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A History of Women Did you know that, in 1647, a woman named Doña Maria Mutia won a legal separation suit against her alcoholic and violent husband, who did not want the separation? Details of the court proceedings can be read in Proceso de la Demanda de Nulidad de Matrimonio, one of the oldest documents kept in the Filipinas Heritage Library. Doña Maria’s triumph is just one of the many in history that show how Filipinas not only changed with the times; many of them changed the times with their courage and determination. Gabriela Silang, Teresa Magbanua, Felipa Culala, and Lorena Barros led whole troops in battles against oppressors. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Leona Florentino, Magdalena Jalandoni, and Paz Marquez-Benitez subverted woman’s image as mere literary muse by becoming writers themselves. Pelagia Mendoza and Paz Paterno bravely entered, and excelled in, the male-dominated world of visual arts. Many uncelebrated Filipino women have passed on their legacies to future generations of Filipinas. In 1684, Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo founded the first spiritual community of non-Spanish women in Manila. Librada Avelino, Rosa Sevilla, Francisca Benitez, and their associates built schools for girls. Asociacion Feminista Filipina, the first women’s club in the Philippines, was organized by Concepcion Felix in 1905. The Asociacion paved the way for other women’s groups to lobby for women’s suffrage, which was finally won in 1937. Filipinas today owe at least their gratitude to these women and many others in history who never had the opportunity to be named National Artist, National Scientist, Doctor, Attorney, Professor, and even President of the Philippines. To celebrate Women’s Month, we remember and honor them. Friday, March 26, 2010 Back