Tribute to Filipino women

Prominent Filipino women – some coming from indistinguishable family lineage – have been recorded in the annals of Philippine history, making their mark in various fields and throwing women power into the limelight through the decades.

Starting with Filipinas who played important roles in the Katipunan – Gabriela Silang, Gregoria de Jesus, Leona Florentino, Teresa Magbanua and Marina Dizon – they should not be relegated to history books.

Women during the three-century Spanish colonial did not enjoy education nor given any opportunity to engage in business.

The 1898 Philippine Revolution ignited the spark that empowered Filipinas to do more than just care for the family.

When the Americans came, Filipino women worked in factories, until they were gradually allowed in get an education.

These women, although gaining more rights and opportunities, were regarded second to the male laborers. The female workers received lower salaries than their male counterparts.

Curiously, a growing number of Filipinas got hired in cabarets in the haciendas as well as in night clubs near the American bases.

During the Japanese occupation, the emergence of comfort women served as euphemism to rampant rape and sexual abuse.

In today’s modern era, the best known Filipina still is Tita Cory – Corazon Aquino, the country’s first female president.

She was followed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The two female presidents started the selection of more lady cabinet secretaries.

Many felt bad when Senator Grace Poe failed in her presidential bid.

The list of prominent Filipinas in government is long. One of them is jailed Senator Leila de Lima. Another is the country’s first Nobel Peace laureate Maria Ressa.

In local governance, lady-mayors abound in Metro Manila – Joy Belmonte of Quezon City, Honey Lacuna of Manila, Jeannie Sandoval of Malabon, Abigail Binay of Makati, Lani Cayetano of Taguig, and others.

The age-old male-female rivalry is obsolete. Men have accorded women equal opportunities in all sectors. On many occasions, women have excelled and surpassed the males.

This month of March – dedicated to Women – focus is no longer asserting what women can do but more on allowing women to excel in their chosen fields.

Paying tribute to women should start with the first woman we all came to know – our mothers.