïrifont core.
A magazine devoted to women's issues came out to
the strlsggle fõr women's rights ond improvement.
ïîie first”women’s club. colleô łhe Society for łhe
Aclvancement of Women. wøs found‹šd.
ì92ì- The Philippines saw its own suffragette movement.
1937
The Liga Nocionol de Oomos Fífipinøs (Notional League of
Filipino Women) was organized with the aim of PhJippine
independence and better wo‹ting conditions for factory
women.
me suffrøgefie movemenł was enhanced by łhe creation of
th”e Women .en League.
ïhø. frst womeh's convenãon wøs organized by the Philippine
Wôman's Suffmgette ktovement. wherein the suffrage nghts
ofwomâ= was»g‹eed on. The fight for modernity leave with
pøy „,ș, olso larauğht to the toblo.
yet No. azï I groflțad women the right to vote. thus the
emotion of łhe GenerøÌCourłCil of Women to møke sure thai
jtjțșygpț yould be eærcised by 1937.
țj| ø oțt›s t ‹ØollZeÒ fhBlf.fIØÈlt tÖ võło.
@ø’ øgúø pf wórneri's Voters was organized for voter’s
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 d harassmcnt. Dã,
ąp,$țp¡ ș „, ty, rhilippin• industJ did not .actuall y adv,ø¡,
pg s ù st •m•rgcd front țȘ¢ ¡¡¡OlTì M t-In İSt and $OCİĄ$g$.

1970swóald react agains,tj;,

łÏcvolutionary groups ‹hat emerged in the 1950s and 1970s

sure uiociated wiih the conirñ unfstand socialist movements. These
groups argued ù at be nxti n wä s suÍfflfÎflg from underdevelopm•M
because its economy scrvéd, the interests of the U.S. by providing
cheap labor ań d free access tö rčsources, as well as by serving as
¢ dumping ground for, U.S. good. The new economic model under
tĘ¢ American,md postwar period brought about various levels of
poverty,
Women who worked with the underground and itboveground
cnoipofitnts of tÏ;e Communist Party, and the other soCİaÎİ5ï
groups that rifled iC, readied rhas rhe agenó iÎ for liberation could
also slrve woò iens quest for equality. Many of the problems
women fäced
țè a reșuli’ of'à ò usíye structures that kept them poor and exposed
t0 various Ïtinds of exploitation. The natioiidist æd
niliiant
movement, äs thy called themselves, believed thu the
önty ieve equality in the society was to liberate the nation
the elite and the U.S. HOwcver, women

and socialise V fete ćonsid'ered secondaf/ Within the com mtinist

fftiÍİtănt women had i‹› ¢.ither
tÕ tlsh Ínr women’s

The i,conic
t ’Ical women's g'0
l'tiudy on'1hë rtæ •i’th*“ mllltÖ Dł.wõ mon I movemań t cö n be’
..,|;Ïț,'°ÿ'îț°*•.fÎv9tę°*. r*ë,.'!.;;ï^ș/’:•?
 +d by SiudCHt activists .

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 ‹apitdism. and coloni;d¡s„,
= JÖ oen's proble,y¡
womcn in the l1ber•tion
^m@n{; sandWiChes, ril'Slt¡g f»nd ,shouldnot be config$d q
occüng¡ and play¡pg S

made the decisions. adj•»c‹S

edaating won;en p, ‹ook art in orgariizing
°•°** and and
care Centers,for the 8S Welk as in •›tabllsË ing diy-
lätter
to engage tË q public ,
here) MAKl BAO for ffeeing women
became inäCtlye because

Lwe This Ïzation Is an £i drl

¢oven intp hiding dtfyj the
tant ig Martial
l
P° of history as ït was the
§g+
,o emphasizethe issues
ycr
tÏOCt lijm the genera) natiOnd
liberat ion obj•CtlVCS oÊ the part.
TÊ e ..A"i/i«aa zg Pilipina (PILIPINA) and the
”°’° ‘° •*•!’f**•! (XALAfiAAN)’ were
i 9goS t› • Chä llengcd the pote
»tially aflti-
WOtRCR’S ways of the mmunisl £ary*s IeaÜ crship. ]?ILtPINA
focusedon mainsireaming women's concerns in rht iFtp,(qrpil ¡C¡p
of society. Ït promoied the welfare of women through social
development work, partlcularly esrablisË lng cooperativcs and
providing training in womens concerns. KALAYAAN, on the other
hand, worked wiAin rhe national liberation agenda to ensure th:« ihc
woñ iéni liberation issues were nor made secondary in the mov«mcn‹
i The assassÎnation of BenÎgno Aquino, Je., the main opponcnt
of former presideni-rurned-dictator Ferdinand Marcos, brotight
; wom«ns groupe Înto the limelighf as they pushed for rheir own
¡ polltical aginda. Thèse orgaizationswer¢ led by middle and npper-
claJr ‘pp1lti‹;ally-inrlined matrons who sought for justice, freedom,
nod democracy /h «J p ** <r*n ”"’ A prominent gr‹›iip
fatlpnal Orgnfiluflon of Wot7i0fl (NOW) ’whiC8 -w•i1 th
$$giA @-th» Ualt•d' D•mocutlc Opp»s1ti»n païy ca«iitio», ii
'tin 8oc10•pollfl formailon of women and
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 p„rnanïe resultcd Ùing
Allianceof
æa
bw4•eo• òf»th= anb
.:iï..:•=(^+'°’*!
s iikc ih« >men p
and Womenfor th* o«, „
ARwo« Ș/OÜ BE-’*•”e°t sections also
p„„„ „,ğ .¡şęcOt‹.( rnčd of the
s'like: the
fiø°* exls'‘"ß .ø°up ethef
1
WOtflCR C0g alliances aS Will› lÌÊe
t ç§g

( yrty) wã ich brought ogether.

and deaconii Kx
s
osed nf relig’'ou womeni and the Churcl
Natİoflal Council of
@oæcn United =hich was øJ)iliaied Wİth the
Studentsfrom the universitie5

likewise estabíished groups., Ilke $he Universiryof the Philippines'

Hababaihan (SAMAKA-
.äăbabëhan),. Exúñsive schools formed their own gro•PSä5 well like
Atcnco de Manilas Atcnùta Women and rite.thcn Maryknoll College's

On October 28, 1983, about 9,000 women took part in the

largest wö men'ș march that protested ùOman righ ts abuses and the
abuses of the military. This movemenr was dubbed as thc Women's
Profit Dãy. The following year, the women who took part in
this protest formed thc General Asscmbly Binding W‹›men fö i
Reforms, hitegrity, Equality, Leadership, and ECU(JH (GA8IUELA). 'I
GAßRIÊ LA. consistently protested against the policies anh projects
of tic tarcos régine that were inimÌCäl to the people's intcrcsts.
Eventually, however, the coalirion disbanded becausesome iiieшbers
dniied to parüci!paie’ in the 1986 snap eIeciio•S. The mO„ „¡¡¡,ilp, i
8 aaw the snzp elecf2S as a ploy of the MarCU
government

’nthePhilipJ1i•*s «hiftcd
‘ńofo a broad COklİ ion to .small tactical and iJ‹u ^ ’ P«jecr-ba«ed
”This observation remains i**e Un ,iltoday dŞ
present

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T
’:'.fi<f..i' ...b.._a.I..h.'.". an.',s,o.. .K....a...l. lnaî.n., aa, .n.!., ąt”'.ł..tœ..a'.(s..ay. an. g”.øł/
:‹y!oy'țîa«ațtșż-¡o«aon cË: c ue Pudkhiag. ¡a=‹, zai2j,.1‹1,
such as traEckifig, domesric vïolcncc; m•‹•rn•l xnd
gpaduciivc health,. aftd protection of domesiic workcrs. They

po conccrrieiÏ with services

th
^’ ’^PP°’* O «R like the day-care or
""" g " ’yc protcc!ion otwÔmcn's righfs,
|¡ lifiood.pojccts, and cooperative formation.
One aréa of coalitloH JOrfnation that did work in rhe turn of this
jq{J2fy.15 .the pilf£y- S! S-7 ! bien chés system was implcmenrcd
^
in l99<. WOIYten'S groups coalesced into three main groups.
GAN Û tfä HSformed iiself inio a politlCâl âfL}f Rfld broughc
tpgècher people's organisations, NGOs, and orher women sfÏ1FJ etcd
with the National Democratic Left groupe. The more cenirisi and
midAe-center groups formed the Abanse! Pitt iy. Another broad
coalition formed by left and center-lefi groups knowR as
Abbxtaii dopted a women's agenda alongside its other issues.
Thèse parties
broughi to puhlic eye’ the discourse on women's issucs and made
policymakers respond to thèse needs. In its two terms as a party-
fist représentative, Abanse! Pinny was able to push for the passagc
of the Solo Parents Welfare Acr of 2000, the Anti-Trafiicking in
PË rsons Act of 2003, and the Anti-Violence Agairist Women :ind
Their Children Act of 20P4. Meanwhile, Abb ryan supportcd rhe
Reproducrive Health Law, ike Magna Carta of Wnmen, and the
Gender Balan'ce Bill, among other hills and laws. CiAltRl El,A
:i1,‹› pushed for thè5e Jaws afld continueö io 1›ring ro the [atlhlic
disctiiirsc
parcicular probleme of women. Thèse ib ec groups also tiscd the ir
govcrnment positions io increase public awarcness on i›stic› .iftcit iriç
women, piish (or the iinqlemcntation où governniciii ¡ir‹ijckth in
pz$z that benefii women,, help channel lundi tu wonicii's ›i‹ijc t.
, py g}yj¡gqtjpJj$, . pfovide ,firainings aRd education, aHU llt’tïs’itl k

p gt¡’s pñ rfy-list groups made valuable t onttil›titi‹›iis

co Wopsn!• llb•rttlon. lnclud'lng the ag*nds ’‹it 'he {›••t.r a‹i•l
•
)tt ‹cCt tai› collective’ action. ’t‘il
t CO f¥t8)ft8t¥ôgIT\!ng Of Wofnen't
À 2 general public but olso showed
 .\$ears«tani
pIoccs•° • °men’s paiy_1¡
fpc»j' y 'ocie*
rocesses. Thus, they
- p•mcip•torf and ltative rocesses
Jiinmtution of govc› * P *g‘ " es eciall thos,
Of,
ding agencies.
‘i Ï( öl Consätution‘an'd Lo«i Overnment Code
HU
ud,people's p;„;¡cipation in local g0verh•h.
civil society orgaqniz ¡
t part qf tÏieir soa}’it’ion tfainedwomens groups to becoiy2
É @ive partiieiy rit the plg'iing änd irnplementing of developtt¡bp¿
s>i»ra:
A Mection ö f xö inen's engagementsin Ë hilippine history
shsq dut women have béen active in all.aspectsof society. Women
were leadcrs aod infliiential indivïduals in the building of the
nation. Pchaps; bccniise thsii itatus'wcre considerably equal to men
in ,thee
pre-Hiipanic Philïppin#s, women were not ,complctely suppressed
by the .$panish. Whi1e,many women displayed the desired meekncss
and wealnicss that the friars demanded of them, othcrs die not as the
revolu Sf tradiiional ol the,so-called millenarian groups have shown.
Wormen pläyed leadership. roles, either as co-rulers of these alternatief
fields u lmdcrs, warriors, healers, or spies. During the kevolutions of
1 ä96 and 1898, and the, war against the U.S., they shuwed how they
cou1d’tai«:np multiple roles in the armed forces.
Wö men in the Philippines have a histof/ of serviilg their society
:not only as homekeepers oi.ñs producers O children. They have
been active partners i'n esiablishing the’well-being of the family,
creating enterprise, preservin$.ann enrichiRg culture, creating arts,
[irtidtic ing
!oad, and ruling and war. ThHS, the stippreiiion of the .8p,itiiih
and the creation of a
woman's understanding ,and fulfillment of her ca[sacity. Women
have found their place in natiorï-building. "they have, always created
ä space to become crcative, albert RÖ t alWays equal, partners in this’
work. And so women have contributed much in the struggle ÉOf

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 i pmcù have-somehow played

,gggged by ùe of men: Thê Îz»t thä t woiñ en have hä d to

gggggJs to. bave, a ru‹Jimentary rcproductive heä lth law aad io. have
q gpg;id kw ,tö ,proiect thel›l from domestic violence shows thli their
ygg iS StÎll ñ ö i, ä doiriinaiit one in, shaping the world they livr
g question now is how to, creatc a social order that is not
in.
only ç,pñ unodating tö women but is shaped by them as equa)
q(tnçn: The third part of this,book will discuss how this con be pattncrs
made
.
cib le. Before that, the problem FiÎipinas face in their daily
that
jive$ nœd .tO bC:eXamined,

FÏll|3İÜ‹nù Wh0 AÖV2hCCdMcdCrn Feminism

the

She was a former senator, chair of the National Commission

on, .the Role of Filipina Womcn and UN Assistant secretary
gencral for Social Developmentand Humanitarian Affairs. She
is, the onc of the women who spearheaded and solely drafted
Convention on thC ElijT}ination of All forms of Discrimination
agaiiist Women (CEDAw) during the height of the international
Human Rights in 1967. Shahaiti passed
*cgco nition of
Women's
th'e Forcign Service Exam and worked for the Department
of Ë oreign â Îrs, She latcr became che representative of thr
country to the Û rst International Conference on the Statue of
Women in Mexico in 1975. She did this while establishing .i It›*:il
' mechani•• in ih« .Pfiilippines to advance the cause of“ women.
' After the l?Icxican conference, Shahani and ‹›il»r rilipii›.•
qOg,tp jca;lcrs—Helena Benitez, Cecilia Mtinor. iÏ Î Ï:Ï+ èÏÏÏ
J$çpp ,Gorges foZmcd tite National Commission ‹in the Roll
IH l98J, she started her terne as
tÎtc Ü rst Aquino admini.scratiun and
mo-àtiä8. Shç $loneeredlaws inyénded to alleviare the
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 "ofJØCommissionvn High„
^(g* ¡$»n '“ . d”C
„‹ ’“’ °^ ”th1
İ
Cü n mittce
of the Asia Pacif„
-Päciiio NGOForum

›h• focused her w tĘ

student Of the problems caused by
srrUCk di•;ensions on how
,yore than m°^ /tftcr working.
.rąațua«d Nétİo,1s, <İGt*d't•" returned to the acadëme
vice prgsiden of Atenéo de Manila

„,p„g o» to becomepresident of Mifiarłj

- 1
g her Ferm as prcsióenc
c ; àäcø.”On» èf her udicai decisiõns durin
ofMiËA c•li*ø• w•s • •eS•O••' •n of the college It to an all-
İ: ¡ t¡pn r txp°'imenting with co-education for l5

As CHED c hnir,she continuedto advocate gender equality

¡g, j,gg¡pg educational ins itu*›ons•
3:'&øta Qøi»tos-Dcle•
İhe ă a peace advocate; former chair and cu-Íurinfler of
Godiiion for Price, National Peace Conference; pt esidcntial
miser on,the Prace Process during the time nf former President
8enigno Aqulno III; and appointed lead convenor of the
N cal Anti-Poverty Commission from 2001 to 2tj03. SÎie
mainœincd an active involvement in rhe women's movement
lcularJy in the institutionof PILIPłNA, which is recognized

"p c¥pJiŃcly “homcgrown Łñmjnic‹

, a Ș1d socØy |n key ,govcrnsxcc partnerships, › ricluding the
Cøuncil.of the Admillistratïui› that laid
-ÄșJțÎİo,iind'work Ár landmuk reforà sticli as the Sociäl

‘gnë'Ίiü•2lÏi Òw,''among oùCø, P ' Rghts

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 Stic Js a ° ' •'It activist, fn„„p; ç¡„çBgjj chairpCfS
prü sidént LA Olt,,
5cholasti ,
hfNionary oFBenCdiCtine Sisters
! End of the stop 100 Jp$p¡yp dó
s diiector'of the Jgxtiiq¡,8 * World dLtfirig her time
in 2ó 11, 5hC Wes citcd Studies 0f’St: 5cholotica
in developing a
feminist Third Ofld theologywiihin the C«thñlíc Church and
JC @tiSt activism. As
a feminisr activist, Sr. Mary
John led ‘< men-centerid programs and i›rganizations
such as d0 Omen Crisis Center and the Women's Ecology ánd
W< &ISO á CtÍvc in the sireer parliamenc
during the Marcosregime.

ShC the first Filipina to head the Philippine Province of

the Rcligious of the G'ood Shepherd, a former chairpersoii of
the Exccuiive Board of the Association of Major Rciigious
Superiors
of Women, in the Philippines, and founder of Alay Kapuia
Christian C ommunity. DtlfÎflg the Marcos regime, she boldly
inued a memorandtim to all major.superiors où feligious men and
women that they would continue publishing “5igns of the Times”
dapite telegrams from Chairman Hans Menzi of the Philippine
Council fö r Princ Media asking them to stop publishing vafiotts
fi rti.

gpra ai’Haria:Josephine Barrios! lu 1962, siC is a pi›p»l•

fiflJ sntÍ activief. She Zárnct] f\er I'h Ü iIt
$Q£( lÍflfl t82'Rttlf ffOífl HAC I-lnÍvCfSÍ IQ O t tfi
!'S fV£d aS 8#aOCiate proftsior and fls5>ciate dcan

'''i' ''
 H•r works incl•d d
d,

,ppzzeü ü hosen ar,Wiav„,

’,¡¡,$e¿p,n,iï:in i e * ' °n’^“°ewic,

and Philipp;„
South md Sou?heast As¡Jg
«Saidiu,«nd è.,>¡g, ¢n•'i‹»nP g=• oÊ the UnivCfSlt) q¿

hiarin Inrcna Barros » a woman leader, gi(ted wriier, and

Dne of tire icons of módem. Philippine
feminism. Shh w25 Qp,

]. fc weil-Jmowü heroes during the anti-óictatorship Struggl*

%u;,,t itnÁó Íh« 4faáJang Kil!uixn •S B°Y°•$ ° ° °* °• °r

" ' m 1970, she {;raduäied frö m the University of the

' ' fflippines with ä degree i'ii Anthropology and taught
while 'tfÏdng 'up graduate coiirses. in 1971, Barros was one of
the 63 itudenc leadcrs charged with subversion. She went
underground bJlvias arrmted in 19Z3,,jailed at Camp Vicente tim
in Laguna,
ahd then transferfid to Fort äonifacio's Ipil Rthablliation Center
whert she escapêd a ’year later, She re-jOifled the underground
writing pnems, Songs, and essays thefe.
In ’1974, the Marcos goveffinient offered PHP35,000
for her
and captured

mop«rztion by 1\4auban, Quezon. When asked for

ter caP o'rs
è*••<• -Sht digdät the age of 28.

fO progräm
coordiflator of the
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eren, she founded Núa Ul-HazçÉ !!•iztxn•r» (Womíl for

;i@%àt ïo'nducu trajjjtpg$ fin orgnnlznü on for Mwlim women,.

uid
advnci‹:y. **'•=•• y. Aty. Jaju¡ie wasappointed to join
Pmcl in 2014.

•A•b6•pa
'lli She 4S .4g FfSt Yi5uillly•impaircd Filipina tó be awarded
zeàt»t« r«m «dà. Blind at thC agc of six, Ambubuyog did not
.›lcs §ir disabü ity/À Índer her to finish h•r studïes: She graduated
¡„;¡, @pdiciorian i‹i her elernentary school añ d high school. She wu
„„ „«wd»d a kl1.schó 1ars hoipat 4e Atenco de Maníla
University whue 4e Íater gmduated with a bachelor's dcgree in
mathematics with A theepossible a«aids for studcnt
excellence aiid srrvice. Ouxide school, she received specia)
awards and recognition @m- the Tcn Ourstanding Students
of the Philippincs, Order
'" of Á e Knights of Rizal, and the Bank of thv Philippíne Islands
'' Foun&tlon Scienie Award. Ambubuyog alsó Started a project
"' ' in partnership with the Rotaiy Club of Makati-Á yala, whích
donatcd computers, scannrri, and Braille technologies to
' diffcrent schools, giving opportunítiesto blind studenrs.

.i› , : kolo Rosa was- a comfort woman. In I?92, she broke

tbe .8ilCnce, about Filipina com of 8‘ “‘
$;g¡ i}i,qbiogapb/t 0mf»rt Women.’ Save uJ’Deaitiy. DuringWe U
$;, Jt, ¡he juiacd i€c Habbxàha-p a-nd served as 3 mes.st'nJ0l‘
¡t¡qp forcibly taken by the Japaneseforces:iml
,//t /£ag cs, Pazzipanga, wherü lïcr ‹›rd«.!l

lnlotti. Aftcr coming oii't with her .Sftlf/. .4 J<

'' " " g§Jf9It womcn by joining dcinonsira io°° '"'
," ‘“• She ded lx ï P97 at che age of 69
‘Rei
 oppression against 9§,Jl
yq marines Ihe thr
of women's
{QSsedsimple becaui<
due to ile;ï guider. Womenar
æimx. The secondis th‹tr ,nemb#rship in a social class
of Society. Thus, for lnstaficé, women subir hardships not
beœuse diey arc women but beciuie they are marginalized
domtstiz ævano, or Ë acio y -•+ * FinaJly' wom'n are °PP ›s tg
é citieeiu of a former colony due to the continuing effects ,t
exJiloltatim globalization. The icimbinationof these rhree arccall,¢
imxaandonA’ oppression, or the multiple0 feSSiOn rhat wom23
fæ dtie to. the ia¿ginalization of otlicr parts of their identity.

¥/a«IeninkeThiÖ WorId
Nunieroin forms of oppressionoccur because of a woman's
socializedgcnder role. Some forms of violence stiCh as rape, dume.ic
violce, gender discriminarion, and harassment at work and in
ho»ics alfeci women more than men. Often, this ‹)iscrepancr ii
justifÎed by mligious or ideological beliefs, particularly rË c prcvalent
religions dogma ,which , sta!tes rh‘«t WOmefl Sû Ould be siibscrvient io
fflCfl› Of’tJtC CtlltUfiC WJÎCÜ ÎCtû fiCS WOman's place in the honte Tim,
Ê Ö fi tJlà t t)lg i’OOÿ OU WOjTleJyi; j3ppy g {)jj j$ (Jjp )p gp $(¿(p$
ÿ»en tO dt4m ud ù e pervadingender incqualiç i» s»«i*ç
Ostcn worÎtcrs äre mploited bccause oF ‹heir
gendei :ul il tht‘ir
, dtèxÀ ñ fx æd àocial posltlons. As Thi'd Wo'1d l•borcr›, w,›i›„-,› .›i•-
, J'ai paotF chczp l•b0r’force. They are
the mply bec4use they
OP £tlb£tÎfitltC W rl(ey¢ ’tg
* '’ " l'eiisiiiii iv‹iiiit'J1

.z. ñ lle4». !t7!i.æas.

//of/oë”ftom fhe Margfq . a
Press.
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 gp¡,çgic dö not only have iö »ork foi •«ssiitü nce »qcs bu›
io contend with ùe JCt tÜ g( they bclong io the clail of the

@omsn in ùc Philippines are made to suPer pariicularly

difÏÏcult becausrof their position as iiiizcns ö f the
Third '&orld. the hardships imposed by the Economic
and polltical
du ö f a Thitd World country, one that is ruled by the conccms
änd of foreign intercits that control the economy. Æ
C;jieni thC)f TfiC thus Ö eprivcd of substanti;tI control of their course
glopment. As women, ihey are even more di52 @WCred
b•«12Se of the lack of representativeswith a significant voice IO
aid Weir concerns and prinritize their welfare. This situation is
clef 2
„¡¢enr in the Philippine governments difficulties jn enforcing p o-
wo«i•n laws or changing structures that rrprcss corners
with this multifzcercd discriminarion against women, PhGippine
(éniinisis have centered their engagement on certain issue5- <
*
oups are organized atound the care for women ictims of domestic
violence. They offer legal assïsrance, counseling, and a safe haxen

assistance to trafficked women and prostitutes. They run halfway

hoñ ses with mental health and reproductive health servIices› ><
at rehabilitation centers. Meanwhile,some groups focus on sectoral
concerns 6 uch a: organizations for peasants. laborers, midwives.
national Or lOCltl
añ d nurses. They Wi3rk to change policirs at rhe
groups aÎso organizc
lëvcls in response to their .secrors’ necds. OEhef
ïhem«e1›cs as self-help gruupsfor maiginalized warne», for instance.
as coop#ratives of ]¡pgJiJiood organizarions. Other women are
affiliared with ° p°li*i°al P "" a poliiical agenda, such as the
need for represcn 3tii›n in the Lower and Upper House.

tytgyqmcnt hzs bCcn ¢lominaFe¢l by marc (ar,»tic, I ‹‹›i t-ri i I›.iii

j¿țco]ogical. +fi**• > t t +1« iI\.the c*tcrii Ii1‹›v‹•i\J‹ ii i • ) li i• i• ‹li ‹’
I Co cÎz¢ mu)t p!1 opp*ca•ion ccd hy fiiliț›i‹\‹› wt›‹»t“ti. .uiti I ili[›i i ‹*•

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r

\^ in general. Thus, d•bare *'^’•d

••‹h‹,
qocsü ons oí şş¡;*tegi^s and and
dcfinitj«•^
thzn issaes regarding womCfl's of Phi1ipp¡g,
e ir ma‹şs the
c=hara•
țlore becaus

fcmìnism. tÜ 0fi has evolved IO 22 * tadicø}

positions rooced
theoretical dfl about (Jp OtlI3Sd fluff and
fl
pÇ pomen, Philippjflc feminism t•
ith p |jtical aflCl iiİ Vi I society
workid strateg!ediø »ïih ‹h< stzte or w fl. "Ç5pş, if one desires t
movements to further th• Welfare oíC wOfD*
iindcnund the.conüernsof Phili l^ ^°""^’ ° *
the concccte issues thar besct $ • •p ø The

this case involve violence ílgiìin5l w****^ . ‹n• •*'•g har:issmentand

domestic violencc; trafficking, reproductiVe health rights, KqiIalÍ q
esprcially ‹n the workplaCfl, repFC5eniarion in govcrnmcnt, and
ecønomic security. Feminist issues are also importartf ill õ Cä J0fflÍC ã RL
ari:iGü c circles: Sn rhcse fields, Ibe questions coF)Cern sorrier S Voice
its -repmsentation. Much of academic feminist thotiglt is centered
tcdecrion xboui the position öf women in the 8liiJİ CHIC SOCÍC£ÿ,
articubting the rooms and ground of their oppressİQn,probing thc real
of women and rhrir real needs, aød fina!ly explof ÎHg* WiinieH 5
iuÖõn tö dêvëlopment. TO us, one can say rhat PhiliĘĘÍ ne
Ù ğ eneral is more grounded íit the coricrct‹ coli erm.s of
'aÅ Ô ú à "à . dëÎíncd by , rhe exploitation and marginaliz.at init in the
These feminist moremcn re have 3 str‹›iig bra.ssroors
by nan’-!govcrnmental rganizuriwns r ä
*jżiòiaòìc u'Ì$nïenÄńented development.
 Jg» did 4e notions of Clp• •‹d
p@ippincs' How u• the c .in
"*
nd
2, ?hc Spk*ish *ersion of Chrisii‹ni‹y
ifitfoduced misogynistic
da "'*om**,myis‹hisso:
j Qhaz .distinguishes th« foCl2Sof fog
feminist movtmenr in 4e
ines duri § be C@I@/} CFob, the
Amcriczzi ’era, add in
recent history?
HoWdid Filipino women respond to oppressionand inequality
i v i>+* $Q€S of women's struggle throughour PhiJippioe

§. What makes present-diy Philippine feminism distinct from

Western feminism

@*”’*"
1. V'hat social, political, economic events, and/or trends shaped the
various generations of the wotRen's liberation srruggle? Creatr
a map of the significant evcnts of the local and international
womell's liberation mOYements. Show tic parallelismsand
,differences of womrn's movement in the Philippines and in tht
test.
2. M¥« a lisr of women you consider the ten most signi£‹can‹ in
§i¢tory. These women c be lccal or foreign. ExpJain why they
p¡ ¡p your list. Then, consider if thcsc womcn advanced the
md how they did this.
‹he n›aj‹›r

@ nsldrred st the national level! Wi in ‹I +' °

p nts medc Io counler £hesc issues t›r prulll0tl *
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