This presentation narrates how colonization/imperialism create women subordinate position in Philippine society

1. Role of Women in Disaster
Preparedness, Risk Reduction,
Recovery and Rehabilitation
Women Subordinate Position in Philippines
Society: A Colonial Legacy (CWR)
Some text were based on the account of
Center for Women Resources
Presented by:
ALFREDO N. DARAG JR.
DRR & CCA Staff
Social Action Center‐ Northern Quezon
Prelature of Infanta
Panukulan, Quezon
22 March 2012
Panukulan, Quezon

3. Archeological diggings and findings by chances reveal a
different story….. a story of our nation’s Glorious Past…
a resilient nation.

4. BOXER CODEX circa 1595
During pre‐ colonial
era, both men and
women wore
jewelries and fine
clothes.
Women can possess
her own belongings/
personal property.
Tagalogs

5. BOXER CODEX circa 1595
The codex is one of
the earliest western
document that
illustrates how we
look when the
Spaniards first came
to our archipelago.
Bisayans

6. Archeological gold found in the Philippines
validates the accuracy of Boxer Codex

7. Archeological gold found in the Philippines validates
the accuracy of Boxer Codex

8. Goddess,
statue found in
Mindanao
Binibini

9. KINNARI
A 3D gold statue of a girl
with wings found in
Mindanao

10. Gold of Ancestors in Ayala Museum
Gintong Sablay “Sacred Thread” ( 4 kilos )

12. Marriage in Sulu illustrated by Fernando Amorsolo

13. Spanish colonial period
i. Women: under the
control of their
husbands; no
property
ii. No right to
education; formal
trainings were all
related to religion
and how to become
good housewives

14. “Women Indio” even during colonial
period wore grandiose clothes

15. American colonial period
i. Women were added
to the growing cheap
reserve of labor force
ii. Many women were
hired in services, an
extension of their
domestic chores

16. American colonial period
iii. As workers
‐ They were paid less
because they were assigned
in unskilled labor
‐ They belonged to the
“feminine jobs” such as
laundry woman, vendor, in
the informal sector

17. American colonial period
iv. Women were allowed to
study but values of feudal
patriarchal and bourgeois
system were inculcated
v. Chastity, virginity and the
double standard of morality
prevailed

18. American colonial period
vi. Prostitution increased as cabarets were
established in the haciendas and
entertainment clubs proliferated where the
Americans had military bases

19. Japanese invasion
i. Rampant sexual abuses: comfort women
ii. Served as symbol of their authority/control

20. As a result of the colonial
past
Belief that women
are under the
authority of the:
− ruling class,
powers‐that‐be,
government or
religious authority
− family
− husband

21. By the grace of the Divine Providence, few women
preserve the genuine cultural heritage of the Brown
Race… inherent resilient womanhood

23. Questions????