Before the Spaniards colonized the Philippines in 1565, Filipino women held positions of power and influence, shaping societies with their leadership, wisdom, and courage. They were chiefs, spiritual leaders, warriors, and healers, embodying an egalitarian culture where women shared equal status with men. However, the arrival of Spanish colonialism disrupted this balance, imposing patriarchal values that sought to confine women to subservient roles. Yet, Filipinas refused to be silenced, leading and inspiring through resilience and defiance.
In pre-colonial Philippine society, women were revered for their valor and intellectual prowess. They were village chiefs when there were no male heirs. Daughters of chiefs were admitted as next in lines of succession as well. The Babaylan, an appointed spiritual leader and healer, who were predominantly female; served as advisors, warriors, astrologers, and priestesses. This position held tremendous power and influence within a tribe or kingdom.
Women warriors have long been an integral part of Philippine culture. They were entitled to property rights, engaged in trade, and had the right to divorce their husbands if they wanted. This egalitarian society celebrated women’s roles, sharing the same positions as men in governance and decision-making.
When Spanish colonization imposed Catholicism and patriarchal structures, it stripped Filipino women of their social power. The traditions and beliefs brought by who they called Kastilas suppressed and demonized Indigenous feminine roles. The matrilineal system was replaced, and women were pressured to conform to the ideals and traits of becoming like Maria Clara. Based on the novel Noli Me Tangere, Maria Clara is a fictional character symbolizing purity, chastity, and subservience. Filipinas were taught and indoctrinated to be like Maria Clara: to accept their oppression. However, Filipinas did not do so quietly.
Indigenous feminism existed long before Western women’s liberation movements. Filipina warriors stood against the Spaniards, showing resilience and courage. Princess Urduja from Pangasinan, for example, was a legendary warrior princess and expert swordsman who led the Kinalakihan, an elite and predominantly female equestrian army, into battles. Gabriela Silang was the first female revolutionary leader who fought against Spanish rule in 1763. General Agueda Kahabagan, known as “Tagalog Joan of Arc,” led the armed forces during the Philippine Revolution of 1896–1898 and the Philippine-American War of 1899–1902.
These powerful women and many other fierce warriors left a legacy of strength, courage, and leadership that continues to inspire modern Filipinas. Today, Filipinas are breaking barriers in politics, media, sports, and activism.
Notable women include Maria Ressa, a fearless journalist and CEO of Rappler. Rappler is a pioneering digital news platform that redefines public service journalism. A Princeton graduate, Ressa advocated against former president Duterte’s war on drugs and exposed human rights abuses in 2019, facing conviction and arrest for her activism. Despite these threats, she stood firm in her fight for press freedom, earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for her unwavering courage and dedication to truth.
Dr. Fe del Mundo, the first Asian woman admitted to Harvard in 1936, revolutionized Philippine medicine with her pioneering work in immunization. Miriam Defensor Santiago, known as the “fighting judge,” became one of the most influential legal minds and political leaders in the country. She served in all three branches of the Philippine government: judicial, executive, and legislative from 2004 until she died in 2016.
Hidilyn Diaz, the first Filipina Olympic gold medalist in 2020, shattered stereotypes and inspired a new generation of athletes.
From pre-colonial warrior princesses to modern-day trailblazers, Filipinas have shown unmatched resilience and courage. They have redefined leadership, challenging societal norms and paving the way for future generations—all while being mothers, caregivers, educators, and most especially, a woman.
Across generations, all these remarkable women share one powerful trait: an unyielding passion for greatness, like a flame that refuses to be extinguished. To all Indigenous people, Filipinas, and those whose nations have endured colonization, let this be your reminder that no barrier is insurmountable, and no voice should be silenced. These women defied all odds, rose above oppression, and carved their path to greatness.
