The Status of Men and Women in the Philippines

• These notes cover the history of the status of men and women in the Philippines.

Pre-Colonial Philippines

• Before Spanish colonization, the Philippines consisted of self-sustaining communities, where women significantly contributed to economic production and managed community affairs through conflict resolution and peaceful means.
• Unlike other Asian cultures, pre-colonial Filipinos practiced bilateral consanguineal kinship, tracing family lineage through both parents without preference.
• The barangay was the basic societal unit, with residents closely related through consanguineal and affinity kinship.
• There were four authorities in a barangay.
  • The datu was the local chieftain responsible for the economic and political organization.
  • 'Panday' was a title bestowed to specialists with mastery of an art or applied science, such as panday-ginto (goldsmith), panday-bakal (blacksmith), or panday-anluagi (carpenter).
  • The babaylan were experts in culture, religion, medicine, and theoretical knowledge of nature.
  • The bagani/bayani were chief warriors/heroes who maintained law, order, and stability.
• Babaylan or Katalonan, roles were predominantly filled by women who performed this societal role; men had to embody feminine characteristics to fulfill this role.
• Some women became chiefs, like Princess Urduja and Queen Sima, despite the datu position commonly held by men.
• Customary laws and traditions empowered women to perform duties within their families, kinship units, economic activities, and village affairs, including owning and passing on properties.
• Women could easily obtain divorce and remarry, returning the dowry with an additional amount to the former husband or his family.
• Similar punishments were given to both sexes for marital infidelity and violations of family values, though concubines of village chieftains were sometimes exempt.
• Men were typically educated in military arts, crafts, and carpentry, while women learned weaving, childcare, and housekeeping.
• Bathala is the union of man and woman in Light.
  • 'BA' symbolizes generation and is the first syllable of 'babae' (woman).
  • 'THA' means light.
  • 'LA' symbolizes potency and is the first syllable of 'lalake' (man).
  • Reversed, LAHATBA means Total generation or Union and mutuality
• Leadership was generally assumed by the kin group's oldest member with extensive knowledge of local lore and traditions and was mostly egalitarian.
• The society may appear male-dominated, but it is essentially matriarchal, with women holding sway over families, businesses, and politics.
• Most languages in the archipelago are gender-neutral, culturally fostering gender neutrality.
• Babaylan also called Katalonan
  • Balaanon/Divine refer to pre-colonial spiritual leaders who practiced animism, allowing queer men in their ranks, linking them to the divine and revered status.
  • Kusgan/Strong means the spirit familiar or Abyan accompanied the Babaylan as guides when traversing the spirit world.
  • Mananambal/Healer signifies as healers of both natural and spiritual illnesses who believe people have twin souls.
  • Mahinungdanon/Important refer to those who perform rituals to converse with deities to ensure bountiful harvests, positive outcomes in war, and serve as oracles for decisions.
  • Tigsaysay/Historian refer to orators who keep the traditions and culture of the community alive through chant, song, and dance.
• The Babaylan were highly respected members of the community, balancing the datu's masculine energy and serving as counsel due to their divine connection.
• The babaylan could freely marry and have sexual relations and were never reduced to labels based on sexual preference.

Spanish Occupation

• The imposition of Spanish laws in the Philippines brought radical changes to the status of women and erased their previous privileges.
• The Spanish Civil Code of 1885 curtailed women's freedom, and married women were mandated to obey their husbands.
  • Women had to follow the decisions of their husbands and seek their consent for selling properties or changing nationality.
• The husband was the administrator of conjugal properties, and the wife was prohibited from acquiring or disposing without his consent.
• Widows were prohibited from remarrying until after 301 days from the death of her husband unless they were pregnant.
• A widow was allowed to have legal custody if a will allowed the widow to have custody even if she remarries.
• Divorce and dowry system were recognized, with the woman's parents required to give dowry from their conjugal property.
• Only the maltreated spouse could petition for divorce in the event of maltreatment, adultery, violence, prostituting the other spouse, attempting to corrupt their children, or conviction of a spouse.
• Filipinas' access to education was limited to elementary levels in exclusive schools for girls.
• The women's curriculum was based on Kirche(church), Kuche(kitchen), and Kinder(children), women were taught to follow Castilian values and remain chaste until married, developing skills to become excellent housewives and servants of God.
• Low-income women were expected to contribute in economic production, farming, weaving, and folk healers, and conflict mediators.
• Manuals given to young girls to educate them according to Iberian concepts of femininity.
  • Paginas de la Virtud taught reading/lectures on morality for girls.
  • Reglamento o Regla de Vida que debe Seguir la Mujer was the rules of life women must follow.
  • Que Aspire a la Perfecion means may I aspire to perfection
  • Mga Tagubilin sa mga Dalaga or instructions to women
  • Formacion de la Mujer Cristina which referred to the formation of the Christian woman With these, women, especially the unmarried or 'dalaga' avoid committing sins in accordance with the injuction of St. Jerome.
  • They had to avoid talking with men unless necessary, read carefully, cultivate patience, keep virginity until marriage, avoid being idle, and stay at home devoted to chores and prayers.
• However, some resisted the impositions of the Spanish Colonial Government.
  • The La Liga Filipina fought for independence but failed.
  • The Katipunan (KKK) opted for armed struggle.
• Women joined the underground resistance movement, acquiring political skills and know-how that allowed them to go beyond traditional roles.
  • The women's Chapter was composed of the wives and daughters of Katipuneros
  • They were nurses and communicated secretly with their troops.

American Regime

• Free education for all, both boys and girls, was imposed from elementary to tertiary levels.
• Schools of Household Industries were established for women.
• Segregation of programs/courses among sexes was observed which marked the sexual imbalance and stereotypes.
• Several universities were also established.
  • Silliman University, Dumaguete City
  • Central Philippine University, Iloilo City
  • University of the Philippines, and Philippine Medical School.
• Literacy rates increased from 1903 to 1948 for girls from 10% to 57% and boys from 30% to 60%.
• Despite the improvements, the number of women enrollees in secondary and tertiary decreased.
• Women became professionals, as well as the first set of new female doctors, lawyers, and leaders emerged.
• Among lower-class women, they remained in the farming, fishing, or other cottage industries with continued unequal treatment and compensation beyond these opportunities.

Japanese Control

• Some women became 'comfort women' to the Japanese Soldiers during WW2 in brothel camps, while men who resisted became guerillas.
• Men mostly revolted the Japanese forces in the mountains, many experienced public executions, Death Marches and Kempeitai punishments.

Post-War Era

• After the invasion of foreign forces, the Philippines struggled to establish a national identity.
• The Civil Code of 1949 was put in place that would give the Philippines more power.
  • Women over 21 were qualified for all acts of civil life
  • Legal separation was allowed in adultery cases
  • Married women can exercise their profession