Life, Works & Writings of Jose Rizal

Instruction: After reading the text answer the following questions.

“To the Women of Malolos” centers around five salient points (Zaide &Zaide, 1999):

1. Filipino mothers should teach their children love of God, country and
fellowmen.
2. Filipino mothers should be glad and honored, like Spartan mothers, to offer
their sons in defense of their country.
3. Filipino women should know how to protect their dignity and honor.
4. Filipino women should educate themselves aside from retaining their good
racial values.
5. Faith is not merely reciting prayers and wearing religious pictures. It is living
the real Christian way with good morals and manners.

QUESTIONS: ( Since this is a group activity, the answers should be enumerated)

1. In relation with salient point no. 3, how do you protect your dignity and honor
as a woman? (for ladies only)
- As a woman, I will protect my dignity and honor by constantly appearing
confident and assertive, and as long as I'm not scheming or talking about other
people's personal lives, I'm only defending my dignity. Keep still and have the fortitude
to overcome any obstacle. No matter what, I won't allow anybody to undermine my
integrity and dignity.

2. In relation with salient point no. 3, how do you protect the dignity and honor of
a woman? (for gentlemen only)

3. If you will become a parent in the future, which of these salient points would
you like to follow for your children? Why?

- if i will be a parent in the future, the salient point i would like for my children to
follow is Filipino women should know how to protect their dignity and honor. They
ought to create their own identities and resist letting others define who they are.
They need the courage to stand up in defense of what is morally and ethically
sound. They shouldn't have to conform to societal norms and labels. Instead of
trusting males or anybody else to make their decisions, they must be accountable
for their own choices. They must be aware of the value of refusing when necessary.
In line with it, they must increase their power. Because society considers them to
be less valuable, they should not be ignored.