Women of Malolos in 1888

On December 12, 1888, twenty women from Malolos, Bulacan presented a petition to
Governor-General Valeriano Weyler who was then on visit to Malolos. The women wanted
to ask permission to allow them to open a night school where they could learn the Spanish
language. The class would be held in the house of one of their relatives and Teodoro
Sandico would serve as their teacher.

The Royal Decree of 1863 facilitated the establishmnnet of schools in the Philippines,
However, only the children of Spaniards, Chinese and Spanish mestizos went to school
because of their wealth. Women were admitted in colegios and beaterios. However, the
curriculum that they followed was different from that of men enrolled in universities and
other colleges. While men took up law, arithmetic, science, history, etc.

Women’s study focused on religion, music and household chores. GovernorGeneral

Weyler granted the request of the Women of Malolos and the night school was officially
opened in 1889. Unfortunately, it was immediately ordered to close down because Sandico
was accused of subversion and was forced to hide from authorities.
The women of Malolos challenged the existing norm in society where
Filipino women were not allowed to learn the Spanish language. The
courage that they showed prompted no less than Jose Rizal, upon the
encouragement of Marcelo H. del Pilar, to write these women a letter.
In his letter, entitled “Letter to the Women of Malolos,”

Rizal expressed his admiration of these women. He also wrote down

his ideas on the role of women in society. He wanted women to be
educated because the upbringing of their children depended on them.
Rizal believed that education would eradicate the fanaticism and blind
adoration that women gave to the friars. Nicanor G. Tiongson, a
descendant of one of the women of Maloos, commends the courage
shown by these women in his essay “A Milestone in Feminism.”
The twenty women of Malolos are;
• Elisea Tantoco Reyes
• Juana Tantoco Reyes
• Leocia Santos Reyes
• Olympia San Agusin Reyes
• Rufina T. Reyes
• Eugenia Mendoza Tanchangco
• Aurea Mendoza Tanchangco
• Basilia Villarino Tantoco
• Teresa Tiongson Tantoco
• Maria Tiongson Tantoco
• Anastacia Maclang Tiongson
• Basilia Reyes Tiongson
• Paz Reyes Tiongson
• Aleja Reyes Tiongson
• Mercedes Reyes Tiongson
• Agapita Reyes Tiongson
• Filomena Oliveros Tiongson
• Cecilia Oliveros Tiongson
• Feliciana Oliveros Tiongson. and
• Alberta Santos Uitangcoy.
Women in 1896
Revolution
Gregoria Alvarez de Jesus
Gregoria Alvarez de Jesus, also known as Ka Oriang, (May 9,
1875-March 15, 1943) was the founder and vice president of the
Katipunan’s Women’s chapter. She also served as the custodian of the
Katipunan as almost all belongings of the Katipunan — seal, revolver,
documents — were under her care. As such, when the Guardia Sibil
would conduct search operations within their vicinity, she would gather
all Katipunan-related items and documents and drive away, even all
night, as needed, to ensure that the Katipunan would not be
discovered. She also joined the war; she too took arms and fought.
Espiridiona Bonifacio
Wife of Teodoro Plata
accompanied her brother Andres
Bonifacio to Cavite 1897.
Marina Dizon
She was born in Trozo, Manila. One of the first
women to join the Katipunan revolutionary secret society in
1893, being the daughter of its founding member Jose
Dizon. She married Jose Turiano Santiago, also a
Katipunero. She served as the keeper of the society’s
documents, which she burned following the Katipunan’s
discovery in 1896. Following her husband’s arrest, she sold
her jewels to pay for his release. They lived in Tarlac after
the revolution.
Melchora Aquino
Best known as "Tandang Sora," the kind-hearted woman who
nursed Filipino rebels, the Katipuneros, back to health during the
revolution against the Spaniards. This earned her the title of "Mother
of the Katipunan.“

Her deeds were soon discovered by the Spanish authorities,

leading to her capture and arrest. She was interrogated to reveal the
whereabouts of the Katipunan, however, she refused to cooperate. As
a result, she was deported to Guam and forced to live in exile for six
years. She is quoted to have said: “If I have nine lives, I would gladly
give them up for my country.
Agueda Kahabagan
Though not as popular as other female Katipuneras, Agueda
Kahabagan, or “Henerala Agueda,” is known as the first and only female
revolutionary general of the Philippines.

Described as a woman who was “fearless,” accounts claimed

Kahabagan would often be seen dressed in white, armed with a rifle and
bolo, during frequent combat with Spanish forces.

She was reported to have joined General Artemio Ricarte during

the attack on a Spanish garrison in San Pablo, Laguna in 1897. This was
reportedly one of the factors that pushed General Pio del Pilar to
recommend to Emilio Aguinaldo that she be named a general, years later
on April 6, 1899.
Agueda Esteban
Agueda Esteban was a Filipina revolutionary. She
helped the Katipuneros by secretly gathering materials and
supplies from Manila to make gunpowder and bullets, which
she delivered to her husband in Cavite. She also acted as
courier carrying classified war papers. Upon the death of
her first husband, Colonel Mariano Barroga of Batac City,
she married Gen. Artemio Ricarte.
Gregoria Montoya
She led a revolutionary unit
composed of 30 Magdalo soldiers in
the Battle of Caleo Bridge on
November 9-11, 1896.
Trinidad Tecson
Trinidad Tecson (November 18, 1848 — January 28, 1928) is
known as the “Mother of Biak na Bato.” She joined the revolution in 1895
at the age of 47. She pilfered firearms, delivered food, and tended to
Katipuneros’ injuries.

She was also known as a brave soldier as she had joined

numerous fights such as in San Ildefonso, San Miguel and San Jose,
Nueva Ecija. She has served under numerous generals, with Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo in Biak-na-Bato being the most notable.
Segunda Puentes
She joined the Battle of Pinaglabanan in San Juan del Monte on
August 30, 1896; she was later exiled to Guam together with Tandang
Sora.

Josefa Rizal
Sister of Jose Rizal, was the first president of the women’s
chapter of the Katipunan; she helped organize the women during the
revolution.

Salome Siapoco
Wife of General Mariano Darera, solicited funds for the
Revolution.
Women Heroes during
the American Period
• American civil government was established
in the Philippines in 1901. But despite this,
the struggle of Filipinos for independence
continued Many revolutionaries who fought
against the Spaniards also participated in
FilipinoAmerican War (1899-1913). Women
continued to give their support to
revolutionary struggle. Later, when the
fighting stopped, the women fought for
suffrage.
Rosa Sevilla-Alvero
She wrote for La Independencia, the newspaper of
the revolution. She contributed articles that encourage the
people to fight Americans. She also wrote dramas in
Spanish and stories in Tagalog. She wrote the Salititikan ng
Wikang Pambansa and two books on Spanish grammar.
She founded the first secular school for girls in 1900, the
Instituto de Mujeres. This was the first school managed by a
Filipina and the first to use Filipino as a medium of
instruction.
Women Suffragist
Schools for me and women were opened in 1901. The American education system in the
Philippines gave women the opportunity to obtain degrees in education, law, nursing, pharmacy, and
liberal arts. Some of these include Centro Escular de Senoritas (1906) the first school to train future
nurses; Insular Normal School (1903), the first school to train would-be teachers; Liceo de Manila (1900)
where women were admitted in law, pharmacy and liberal arts; and the University of the Philippines
(1908) where men and women were accepted in all departments.

The American educational system allowed selected Filipinos to go to the United States as
government scholars to specialize in various fields such as medicine, law, education, music, politics,
government, food technology, nursing, fine arts, social service and civic leadership. These government
scholars were called pensionados. Among the pensonadas were Honoria Acosta, Elizabeth Florendo,
Eleanor de Leon, Genoveva Llamas, Luisa Sison, Olivia Salamanca, Pilar Elumba, Clementa Asturias.

The education obtained by women gave them the necessary knowledge, ability and strength
to campaign for reforms. During the first decade of American rule, women saw the need to organize
themselves to fight for their rights. This was the beginning of the feminist movement in the Philippines
which was thoroughly discussed by Tarrosa Subido in her book “The Feminist Movement in the
Philippines.”
 The first feminist movement was founded in 1905. Called Asociacion Feminista
Filipina, it was headed by Concepcion Felix, Maria de Villamor, Paz Natividad, Bonifacia
Baretto, Clemencia Lopez, Sofia Reyes, Trinidad Rizal, Agueda and Jacoba Paterno, Librada
Avelino, Carmen de Luna, Maria Arevalo, and Maria Francisco. The aim of the movement
was to obtain reforms for women in terms of health, labor, education and other social
concerns.

La Proteccion de la Infancia was formed in 1907 to implement the project entitled

La Gota de Leche, a milk station for infants who needed pasteurized milk. It was also the aim
of the movement to teach mothers on the proper caring of infants in order to reduce the
infant mortality rate.

The first feminist movement to campaign for women suffrage was the Asociacion
Feminista Ilongga, founded in 1902 by Pura Villanueva Kalaw. In 1912 the Society for the
Advancement of Women was formed by Concepcion Felix Rodriguez, Maria Villamor, Pura
Villanueva Kalaw, Sofia de Veyra, Gorgonia Mapa, Amparo Lichauco. Its founding was
suggested by Mrs, Carrie Chapman Catt and Dr. Aleta Jacobs, women suffragist in the
United States. The society later on became known as Women’s Club of Manila.
 Women suffragists went through a long and tedious process before they
were able to obtain women suffrage. They lobbied in the Senate as well as in the
Congress where they were able to get the support of some lawmakers. However,
there were those who believed that giving women the right to vote would only
expand the electorate, thus making elections more expensive, prolonging the
campaign period as well as the tallying period. There were those who believed that
the right to vote would lower the status of women since they would be placed side
by side with the men.

Women finally championed their right to vote in 1933 when Governor

General Frank Murphy signed into law the bill filed by Congressman Miguel
Cuenco of Cebu. Under the Commonwealth Constitution, women were given the
chance to express their interest in the suffrage. In a plebiscite especially called for
this purpose, almost half a million women voted yes. Women first exercised their
right to vote in 1937 local elections. Because of this suffragists, Filipino women
acquired the right to vote and to be elected to public office until the present time.
TO BE CONTINUED!