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Monday, February 21, 2005
Filipino Woman then… now
For centuries, the Philippines had in so many ways undergone a series of conquests after conquests experiencing both hard times and good times. The events were so varied; the archipelago almost ran out of its own nucleus. They enormously affected the Filipino society in general and each individual men and women in particular. From the early invasion by the Spaniards which lasted more than three hundred years until the Americans came and gone, this country were subjected to various forms of leadership and are crucial years of coverage in this discussion as basis for the following observations. Within this time frame, the indigenous people in the Philippines acquired a great sense of cultural manifestations as well as internal modifications of both genders.
A number of inevitable changes can be observed in many Filipino women now a days, especially when one is keen in observing these changes. More so, these changes can be seen dramatically if one knew of the Filipina before any colonizer got hold of the land influencing and engulfing greatly the minds and ways and of the culture of Filipino society. Indeed it is a fact that Filipino women widely known as Filipina, have changed a great deal and adapted unknowingly the styles and norms of the westerners when she came in contact with the New World. But before we can make any judgment or deduce reasons for being so, allow me to present here some of the events which took place as early as man lived in this archipelago, and also during the reign of the Datus, their empires, to the times when foreigners came and gave a mind set of their own to the woman of our past. Discussions herein are based on accepted and authenticated documents.
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Pre-Spanish regime:
When the Philippines were on its birth stage or when it was yet scarcely inhabited, women played quite a good level of profile. They existed equally with the men and not merely for the purpose of reproduction. Yet they lived simple lives, had simple homes, and wore simple clothing or none at all. But the women in those times enjoyed life as much as contributed a great deal of talent and judgments for the family’s well being.
When the Philippines were on its birth stage or when it was yet scarcely inhabited, women played quite a good level of profile. They existed equally with the men and not merely for the purpose of reproduction. Yet they lived simple lives, had simple homes, and wore simple clothing or none at all. But the women in those times enjoyed life as much as contributed a great deal of talent and judgments for the family’s well being.
As observed, when Filipino women were left in the dwellings while the men hunt for food, they were the managers of their homestead, took care of livestock which abound around their property and was solely decisive of the family landholdings. “….she had the task of agricultural production once the ground had been prepared by the man. She engaged herself in weaving and devised ways of preserving foods thus pottery-making came to be useful, while managed the trading of products and wares” (Lorna S. Torralba Titgemeyer). These women were not merely just sex partners for the men in this point of time but were decisive to the point that they practiced abortion after having the desired number of children thought they should have. The lived not only to be subjects for pro-creations but also enjoyed freedom in making decisions for the family. They were the man’s companion, a sex mate, partner and were not confined only to domestic affairs like having a baby or not. Even the giving of names of their children was her prerogative. This indigenous Filipina or “La Mujer Indigena” – as what Lorna S. Torralba Titgemeyer called her- was equally important in the community.
Furthermore was the woman’s role so great when the daughters of the datus of the early Philippines were allowed to succeed their father’s reign and even became political leaders themselves. “The most famous of the women leaders of pre-Spanish society was Princess Urduja of Pangasinan. She was supposed to be a beautiful Amazon, courageous and intelligent, possessing knowledge of languages and culture of Old Asia.”(Lorna S. Torralba Titgemeyer “La Mujer Indigena “, The Native Woman)- a description of the Filipino Woman during Pre-Spanish Time. Truthfully, many roles were played by Filipino women before the Spaniards came and conquered the Philippine archipelago. During these pre-Spanish era women were allowed to acquire roles in the highest rank of society and were entitled to privileges equal that of the men in the same rank. These women were given equal importance with men. The inheritances were also divided equally among both sexes. One of the conveniences enjoyed by the women of the past was arranged marriage. A certain amount of money called dowry was agreed upon by both parties together with their parents according to how much the bride can afford and given to the groom's parents. After marriage, the woman did not lose her family name but somehow the husband took the wife’s name, specifically if the wife belonged to a distinguished clan. The woman before any conquest was given the same importance with any man. She enjoyed freedom in making decisions for the family.
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Spanish Era
History continued. The first recorded invasion was by the Spaniards which took place around the 15th century (1565). It stayed onwards for over three hundred years and changed dramatically the society which the Filipinos were accustomed to since the dawn of man. The Spanish conquest profusely if not completely seeped through the minds of the Filipino community thereby mixing up the beliefs, the customs, the traditions, and holistically speaking, the culture which they had way back from their great ancestors.
In these times, it was told there was gradual lowering of the status of women and their rights as compared with that of the men relatively. Since women has always been the weaker sex when it comes to beliefs thus when the Spaniards came almost immediately most women converted to the religion which was introduced by the colonizers and felt bonded to domestic and parochial affairs. “Catechism and prayers became the main pre-occupation of the converted women. Beaterios (nunneries) and colegios (colleges) were set up to indoctrinate the daughters of the elite in the new religion. (Juliet de Lima).
History continued. The first recorded invasion was by the Spaniards which took place around the 15th century (1565). It stayed onwards for over three hundred years and changed dramatically the society which the Filipinos were accustomed to since the dawn of man. The Spanish conquest profusely if not completely seeped through the minds of the Filipino community thereby mixing up the beliefs, the customs, the traditions, and holistically speaking, the culture which they had way back from their great ancestors.
In these times, it was told there was gradual lowering of the status of women and their rights as compared with that of the men relatively. Since women has always been the weaker sex when it comes to beliefs thus when the Spaniards came almost immediately most women converted to the religion which was introduced by the colonizers and felt bonded to domestic and parochial affairs. “Catechism and prayers became the main pre-occupation of the converted women. Beaterios (nunneries) and colegios (colleges) were set up to indoctrinate the daughters of the elite in the new religion. (Juliet de Lima).
Within this period a rather different Filipino woman emerged. She has become less socially involved with the affairs of the state or government. The colonizers made it possible to transform her image of being a politically motivated lady into a more demure and subdued sense of identity. The Muslim princess has become the “Maria Clara”- or the Filipina lady – one of Dr. Jose Rizal’s (Philippines’ national hero) main character in his novel Noli Me Tangere, depicting a woman during the Spanish conquest who described the woman to be …”low in profile, less politicized, quite hesitant in government dealings and adopted the Spanish woman mentality especially in ways of fashion, in contrast with that of the half-naked body of pre-colonial women”. Much of the image of the Filipino woman in this era of Philippine history owed a variety of manifestations induced in the eyes and confused minds of society, more significantly in the way she moves, the beliefs she instills and the culture she adapted involuntarily if not unwillingly.
The Filipina during the Spanish times wore elegant dresses, spoke light-heartedly, attended social gatherings more often than not, and enjoyed socio-cultural parties complimenting the well-being of her husband and became a very respectable member of the community. She has successfully adjusted to the norms of the Spanish colonizers. But of course, who would not, after more than three hundred years of manipulation and dominance on the part of the Spanish colonizers.
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American Period
Little by little the Spaniards exposed the Philippines to international commerce and during the middle of the 18th century; around 1834 Spain opened the Philippine ports to international free trade. But tragically, Spain’s colonization of the Philippine archipelago came to a halt when revolts erupted in the northern part of the country. After three hundred years of being subdued within their own homeland, Filipinos became fed up with the ways the Spaniards maltreated them so they formed groups of oppressions. A long standing source of resentment was the exclusion of Filipinos from the religious orders and the priesthood. This led to the armed revolt of Apolinario de la Cruz in 1841. After witnessing the abuse of the Spanish colonizers, Filipino people consolidated enough force to overthrow the current government under Spain. A revolting group called KATIPUNAN, whose foremost goal was political, wanting to separate the Philippines from Spain, had women chapters. The Filipino women who participated much during the revolution, especially the wealthier ones were not confined to actual fighting only but also donated firearms to the cause. Among these women fighters named -Katipuneras- composed of mainly the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of the Katipuneros. As the records showed, a very famous lady emerged leader in one crusade for freedom by the name of Gabriela Silang, the wife of Diego Silang who started the Ilocano revolt but was assassinated and died.
Little by little the Spaniards exposed the Philippines to international commerce and during the middle of the 18th century; around 1834 Spain opened the Philippine ports to international free trade. But tragically, Spain’s colonization of the Philippine archipelago came to a halt when revolts erupted in the northern part of the country. After three hundred years of being subdued within their own homeland, Filipinos became fed up with the ways the Spaniards maltreated them so they formed groups of oppressions. A long standing source of resentment was the exclusion of Filipinos from the religious orders and the priesthood. This led to the armed revolt of Apolinario de la Cruz in 1841. After witnessing the abuse of the Spanish colonizers, Filipino people consolidated enough force to overthrow the current government under Spain. A revolting group called KATIPUNAN, whose foremost goal was political, wanting to separate the Philippines from Spain, had women chapters. The Filipino women who participated much during the revolution, especially the wealthier ones were not confined to actual fighting only but also donated firearms to the cause. Among these women fighters named -Katipuneras- composed of mainly the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of the Katipuneros. As the records showed, a very famous lady emerged leader in one crusade for freedom by the name of Gabriela Silang, the wife of Diego Silang who started the Ilocano revolt but was assassinated and died.
Gabriela Silang
Although the oppression was not a successful one, the name “Gabriela Silang” instilled in the minds of the Filipino people most specifically the women as “the hostile yet the defender”.
In these era, the Filipino community especially the women learned another version of sentiments and culture manifestations. As learned, the United States was one of the so-called New World as it was the newest continent reached by Spain in their series of conquests, geographically located kilometers away off the Pacific coast of the Philippines. These Americans unknowingly influenced much of the culture and traditions of the Filipino-Hispanic communities at that time. They wore clothes quite different with the Spaniards. More importantly, the Americans who came in, although not much, were responsible for the introductions of a new wave of fashion, novel methods of communications, diverse ways of leadership and more new sets of rules to follow. The ladies during this time frame became involved in the community in contrast to the Spanish regime wherein the women were quite suppressed as to the involvement to society. Filipino women in the American regime were much more interested in the state affairs and government activities. Filipino women were then westernized- term used to describe the ways in which a society is akin to the norms, customs and traditions to that of the western country, one of which is United States. But it did not last long because as true believers of freedom, the Filipinos raised arms against the Americans in quest for independence. It was the most important year in Philippines history and to most Filipino people, 1946 to be exact.
In these era, the Filipino community especially the women learned another version of sentiments and culture manifestations. As learned, the United States was one of the so-called New World as it was the newest continent reached by Spain in their series of conquests, geographically located kilometers away off the Pacific coast of the Philippines. These Americans unknowingly influenced much of the culture and traditions of the Filipino-Hispanic communities at that time. They wore clothes quite different with the Spaniards. More importantly, the Americans who came in, although not much, were responsible for the introductions of a new wave of fashion, novel methods of communications, diverse ways of leadership and more new sets of rules to follow. The ladies during this time frame became involved in the community in contrast to the Spanish regime wherein the women were quite suppressed as to the involvement to society. Filipino women in the American regime were much more interested in the state affairs and government activities. Filipino women were then westernized- term used to describe the ways in which a society is akin to the norms, customs and traditions to that of the western country, one of which is United States. But it did not last long because as true believers of freedom, the Filipinos raised arms against the Americans in quest for independence. It was the most important year in Philippines history and to most Filipino people, 1946 to be exact.
From then on, the Filipino people grew into a more mature individual. With much interest on political affairs and the society it existed for. A “modern Filipina” has now eeked out of that gloomy and sad past of the invaders’ web, and is now a well-balanced, intellectually adept and society-conscious lady. She is now a carefree woman with talents more than she can handle like do more tasks at the same time.
An example of this is a wife who works eight to ten hours as manager of a certain firm each day and comes home to prepare dinner for the family plus she takes care of her husband’s needs without hesitation on her part whatsoever. She is engaged in various community activites including the church even lead a group of parishioners in serving their own local parish. She takes interests too on matters of political inclination so much so she holds high seats in the government. She has attained more freedom to express herself to the community. In fact, The Philippines first had its lady president (Corazon P. Aquino) and ruler of the land on 1986, when she pursued her reign succeeding her husband.
Former Pres.-Corazon P. Aquino Current Pres. - Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Today, the Philippine president at the time of this writing is also a woman by the name of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The image remained akin to the Spanish era, but with different conviction this time.
The Filipino woman to this day has undergone more than a couple of changes, modifications and nuturing in the cultures she once had originally, retained her catholic faith but are more determined and expressive than she once was.
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Agnes Razyneth M. Amores - M.A. History
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