Featured image: HISTORY WAS WRITTEN THIS DAY Delegate Manuel Roxas is shown signing the constitution of the Philippines at the last session of the convention held on Feb. 19, 1935
Tracing back the provenance of girl power in the Philippines can be quite an interesting journey. Significant events here and there provide pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, which explains this evolution. If I asked women today if they knew Filemon Sotto, most would wonder who I am talking about. The first question that would probably come to mind would be how he is related to Tito Sotto.
The former Senate President is one of his grandsons. He hails from Cebu and in a twist of fate, the name Duterte also appears in his personal history. Filemon was romantically involved in 1909 with Remedios Duterte, a local beauty queen. This was a time when having children out of wedlock was clearly looked down in society. Filemon had two children by Duterte. The first child, a son, died in infancy. Remedios, however, bore another child, a daughter who was named after Filemon’s mother Pascuala.
The relationship did not progress into marriage as Filemon eventually broke off the relationship and subsequently married Carmen Rallos. One can say Filemon did have a soft spot for women as he continued to provide for his daughter Pascuala even if the relationship with her mom had ended.
There was a strong feminist movement in the early part of the 20th century. One of the significant women’s groups, the Asociacion Feminista Filipina, was formed by Dona Concepcion Felix in 1905. This was followed by the Asociacion Feminista Ilonga in 1907. These groups advocated for better education and the prevention of individual immorality. These groups provided enough influence to Filemon to prompt him to file a bill in Congress allowing women to vote. That was the gate that needed to be broken to emancipate women from social conventions of the role of women in the family and in government.
They knew that a positive influence on Filemon and his friends belonging to the “Seven Wise Men” was very important. These political heavyweights were instrumental in crafting the 1935 Philippine Constitution. The other members of the “Wise Seven” were Conrado Benitez, father of former Senator Helena Benitez, she was responsible for building the Philippine Women’s University; Manuel Briones, congressman and eventual senator who co-authored the country’s first Labor Code and the Social Security Act of 1954; Miguel Cuaderno, the first governor of the Central Bank of the Philippines; Norberto Romualdez, the uncle of former first lady Imelda Marcos; Vicente Singson Encarnacion; and Manuel Roxas.
Senator Filemon Sotto filed a bill in the National Assembly in 1935 allowing women to vote. This passed into law eventually in 1937.
This singular act opened the floodgates of the participation of women in government and business. It culminated in the election of Corazon Aquino 49 years later as the first woman president of the Philippines. So one can say that if not for Senator Sotto, Cory would not have become president. There are other political and business luminaries that came forward, I would lose space if I were to mention all these super women.
A woman’s place in the early 20th century was at the side of her husband. The father was the breadwinner and protector of the family, while the mother is the one who nurtures and attends to the many needs of the family. One important task she undertakes is the management of the family finances. Whether meager or in great excess, she makes sure all bills are paid and that a portion is left to be saved for a rainy day.
This role, however, evolved over time. In the early ’60s, women started to work side by side with the men. The social pressures of raising a large family necessitated an economic contribution from the mother as well.
It was a herculean and downright tiring task. After work in an office or business, she comes home to take care of the food of the children and the schooling needs. One cannot imagine where women get all the energy to do all these things.
This expansion of the role of women, however, is not without its own pitfalls. What would be considered taboo in the past is now commonplace with single parents caring and providing for children when the husband strays.
A lot of issues still confront the emancipated woman of the future. Marrying late, having less or no children at all, providing for their own needs in their elderly years confront the youth of today.
A World Bank study has shown that women have a greater tendency to prioritize education and health for their family. The latest statistics show that 47 percent of women now work. That ratio will definitely go further up through the years ahead.
Women are resilient and have an endless supply of energy. It has been so in the past and I am sure, the future will be the same. Bravo to the modern woman! You indeed have come a long way.