Maria Clara Rewritten

WWinston Churchill said: “A nation that forgets its past has no future.” Throughout the ages, nations have been subjected to change. For some citizens, change brought them glory, while others suffered. Women, in particular, have always been heavily affected.

Before the Spaniards appropriated the Philippine archipelago, native women were seen in a different light. Their existence did not only mean subservience to husbands and vessels for children. On the contrary, they were as valuable to society as men. When the conquistadors came in 1521, the concept of strong women was reduced to near-nothingness. It was replaced by a new image of women, very much embodied by the fictional character of Maria Clara in NoliMeTangere . The demure young girl with a sweet face, innocent eyes, and a dainty little penchant for fainting and blushing became the touchstone of the ideal woman.

Maria Clara may seem ingrained in Philippine society, despite her archaic associations. However, the Philippines is not the only one that keeps such concepts close to the heart. Peru, Cuba, Mexico, and every nation subjected to Spain’s cultural dismantling are the same. But what if Maria Clara is just an illusion and the idea of its character never really took hold? The modern Maria would be just as sweet, lovely, and without the unnecessary damsel-in-distress behavior. A woman who, despite her preference for quietude, can express her intelligence, speak up, and raise her objections.

It’s almost ironic where we find her, the child of two nations tyrannized by Spain. Yet her blood is that of her native ancestors, and it is her blood that will reclaim. Her name is Giselle Cruz, and she is Maria Clara rewritten.

“I think to renounce one’s culture is to cloud one’s identity,” says Giselle. “I don’t want to be compared to Spain. Spanish colonialism implemented a more patriarchal view in society. Therefore, women were seen in more domestic roles. These expectations are still present in Filipino society and seen as a necessary element in women.”

Yet women have never stopped fighting. Filipino women are fierce and independent. “I would say [we are] more outspoken because over time we have evolved. Also, we protect and stand up for things that we believe are worth it,” explains Giselle. “Over time, I think Filipino women have modernized and [have] become more independent. I think the rise of feminism is a representation of how women have evolved through the years. It is important for women to have equal opportunity, but also to honor their heritage and traditions.”

With her cultural embrace, Giselle is genuinely the modern Maria. When asked about her Filipino identity, she answers, “I would say it always is significant because it is a part of who I am as a person. It plays a large element in my life and in my character and how I approach things in certain situations.”

The daughter of a Filipino father and a Mexican mother, Giselle admits that her upbringing affects her ideologies. “I’d say a lot of the values that were instilled in me I practice on a daily basis. Such as discipline, working hard, and regardless of the challenge in an academic sense, but also in your career, to push yourself regardless of the rigor.”

Giselle was born in the heart of Mexico City and moved to the United States, where she learned to speak English. “ I didn’t learn English until I was in kindergarten,” she recalls. “I would just say it felt like the environment I was in [wasn’t helpful]. The teachers weren’t patient enough with me, and weren’t willing to work with my limitations, so I felt I couldn’t reach the same level or I wasn’t the same as my classmates. So when Mrs. Sturges, my third-grade teacher, really gave me the confidence to believe I could do well in school, I told myself I could prove to myself that I could be as good or I could achieve the same thing. From there, that thought has propelled me throughout college and everything.”

She perseveres in all aspects of her life, and her hard work ethic has led her to incredible places, especially academically. She recently graduated summa cum laude at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. There is more to the culture than just work ethic. “I think the Filipino culture is a beautiful culture, a culture full of wonderful values such as love, such as family, such as loyalty—loyalty to one’s self, loyalty to one’s community—mindfulness to those around you,” says Giselle. “Filipino people impact the world every day, such as ov erseas workers. They’re the people taking care of patients, they’re the people working in restaurants, and they’re doing basic things we take for granted. I think the best nurses are Filipino nurses because of their values. They’re very attentive, and they’re very empathetic.”

Despite the sweet values, Filipino women are not bursting with emotions that indispose them. They are not Maria Clara as depicted. Regardless of how the colonizers wanted to change women, their idea of Maria Clara does not exist. Filipino women are not dainty, not precious, not porcelain—they are strong, durable, made of steel, with a fire in their hearts. They are not the princesses in jeopardy but the knights in shining armor who will fight for their beliefs, rights, and people.