2.  She is the chairperson of the Department
of History, College of Social Sciences
and Philosophy (CSSP) of the University of
the Philippines.
 She obtained her doctorate de troisieme
cycle at the Ecoledes Haustes Etudes on
Science Sociales in Paris, France and has
written numerous articles exploring
various issues Philippine social history.

3.  Her earlier publication, Kasaysayang
Panlipunan ng Manila (1765-1898) won
the 1993 National Book Awards in the
category of History.
 She is also the Director of the University of
the Philippines (UP) Press.

5.  This particular article talks about the Late
Spanish period of Philippine History –
approximately in the 19th century. It
mentioned several documents dated on
year 1849.

6. Venereal diseases of 19th century
Philippines
› Syphilis - A common venereal disease
caused by the treponema pallidum
spirochete; symptoms change through
progressive stages; can be congenital
(transmitted through the placenta)

7. Public awareness
› Advertisements of drugs for gonorrhea and
syphilis
› Medicines are available in drugstores (made
in France)
Arrests of Prostitutes
› Go far back as 1849 and even before.
› Deportation to Nueva Quipuzcua (Davao)
and later to Isla de Balabac in Palawan.

8. Comisaria de Vigilancia and Carcel de Bilibid
› Runs thorough background check on alleged
prostitutes.
› Runs health checks. If the alleged is infected
with syphilis (and other venereal diseases), she is
confined at Hospital de San Juan de Dios
instead of Carcel de Bilibid.
› Punishments run from 10, 15, and 30 days, and/or
deportation.
› Most of the arrested (prostitutes) had previous
apprehensions for estafa, illegal
gambling, public disorder, and prostitution.
› Inside prison, they are subjected to hard labor.

9. Deportation
› Either Davao or Balabac
› Families petitions to the Governor General to
spare family members accused of
prostitution from punishment of deportation.
› Mid 19th century, deportation was only for
habitual offenders

12. List of Deportees
› To Davao

13. List of Deportees
› To Balabac

14. Marriage
› Served to circumvent or avert deportation
› Means of reforming prostitutes.
Social Profile of Prostitutes
› Most are in late teens or early twenties.
› Older prostitutes were married or widowed.
› Most have legitimate occupations
(author suspects that the little income they
have from these jobs drove them to
prostitution)

15. › Four categories:
a) Under a prostitution house
b) Posted themselves in certain streets
c) Going to the homes of the clients
d) Renders services their own homes
(author has questions on whether they were
seen obviously as prostitutes with their
appearances)

16. Popular Perception of Prostitutes
› Various names of prostitutes: prostituta,
mujer publica, vagamunda, and
indocumentada.
› Vagamunda – reflected the roving lifestyle.
› Indocumentada – because of inability to
register in a particular locality.

17. Conclusions of the Author
› Colonial authorities regulated prostitution to
check the spread of venereal diseases and
respect public morals.
› Prostitution was viewed as livelihood by
natives.

18.  Venereal diseases are rampant in
areas of prostitution (densely
populated areas)
 Reaction of family members about the
punishment of deportation shows the
Filipino value of having close family ties.
 Low income drives women to
prostitution.
 Southern regions of Philippines, which
are of lesser population are ideal
deportation sites for prostitution.

19.  It is important to have a historical
knowledge of how and why one of the
social ills of Philippines (prostitution) have
existed in the past and possibly postulate
why it still continues to exist today.