Maria Clara or Sisa?

𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐒 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐂. 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐨𝐲

The same way we were told to be Maria Clara when we are not like her is like how the society continuously push us to act based on their standard. This actually entraps us between choosing and living by the reality or living based on the society standard.

People often say that Girl Scouting is just a matter of molding girls to be Maria Clara; beautiful, feminine, religious, loving, and respectful. However, in Girl Scouting, we don’t believe and aspire to be a Maria Clara but more like a Sisa. Yes, the woman who repeatedly shouted her son’s names, Crispin and Basilio.

For eight decades, the Girl Scouting movement has been committed to its mission: to help other people at all times and to live by the Girl Scout Law. However, even if we fulfill our promise to serve, we are still severely misunderstood and underestimated for being a woman. Part of the gossip is that we are an organization that merely molds its members to be feminine, respectful, and quiet women. But we refuse to be imprisoned in these ideas; we are women, a product of Girl Scouting, and not ‘just’ a woman. We are capable of more than what society thinks.

In Dr. Jose P. Rizal's novel entitled “Noli Me Tangere,” we all know that Sisa is a crazy woman walking along the streets of San Diego while screaming for his son’s name, Crispin and Basilio. However, Sisa is more than just that; she is a loving, brave, and understanding woman. And in Girl Scouting, we are also more than being feminine. We are molded to be effective changemakers, advocates, and women of compassion. While proper hygiene and taking care care of our bodies are part of our activities, things we do are not limited to learning how to do make-up or staying fit.. We help create change by urging the government for what we deserve. We affect change in our communities by initiating Girl-led programs and activities. We teach young women and girls to resist being enslaved to cruel societal expectations. And more importantly, we inspire others to be an inspiration to others. We give each member their wings: a reminder that it is okay to have big dreams of their own. After all, with just the right amount of optimism, determination, and patience, all our dreams will soon be our reality.

We are Girl Scouts, and like Sisa, we will not let the people who misunderstand us inhibit us from aspiring for a better world. Just like how Sisa shouted at the top of her lungs, we, Girl Scouts, will not stop screaming for the change we want to see. This same organization that they underestimate is the same organization that will adamantly fight for a better, safer, and more peaceful world. We are the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, a movement by the girls for the girls, and soon will be a movement by the girls with the girls.