This article documents the fight for the liberation of the mother

country from the perspective of the history of women in the

Philippines. It chronicles the struggles of women to obtain their
own freedom and liberation through our various historical
periods, moving from their earliest demand for education to
their not-insignificant participation in the various wars of
liberation, first from the Spaniards to the current struggle for
economic and cultural independence from foreign influences. It
also raises the issue of whether the struggle for the liberation of
the country brings with it the liberation of women in society.
Introduction:

It is sad to say, but it is true that women and their contribution

to the formation of national consciousness are not mentioned.
It is as if only men are capable of lofty ideas such as love for the
Motherland or nationalism. It is good that women are gradually
becoming aware of the need to include them in the pages of our
history, especially in the formation of national consciousness. It
is significant that the words Inang Bayan and Inang Pilipinas
are both expressed in the feminine gender. This means that the
woman has deep feelings for the people. The qualities such as
love and Read at the 11th National Conference on Local History
on October 26, 1990 in Naga City. PHILIPPINE SOCIAL SCIENCES
REVIEW Nurturing is inherent in Filipino women, so love for the
country is close to their heart and experience. This short paper
aims to show the contribution of women in the formation of
national consciousness. The Woman Within Spanish
Colonialism When the Spaniards arrived, the Philippine
resistance to the great threat of occupation. A strong reaction
was seen in the field of babaylan or katalonan.
 They saw the erosion of indigenous culture upon the arrival of
the Spaniards. So on revolt against the Spaniards, some of which
were initiated by babaylan or katalonan.
Although the Spaniards tried to mold our women based on their
prediction of a woman, they did not completely succeed either.
Religion and education tried to shape the Philippines to be
kind, gentle and tolerant. Contrary to this picture is the
outcome of the Philippines. The Filipina fights back if her
humanity is not respected. We read of cigarette strikes during
the Spanish era. We read of a petition by the shopkeepers in
1801 not to evict them from their posts in Santa Cruz. There is
the request of some women in Malolos to allow them to learn
Spanish. These are clear evidence that the Filipinos have not
been stupid. What we want to know is how Filipinos show their
love for the Motherland. Evidence of women's resistance to the
foreign conqueror is a poem created by a group of women in the
Heraldo Filipino in 1899. These stanzas can be read:VOL. 52
JANUARY-DECEMBER 1995 Come and let's stand together and
defend the honor of this Philippines from any nation and don't
allow us children to be beaten.We will fight for independence
until one of us is alive and here they have no reign but our blood
and corpses.Even if we are conquered by the Yankis, we will
also die from pains, it is important to die from the patronage
that should be respected as our righteous. Through our Holy
righteousness is ours the complete victory, the mercy of heaven
will hopefully help us fight.The creators of the poem are
Victoria Lactaw, Feliza Kahatol, Patricia Himagsik, Dolores
Katindig, Felipa Sipalas and Victoria Mausig. It's wonderful to
think that a poetry writing collective came from the ranks of
Filipino women.The Rise of Patriotism in the Philippines and Its
Two FacesThe Americans tried to suppress the patriotic
feelings of the Filipinos. The waving of our flag is prohibited.
This prompted Enriqueta de Peralta to write in her poem titled
"Our Flag."2And where are you now, O glorious Flag?we seek
your favor excitedlyhappily, when can we return to your
shadeblessing we seek the shelter ofvanished liberation.At this
time, the strong demand of thosePhilippines is a conscious
education. This is firstdisplayed by the women of Malolos. It
was constantly requested
of women that if democracy is what Americans want to
establish, education should be enjoyed not only by men but also
by women. Concepcion Felix wrote this:If we look at the real
similarity- like citizens (democracia); if we want the people to
have true freedom, have the right to make their own decisions
on anything that pertains to the people, have complete
awareness of the consequences of their actions; no shell in
"charms"; to prodigies and other talkative people to deceive
and profit them; then we have no other way but to arm the
women, whether they are young women, even if they are
married, in having full wisdom (whatever the height of this
wisdom) that in the time that walks, should not be only the
man's own or of those who idolize their own wisdom but of all
the people of the town although they are blasphemed.It can be
said at this point that our women desire freedom and the
equality of women and men in wisdom. It reflects the belief that
national aspirations and the condition of women are related.
Human equality, which is the basis of democracy, will only be
complete and complete if women are also aware of their rights
and responsibilities.In the face of such thoughts, we can see the
beginning of organizing among Filipino women. One of the first
organizations that was established was the Asociacion
Feminista Filipina in 1905. The first president of this
organization was Concepcion Felix who we have come to know
as one of those who requested the opportunity for girls to be
educated. It was this organization that the American
suffragettes approachedVOL. 52 JANUARY-DECEMBER 1995 to
convince them to fight that the Philippines ishave the right to
vote. There is reluctancemember of the Asociacion Feminista
Filipina in this proposal.Concepcion Felix Rodriguez admitted
that thewomen to participate in political actions.The struggle of
women has been long and protractedin demanding the right to
vote but they also succeededin 1937. While some women
struggleto achieve the right to vote, there are some womenwho
are members of several farmers' associationsfighting for the
more radical cause the freedom ofPhilippines. This ideal was
expressed by Salud Algabre, aSakdalistIn an interview, Salud
Algabre was asked if the poverty he was going through was the
reason he joined the Sakdalista organization. His answer was
this:
Poverty was not the only reason why I became a member of
Sakdal. This poverty has a root and it can be solved by the
freedom promised to the American people. Freedom is the only
solution to our nation's problems. From the time we were
Nationalists until we became Democrats, freedom is what we
are fighting for. I see no solution to the problem of abuse and
poverty other than freedom. When we are free, the leaders are
not that strong. People will have freedom. People will have their
own land. Lands will not be monopolized by proprietarios and
government officials. Right now, we are hungry for
everything.We can see in this period that women participated
in two types of struggle. One is the parliamentary or peaceful
way and the secondPHILIPPINE SOCIAL SCIENCES REVIEW is the
armed way. Although the methods are different, they have only
one wish, the freedom of the people. Demanding the right to
vote was considered by women as a way to achieve the
independence of the Philippines. Giving women the right to vote
was recognized as bringing good to the government. This is as
one American noted in explaining the virtue of giving women
the right to vote:I should insist that one of the necessary points
in such a plan (referring to Governor Forbes' plan of self-
government on the dominion basis for the Philippines) should
be the immediate enfranchisement of the Filipino woman. For
among ber people, besides the energizing and stabilizing
influence and the bomemaker, she is the moral factor that will
keep ber more adventurous and unstable menfold on the road
which leads to advance and independence. Let's say that these
words are very colonial but still, the interests of Filipino women
and the American conquerors coincided. If we look at the
justifications of the supragist Filipinos, their explanation is
more reasonable and realistic. We can see this in their call to
women to participate in the held plebiscite:Women of the
Philippines, if you participate in the coming referendum, your
name shall be written indelibly on the pages of our bistory, and
your descendants will be proud of you and call you
emancipators of the women in your country. Once you become
an elector, you shall attain the same political status as men. You
can help directly to elect to public office a worthy candidate;
you can help defeat a dishonest and incapable aspirant. In a
democratic country, the ballot is the most effective
instrument in the bands of the average man. Without it, the
average man is a forgotten man; but with it, the average man
becomes the most powerful man in the country. Government
officials listen attentively to bis pleas and complaints, knowing
that he is a voter whose vote on election day must be reckoned
with. To the average man, the ballot is an insurance against
oppression and injustice; and let this be borne in mind by our
women who will soon be enfranchised. As women voters, we
can wield a salutary influence on politics if we use our power to
combat corruption, injustice and oppression. Let us be
judicious in the use of our newly acquired right, aware with the
responsibility that goes with it. This encouragement to women
encouraged women to come out and vote in the plebiscite. More
than the target number of 300,000 answered Yes to the
question of whether to give women the right to vote.The
independence of the Philippines has always been the desire of
Filipino women. This motivated them to become members of
the People's Army Against Japan or Hukbalahap. The reasons
for Hukbalahap membership among women are varied. There
is the intense hatred of Japan, the desire to take revenge on the
Japanese for what they did to one or more family members, the
invitation of members of the organization and the desire to see
the country free. Women members of the Hukbalahap are
assigned writing, medical, organizing, and those related to
propaganda. They also served as couriers of the organization.
Araceli Mallari, a Hukbalahap organizer, reported her role
during the Japanese era:This is where I started my being an
organizer.I accept the reports. Most of thoseOur courier is a
woman. They report a lotregarding the status of memberships
in variousPHILIPPINE SOCIAL SCIENCES REVIEW other areas
covered by the movement. If we have a newly recruited
organizer, I am the one who interviews and gives questions that
test their loyalty and stability in any danger that may befall
them. In addition to receiving their reports, I discuss the new
document and policy adopted by the upper house. An example
is the Harvest Struggle policy and the way it is implemented. I'm
also organizing first aiders to build an emergency hospital in
our jungle. I taught them how to make gauze from mosquito
nets and sterilize them.Mrs. also narrated. Filomena Tolentino,
Katipunan ng Bagong Filipina official, her role within the
Hukbalahap.The movement believes that by releasing drama,
songs and plays, it is easy to convey the message that is the goal
of the Guerrillas who sacrificed their lives and blood.
The movement believes that by releasing drama, songs and
plays, it is easy to convey the message that the Guerrillas who
suffered, sacrificed their lives and blood, can only free the
country and make the people of the country feel free from the
terrible violence they are suffering. and hunger. Likewise,
through this Cultural Group, it is easy to convince the citizens to
unite to fight or support the country of the Philippines, because
the defense has been left in the hands of the Philippines. The
country is not a direct enemy or enemy, but only involved in a
war whose perpetrator is the American nation.?These feelings
will rise from the women of Hukbalahap. Their words indicate
their awareness of the current state of our nation.We know that
after the Second World War, the government did not recognize
the Hukbalahap that's whyVOL. 52 JANUARY-DECEMBER 1995 it
was forced to become a secret society. During this time, the
Hukbalahap became the People's Liberation Army.People's
Freedom, Women's FreedomIn the 60s, the town suffered an
economic crisis. It further increased the American demand that
we participate in the Vietnam War by sending a civic action
group. It was known as the Philippine Civic Action Group or
Philcag. This request led to a demonstration by students at the
Summit Conference held in Manila. The students denounced the
Americans as puppets of the Filipinos. They criticized the
Marcos government for helping to oppress the people of
Vietnam whose only desire is to liberate their homeland. In this
context the Free Movement of New Women or Makibaka was
established. For the first time, there was a "women's
organization within the broad national democratic movement
that devoted primary attention to the women's question." This
organization expressed their concern with the prevailing view
of women by picketing a beauty pageant where they opposed
the use of women as sex objects. In addition to the condition of
women, Makibaka also focused on the poor in cities and rural
areas.When Martial Law was declared, Makibaka disappeared
along with other patriotic movements.Lorena Barros became
the first president of Makibaka. He is a former student of
anthropology at the University of the Philippines and a member
of the U.P. Writer's Club. His poems showed his bias towards the
burning issues of the time. This is reflected in his poem titled "A
Park is Born" 10
Tonight the cogon fires. Tomorrow the heavy tractors tearing at
the roots of ashes We must destroy in order to create the lovely
and the irrelevant, the park now a blueprint dream in some
first lady's drawer. (Some years ago, Bobby Kennedy was here.
They covered the shanties with cosmetic palm.) Yes, we must
have a park, a green and beautiful sight to rest our weary eyes.
And tomorrow the rumble of tractors not quite drowning the
convulsed roll Of evictees feet. In this poem, it is clear that the
First Lady's priority in establishing the park is being criticized
instead of focusing on the problem of poverty.Soon after, Lorena
Barros became a member of the New People's Army (NPA)
because of her belief that women are with men in the armed
struggle." She died in an encounter in Quezon in 1976.It is
difficult to know the participation of women during the critical
periods from 1972 to 1978 due to the suppression of
freedoms.As a result of the desperation of the people in the
Interim Batasan Pambansa elections in 1978 where all
opposition candidates such as Benigno Aquino Jr. did not
appear, a group of women launched the organization Concerned
Women of the Philippines . This organization opposes the
government's flagrant violation of human rights.Women
writers also banded together because of the government's
attempt to censor their worksVOL. 52 JANUARY-DECEMBER
1995 writing. This is where the organization Women in Media
Now • WOMEN came out. It even led to some of them being
invited by the Military to investigate them regarding what they
were writing. The eight invited by the military are Domini
Torrevillas Suarez,Lorna Kalaw Tyrol, Jo-Ann Maglipon, Arlene
Babst, Ninez Cacho-Olivarez, Ceres Doyo, Eugenia Apostol and
Doris Nuyda.The assassination of Ninoy Aquino in 1983
wasresulted in more women's movements.In 1984, the broad
coalition of GABRIELA was established,letters that stand for
General Assembly BindingWomen for Integrity, Equality,
Leadership and Action. Kasapi ng coalition are organizations
like WOMB, AWARE,SAMAKANA, NORTH, FREEDOM, etc. The
goal wasof the coalition will start a change in the town
andencourage and include women in the process ofchange. As
one GABRIELA leader said: "Crisis isbard for women but it also
affords us the chance to truly understand our plight and grasp
the essence of our struggle for liberation as women and as
Filipinos." 12 The main
pagbabalik ng demokrasya; (2) ang tunay na kalayaan ng
Pilipinas na kung saan ang kababaihan ay pantay na katuwang
ng kalalakihan; (3) ang pag-unlad at pagsuporta sa mga
babaeng manggagawa, pesante at urban poor, at (4) pag-alis ng
mga puwersa na sumisiil sa kababaihan. 13 Ang mga babae sa
kanayunan ay nag-organisa rin. Nagtatag rin sila ng kanilang
samahan na tinawag na Katipunan ng mga Bagong Pilipina o
KABAPA. Nilayun ng KABAPA na ipaglaban ang karapatan ng
mga kababaihan sa trabaho at ang pagkapantay niya sa mga
kalalakihan sa harap ng batas. Maliban sa mga isyu na may
kaugnayan sa kuwestion ng peminismo, tinalakay rin ng
KABAPA ang mga malawakan na isyu na hinarap ng bansa gaya
ng pagsasatupad ng tunay na repormang agraryo, pagbabalik
ng mga base militar ng mga Amerikano sa Pilipinas, at ang
pagbigay sa mga Pilipino ng mga mahahalagang industriya.14
12 PHILIPPINE SOCIAL SCIENCES REVIEW Ating mapupuna na
mahalaga para sa mga samahang nabanggit na kailangang
tunghayan ang katayuan ng kababaihan upang magkaroon ng
tunay na kalayaan ng bayan. Hinangad ng maraming samahan
ng kababaihan ang pagbagsak ng Pamahalaang Marcos. Ito ay
kanilang ipinaalam sa pamamagitan ng mga malikhaing
pamamaraan gaya ng mga pasyalan sa Rustans, "guerilla
pickets" at "prayer vigils" of Concerned Women for
Reconciliation. Itong huli ang nagkolekta ng mga lagda upang
suportahan ang balak na ilunsad si Cory bilang kandidata para
sa Pangulo ng Pilipinas. Ang snap election ng 1986 ay naging
labanan ng kasarian at moralidad. Kinampanya ng mga
samahan ng kababaihan si Cory bilang lehitimong alternatibo
kay Marcos. Sa unang pagkakataon, nagkaroon ng isang babae
para sa pinakamataas na posisyon ng bayan. Naging dagdag kay
Cory ang kalinisan at katapangan niya. Si Cory ay nahalal na
Pangulo. Sa pagkakataong ito, hindi umiral ang patronage
politics kung hindi ang simpleng hangad ng taong bayan ng
pagbabago. Patuloy ang pagsisikap ng mga kababaihan na
mabuo ang pambansang kamalayan. Likas sa kababaihan ang
pagiging mapang-aruga. Sa kanyang katangiang ito, laging
hangad ng kababaihan ang kapayapaan. Ito ang mahalagang
ambag ng kababaihan. Layunin ng kababaihan na maipaloob
ang ideolohiya ng kapayapaan sa ating pamahalaan at sa ating
lipunan. Sa harap ng mga nagtutunggaling puwersa sa ating
bayan, dasal ko ay matamasa natin ang tunay at ganap na
kapayapaan