Evolution of Filipinas' Role in Society

WOMEN IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Lesson 12
© 2020 | NOT FOR SALE
Prepared by: Ms. Czarina Mae C. Legaspi

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Describe how the role of Filipinas
in society evolved.
• Distinguish Filipinas who
advanced modern Feminism in
the Philippines and their
responses to oppression and
inequality.
• Create a timeline reflecting the
evolution and contributions of
feminism in the Philippines.

WOMEN IN PRE-COLONIAL PHILIPPINES

WOMEN IN PRE-COLONIAL PHILIPPINES
Some pre-colonial social structures of
the Philippines gave equal importance
to maternal and paternal lineage. This
bilateral kinship system accorded
Philippine women enormous power
within a clan. They were entitled to
property, engage in a trade and
could exercise their right to divorce
her husband. They could also become
village chiefs in the absence of a male
heir. Before the arrival of the
Spaniards, Filipino women could also
achieve status as medicine women or
high-priestesses and astrologers.

Prior to Hispanic colonization it can be said that:
 There was no discrimination between sons and
daughters.
 Sexual inhibitions regarding virginity in marriage
was not universally valued, and sex education was
prescribed as a duty of a mother to her daughter as
stated at least in the Code of Kalantiaw
 Parents took pride of their children. Male and
female children did not experience any form of
inequality regarding of division of inheritance.
 Both took an active role on the society when they
grew up

Marriages were arranged and a
dowry was paid by the groom to the
wife’s family. Women ran the
household and were mainly or
equally responsible for all major
decisions regarding the running of
the household. Women were free to
exercise their decisions concerning
reproduction, with abortion as an
option.

Women played an important role in the economic life of the people. Some women were able
to lead their clan and they also fought alongside men in battle. Some are even direct rulers of
a community, caretakers for the young datu, or just influential people who could build an
alliance.
• Hara Udaya or Queen Urduja is a legendary warrior princess who is recognized as a
heroine in Pangasinan. The name Urduja appears to be Sanskrit in origin, and a variation of
the name "Udaya", meaning "arise" or "rising sun", or the name "Urja", meaning "breath". a
Muslim traveler from Morocco. Ibn Battuta sailed for 17 days to reach China from the land of
Tawalisi. © 2020 | NOT FOR SALE

• Dayang Sima (c. 637 CE) is The legendary queen of South
Cotabato known for her sense of justice and respect for the
law.
• Tuanbaloka is woman from Basilan who ascended to power and
become the Queen consort of Jolo known for her bravery as she and
her husband held of the invaders with 4,000 warriors.

Alongside a datu(chieftain) and
panday(smith) a babaylan held a central
place in society. Babaylans commonly
refers to individuals who have special
knowledge or can converse with the spirits.
Babaylan Cariapa foretold the coming of
Spaniards
“This land will be changed
Other people will possess it.
With another culture, other practices
This town is to be utterly destroyed
The province with the rest of the islands
Are to be subjugated.”

Women in the Hispanic Period

Women in the Hispanic Period
In claiming the Philippine islands, the
Spaniards also colonized the settlers of the
land. The Filipinos had to follow a foreign
moral and cultural code to be morally
acceptable in their own communities.

During the Spanish era
The women followed a new culture that is forced to them by
the Spaniards, they remodeled women into their ideal Notion
of women
• Filipino women should be subjugated to her husband or her father
And the catholic church
• Filipino women should only be active at home and withdrawn from
public sphere.
• If they are to seek education, they will be placed in school that forced
in them the values and character of a new filipina

During the Spanish era
• Chastity, purity, and forbearance were thus promoted simply
to subdue the early Filipina to her new role and constrict her
creative participation in the society
• Filipinas were victims of the Spanish patriarchal system and its
version of Catholism
• Their diminished roles in the communal sphere and in the
systems of production confined women to supporting roles
such as status display and maintenance, reproduction, and
child rearing,

The propaganda movement gained
prominence, one of their causes for dismay
was the role of women played in the
society
The propaganda movement, however
began to recognize the crucial roles of
women could assume especially in
campaigns against Spain. While
Propaganda movement itself were male
enterprise. It sought to Raise the status of
women.

• Women in the 1890s organized a masonic lodge
called Logia de Adopcion which gathered many
intellectual women with Anti-Spanish sentiments
• The historical facts indicate that women during
the Spanish era were key actors in the Philippine
revolution, yet their exploits during this time have
yet to be widely recognized

Women in the American Period

WOMEN IN THE AMERICAN PERIOD
 From 1900s to 1920s, most women’s groups furthered
the presence of women in the public sphere by
focusing on charity work and social services. These
groups were formed to keep the elite women busy
working with orphans and assisting prisoners, among
others
 Decision-making at top levels in all these movements
had largely been done by men.

 Three Insights (American Period to Martial Law):
1. Movements were begun and dominated by men
2. The women’s involvement in these movements
gave them liberties and roles that were traditionally
denied to them.
3. The goals and objectiveness of these movements
were valid for and important to a smaller or great
section of Filipino women.

THE BIRTH OF MILITANT GROUPS WITH A FEMINIST AGENDA
 • Revolutionary groups that emerged in the 1960s and
1970s were associated with the communist and
socialist movements.

The Nationalist and Militant Movements
• Believed that the only way to achieve equality in the
society was to liberate the nation from the exploitation
of the elite and the United States.

MILITANT GROUPS:
1. MAKIBAKA – Malayang Kilisan ng Bagong Kababaihan. A group of
student activists who showed that the root of women’s problems lay
in feudalism, capitalism, and colonialism.
2. PILIPINA – Kilusan ng Kababaihang Pilipino. Focused on
mainstreaming women’s concerns in the transformation of society.
3. KALAYAAN – Katipunan ng Kababaihan Pasa sa Kalayaan. Worked
within the national liberation agenda to ensure that the women’s
liberation issues were not made secondary in the movement.
4. SAMAKA – Samahand Makabayan ng Kabataang Pilipina. A
women’s group from the University of the Philippines.
5. GABRIELA – General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity,
Equality, Leadership, and Action. A political party focusing on
women.

10 FILIPINAS WHO ADVANCED
MODERN FEMINISM IN THE COUNTRY

LETICIA R. SHAHANI

 She was a former senator, chair of the National
Commission on the Role of Filipina Women and UN
assistant Secretary general for social Development
and Humanitarian affairs. She is the one women who
spearheaded and solely drafted. The woman who
competed with the best. Her passion to advance
women’s rights is immeasurable.

PATRICIA B LICUANAN

 She served as the chairperson of the
Commission on Higher Education,
Chairwoman of the National Commission on
the Role of Filipina Women. Chairperson of
the Main Committee Fourth World
Conference on Women.

TERESITA QUINTOS DELES

She is a peace advocate. Former chair and co-
founder of Coalition for Peace, National Peace
Conference, Presidential adviser on the Peace
Process during the time of former President Benigno
Aquino III.

MARY JOHN MANANZAN

She is a feminist activist, former GABRIELLA chairperson,
former president of St. Scholastica’s College and prioress of
the Missionary of Benedictine Sisters of the Manila Priory.
Named as one of the top 100 Inspiring People in the World
during her time as a director of the Institute of Women’s
Studies of St. Scholastica.

MARY CHRISTINE L. TAN

She was the First Filipina to head the Philippine
Province of Religious of the Good Shepherd, a
Former chairperson of the Executive Board of the
Association of a Major Religious Superior of Women
in the Philippines and founder of ALAY KAPWA
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.

JOI BARRIOS

She is a popular poet, actress, scriptwriter, and
activist. She earned PhD on Filipino and Philippine
Literature from the University of the Philippines and
served as associate professor and associate dean of
the UP College of Arts and Letters.

LORENA BARROS

She was a Woman Leader, gifted writer, and one of
the icon of modern Philippine feminism. She was one
of the well-known heroes during the anti-dictatorship
struggle who founded the MALAYANG KILUSAN NG
BAGONG KABABAIHAN or MAKIBAKA.

RAISSA JAJURIE

Atty. Jajurie is the Moro Program coordinator of the
Alternative Legal Assistance Center. An advocate of
Muslim Women’s Rights, she believes in justice for Muslims
women in accordance with Islamic teaching and Women,
she founded Nisa Ul-Haqq fi Bangsamoro ( Women for Justice
in the Bangsamoro.

ROSELLE AMBUBUYOG

She is the first visually-impaired Filipina to be awarded
Summa Cum Laude at the age of Six. Ambubuyog did not
let her disability hinder her to finish her studies. She
graduated valedictorian in her elementary and high
school. She was awarded a full scholarship at the at the
Ateneo de Manila University.

ROSA HENSON

Lola Rosa was a Comfort woman. In 1992, she broke
the silence about Filipina comfort women through
her autobiography. Comfort Woman: Slave of Destiny.
She Was served Hukbalahap.

PRACTICAL FEMINISM IN THE PHILIPPINES
 It has been observed time and again that the Philippine women’s
movement has been dominated by more practical concerns than
ideological ones, unlike those in Western movements. This is due to
the multiple oppression faced by Filipino women, and Filipinos in
general
 It is more grounded in the concrete concerns of women as defined
by the exploitation and marginalization in the developing world.
 These feminist movements have a strong grassroots base usually
organized by non-governmental organizations that promote women-
oriented development

THANK YOU!
ANY QUESTIONS?

Evolution of Filipinas' Role in Society

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