Women's Rights Movement: Key Events in Philippine History

T

The women’s rights movement in the Philippines has come a long way since the early 20th century, when Filipino women began organizing and pushing for their right to vote and to be represented in halls of power.

For historian and University of the Philippines professor emeritus Dr. Luisa Camagay, much more can still be done in advancing women’s rights and welfare through education that starts in the basic education years and with teachers themselves.

In a Zoom interview with GMA News Online, Camagay – whose research interests include the history of women, urban history, and local history – said that enriching the mind, then and now, has always been a key factor in advocating for equal space for men, women, and all genders.

Here are some of the key events that helped push forward Filipinas’ rights and welfare:

The early suffrage movement (1900s–1930s):

• 1905: Founding of Asociación Femenista Filipina – Led by Concepcion Felix de Calderon, this was the first women’s organization in the country and initially focused on social reforms like prison conditions and labor. This was followed by the founding of Asociacion Feminista Ilonga by Pura Villanueva Kalaw in 1906.
• 1907: Filing of first suffrage bill – The first women’s suffrage bill in the Philippine Assembly was encouraged by Kalaw and filed by Cebu congressman Filemon Sotto.
• 1912: Visit of Carrie Chapman Catt and Dr. Aletta Jacobs – The visit of these international suffragettes led to the formation of the Society for the Advancement of Women, later known as the Manila Women’s Club.
• April 30, 1937: The suffrage plebiscite – A plebiscite was held to determine whether Filipino women wanted suffrage. Filipino women won the right to vote with 447,725 affirmative votes, exceeding the 300,000 required by the 1935 Constitution.
• December 14, 1937: The first election with women voters – Women exercised their right to vote and run for public office for the first time in the December 1937 elections.

Politics, organizing, and dictatorship resistance (1970s–1980s):

• 1970: Establishment of MAKIBAKA – The Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (Free Movement of New Women) was founded by Lorena Barros during the First Quarter Storm. They held an all-women picket against the Miss Philippines pageant.
• 1975 (January 7): Founding of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women – It was established under Presidential Decree No. 633 as a body that ensured the full integration of women for economic, social, and cultural development. It is now known as the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).
• 1981: Formation of PILIPINA or Kilusan ng Kababaihang Pilipina – A feminist organization focused on mainstreaming gender issues into social development.
• 1984: Formation of GABRIELA – Named after revolutionary hero Gabriela Silang, this alliance was formed after 10,000 women marched in Manila in defiance of a decree against demonstrations.
• 1986: Election of Corazon Aquino as the Philippines’ first female President – She was inaugurated as the first female President of the Philippines following the peaceful EDSA People Power Revolution.

Legislative milestones (1990s–Present):

• 1995: Enactment of Republic Act 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act – The first law in the Philippines to declare sexual harassment unlawful, though it was initially limited to work, education, and training environments.
• 1997: Enactment of RA 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law – The law reclassified rape from a “crime against chastity” to a crime against persons,” which meant that rape is no longer a private crime but a public crime. It also shifted the focus from the victim’s honor to the violation of the person. This law also defined marital rape.
• 2004: Enactment of RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act – A landmark law that provided for protective measures to prevent and sanction violence against women and their children. It also imposed penalties on physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse.
• 2009: Enactment of RA 8710 or the Magna Carta of Women – A comprehensive women’s human rights law that sought to eliminate discrimination through the recognition, protection, fulfillment, and promotion of the rights of Filipino women. It is the local adoption of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
• 2012: Enactment of RA 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act – The law that guaranteed universal access to contraception, fertility control, and maternal care.
• 2019: Enactment of RA 11210 or the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Act – This law significantly increased paid maternity leave from 60 days to 105 days, with an option for an additional 30 days of unpaid leave. It also gave the woman the option to allocate up to seven days of paid maternity leave to the child’s father or an alternate caregiver.
• 2019: Enactment of RA 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act – The “Bawal Bastos” Law covers all forms of gender-based sexual harassment committed in public spaces, training and educational institutions, workplaces, and online spaces.

W

ith these developments in the last 150 years, Camagay said it is not enough for a woman to be conscious and exercise her rights. Men, she said, should also be enlightened to respect and advocate for women’s welfare.

Hence, education to instill true gender equality should be inclusive for boys so that they will grow to be men who will respect genuine gender equality, she said.

“Equality will never occur if it doesn’t cross the minds of the men also,” Camagay said.

Camagay said teaching gender equality must begin with basic education or in a student’s formative years.

“Nakikita ko rin yung kahalagahan ng hindi lamang introduction to basic education, pero ‘yung kahandaan ng mga teachers. ‘Yung teacher education rin,” Camagay said.

(I also see the importance of not just an introduction to basic education, but the preparedness of the teachers. Teacher education itself.)

She said that teacher education does not include gender courses or gender perspectives.

Camagay said it is important for a teacher to be equipped to teach gender equality to students by having gender courses on the history of gender and issues on gender equality.

“Para siya mismo, equipped siya, may kakayahan na ituro na dapat pantay ang babae at lalaki. So kung meron kang teacher education o isang mulat na teacher, meron kang intervention sa basic education,” she said.

(So that the teacher is equipped and can teach that a woman and a man are equal. So if there is teacher education like that or an enlightened teacher, you have interventions at the basic education level.)

“Tapos gawing isang core course sa tertiary education, siguro ‘yun nakikita ko makakatulong. Kasi ‘yung education is mahalaga ‘yan para mabago ang pag-iisip ng mga tao,” Camagay went on.

(Then have a core course on gender in tertiary education, I think that would help. Education is important in changing people’s mindsets.)

In the Philippines, Camagay said there is no dearth of laws that advocate for women’s rights and welfare, but there are shortcomings in the implementation of these measures.

This is where the education of Filipinos – men, women, and other genders as well – is crucial in helping ensure better protections and opportunities for women as society continues to expand, especially in digital spaces.

“It may not be funding or what. But it’s the education, changing of the mind of teachers, students,” Camagay said. —NB/GMA Integrated News