Post-colonial era to Present

While the Postcolonial era has made great strides in advocating feminism and feminist movements in general, the Philippines in the present still has traces of conservatism ingrained in a majority of the country’s sociocultural norms surrounding women's gender identity. Issues that were present during the colonial period such as limited political representation, gender-based violence, lack of access to education, and wage disparities remain prevalent in today’s modern era despite these developments in gender identity discourse.

Our globalized world has allowed intercultural exchange of ideas and the overall promotion of interconnectedness. Some strides made regarding these issues are the option to include discussing LGBTQIA+ in gender identity discourses. Advocacies continue the struggle for inclusion and recognition among diverse gender identities, while also challenging the prevalent patriarchal influence that the Philippines continues experiencing today.

Written by Viancka Co

María Clara de los Santos y Alba or better known as “Maria Clara", is the mestiza heroine and love interest of the protagonist, Don Crisostomo Ibarra. With characteristics of being strong willed, demure and self-effacing. Her traits are reminiscent of a typical “dalagang filipina”. Furthermore, Rizal described the heroine as an “Oriental decoration” with a “pure soul” further alluding to her beauty and charm.

In real life, Maria Clara was inspired by Rizal’s real life love interest, Leonor Rivera, who eventually married a British Engineer, Charles Kipping Jr.

Better known as “Sisa," a woman residing in San Diego and the mother of the two boys: Crispin and Basilio. Personality-wise, Sisa was a selfless woman and known to be submissive. In Noli Me Tangere, after learning that her son Crispin had gone missing and Basilio was arrested, this drove her to insanity by calling their names repeatedly and singing songs with no reason.

It was believed that Rizal drew inspiration from his own mother, Teodora Alonzo in writing Sisa. Sisa represented the “ilaw ng tahanan." Someone who is believed to be submissive, a martyr, and uneducated. The characteristics given, made women at that time, susceptible to abuse.

Julianna de Dios was a resident of San Diego, Basilio’s love interest and Cabesang Tales youngest daughter. Juli, similar to Maria Clara, represents the purity and innocence and martyrdom of women.

Since her father was kidnapped she worked as a servant in order to pay for the ransom money. She intended to seek help from Padre Camorra however, during on of her visits the friar attempted to rape the woman. Distressed by the event, this caused Juli to jump off the church tower.

Pia Alba

Doña Pia Alba was the wife of Capitan Tiago and the mother of Maria Clara. The woman came from the wealthy clan of the Alba. Because of this, she was business-minded. Furthermore, Donya Pia Alba possessed resilience and had creative ideas in expanding their business.

Capitan Tiago was infertile, in their hopes of having a child, they prayed novenas, took pilgrimages and even traveled to Obando,Bulacan. There she was accompanied by Padre Damaso who eventually took advantage of her which bore a child, Maria Clara. This made Pia Alba enter a depressive state, she later died while giving birth to Maria Clara.

Dona Victorina

Doña Victorina was the wife of Don Tiburcio. A wealthy socialite, they were social climbers for their own sake in order to gain status in San Diego. Wanting to be a Spaniard herself, she went through great lengths in pretending to be one, from her excessive use of white powder for her complexion, down to her ill-fluency in the Spanish language. It went as far as scheduling a trip to Spain in order to give birth in the country.

Dona Patrocinio

The mistress of Alferez, she was known to be cruel and vulgar. She was boastful, in such a way, in order to elevate her status she would openly show-off her contributions to the church for everyone to know.

Female Characters In Philippine Society