On Women’s Month this March, I am happy to note that the Philippines was recently given an important recognition, being one of the countries which achieved a big decline in discrimination against women. The Philippines is right on track in the implementation of the United Nation’s CEDAW, or Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, thus earning accolades from the United Nations (UN) last year. The honor includes being listed among the Top Six in Gender Parity worldwide. Thus, the theme this year is “CEDAW ng Bayan: Yaman ng Kababaihan”.
Women’s Day brings to my mind the famous letter of Dr. Jose P. Rizal more than a century ago to the 21 young women of Malolos in Bulacan province. During the Spanish period, Filipinas were regarded as the inferior sex, even treated of lesser importance than the Filipino men who were then called indios. The women from Malolos, namely Emilia, Anastacia, Basilia, Paz, Aleja, Mercedes, Agapita, Filomena, Cecilia, and Feliciana of the Tiongson clan; Elisea, Juana, Leoncia, Olympia and Rufina of the Reyes clan; Eugenia and Aurea Tanchangco; Basilia, Teresa and Maria Tantoco and Alberta Uitangcoy, were the 21 women who asked the Cura Paroco first, and then the Spanish Governor, for permission to hold night classes to study the Spanish language at their own expense. Both requests were denied but these women, undaunted, held the classes in secret.
This act of the Women of Malolos came to the knowledge of Dr. Jose Rizal who was in Europe at that time, and so he wrote a letter, commending the courage of these women. In this letter, Dr. Rizal laid down his criteria of his ideal Filipina. Good conduct, clean conscience, upright thinking, knows what is right and what is wrong — these were some of the characteristics he mentioned that should be possessed by his ideal Filipina. She must be firm in her character and possess lofty ideas that inspire the weak and encourage men to pursue brilliant ideas. She must be a young woman of whom her country can be proud.
As a wife, the Filipina should help her husband in every difficulty, encourage him, share with him all perils, console him, and inspire him to overcome his weaknesses and pursue lofty goals in life. And as a mother, she should teach her children every good and desirable idea — love of honor, love of fellowmen, love of country, and love of God.
Hence, Dr. Rizal believed that the women of the Philippines were the wellspring of the nation. Lately, some militant women leaders have figured prominently in the headlines particularly in mounting protests against the administration. It may do them good to be guided by the ideal traits of Filipino women as portrayed by our national hero. May they strive not only to match the capability of men to lead and work for change. More importantly, they should be able to contribute to our country, meaningful and timely achievements that will mirror excellence in character and good examples for our children and grandchildren. Let us not forsake the tradition and the ideals that have shaped our culture and made us great as a nation.