PROUDLY PINAY

Three women. Three sources of inspiration. Carina Dayondon, Janet Belarmino and Noelle Wenceslao - women of courage, women who gave us pride. They're proof of what Filipinas can do even if presented with seemingly insurmountable odds.

I remember hearing this... "The Philippines is a patriarchal society but it is matricentric." I looked up what "matrecentric" means - being centered in the mother. And I remember how our own household is centered on my mother. My mother does all the work around the house. If I need something, it's to my mother that I go to. If I hurt myself, it's my mother's name that I call - Nanay!!! If I got scared, it's my mother's name that I whisper like a prayer, hoping that it will ease away my fears - Inaaay!!! But I always remember how my father pays homage to what my mother does by always saying that the my mother held our family together. She's our family's anchor.

I also remember how my father would tell stories of how his own mother molded him to be the responsible man that he is. Yes, our family is indeed matricentric. And I am thankful for that. The women in our family, made me the woman that I am. They opened my eyes that my being a woman is not a liability. It is a gift... a gift I should nurture so it can work to my advantage. A gift that I should use so that I can touch people's lives. They taught me to be the best person that I can be. They showed me that women have tremendous contributions in raising a family. They reaffirmed my belief that if I try hard enough, I can make my dreams come true. Through their examples, I grew up thinking that women are no different from men, unless of course, you're talking about anatomies.

I always thought that all women think like the women in my family, until I went to college in an all-women school, whose president is also the chairperson of the most notable women organization in the country. I realized, not all Filipinas are lucky to grow up in an environment where women are respected and loved by their male counterparts. I became more aware of their issues. I became exposed to injustices, violence and inequalities against women. I started to have opinions about the commodification of women in the media. I get offeneded by double standards. I stopped laughing at dumb blonde jokes. I honestly don't know if I ever did anything that helped the women movement. All I know is that I take pride in my being a woman - to have a voice and be listened to, to do things I want, to be educated, to have a career in a field that I have personally picked, to start a family with the guy I chose to be with, to bear a child on a time I find most fitting.

I dreamed of a time when gender would be non-issue. Although there are so many things that needs to be done, my heart goes to Filipinas like Dayondon, Wenceslao and Belarmino who blazed a trail and eventually would pave the way for other Filipinas to take courage and carve their own destiny in our country's history.

Credits: Draculita and Jonas Diego for the logos

SUPERWOMOM'S NOTES:

March is Women's Month. This post pays homage to the two women in my family who contributed tremendously to my personhood - Nanay Sally and Lola Puring - I wouldn't be the woman that I am if not for the valuable lessons and examples you have imparted. I'll forever be indebted to both of you. I will love you always.