Women as Freedom Fighters and Peacebuilders

Ang mga Babae bilang Tagapagtanggol ng Kalayaan at Manlilikha ng Kapayapaan

Women have played vital roles in the Philippine struggle for independence. Filipina heroines made indelible and significant contributions to the revolutionary movement against the Spaniards, the Philippine-American War, and the fight against Japanese occupation. 

Women served as informants and couriers, hiding documents, arms, and ammunition in their saya. They fed and nursed the revolutionaries, donated money, and arranged revolutionary meetings under the guise of banquets. Women also courageously battled alongside men, carrying guns and bolos, to fight for independence.

Katipunan Flag

Katipunan organizational flag designed and sewn by Gregoria de Jesus with Benita Rodriguez

Philippine Flag

Flag sewn by Marcela Mariño de Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo, and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad in Hong Kong and first flown on May 28, 1898 in the Battle of Alapan in Imus, Cavite against the Spanish army.

Balangiga

Photograph of a re-enactment of the Balangiga uprising in Samar

Oraciones

The Oraciones serve various needs and purposes such as protection against wild animals, typhoons, earthquakes, malevolent spirits, Spanish colonial abuses, and other dangers.

Marcela Marcelo Certificate

Marcela Marcelo featured in the certificate of Veteranos de la Revolución.

Certificate copy from the private collection of Blas Bermudez

Gumamela Celis

Gumamela Celis is one of the names of the Supreme Mother (Kataastaasang Ina) important to antingeros and believers of the Doctrine of Infinite God. She is Inang Pilipinas celebrated in the writings of Andres Bonifacio.

From the collection of Melvin Lam

References

• Camagay, M. L. T. (1996). Women in the text and in reality. Review of Women's Studies, 6(1), 11–18.

• Policarpio, P. (1996). The Filipino Women During the Revolution. Review of Women's Studies, 6(1), 19–39.