When we talk about progress across generations, it is easy to think that society has only recently changed. You might nod as you see women and girls today quietly challenge old systems. Some are the first in their bloodline to choose independence as default rather than exception. Others are the first to view marriage as a choice rather than a requirement. Some are the first to be honest about who they are or to stop romanticizing their parents’ struggles. Some are the first in their families to live life on their own terms. But this shift did not happen overnight. It took many generations, often in ways that were hard to see but always present. Our generation moves differently today because the women before us changed the path long before we started down it. As I thought about this, I kept coming back to a certain group of women who greatly reshaped Philippine society.

Women as Reformers and Educators

Women in politics have shown us the importance of civility, respect for differences, and decision-making that draws on different perspectives, and the late Senator Santanina Tillah Rasul showed us that. She was one of the prominent Moro women who dedicated her life to literacy, peace, development, and women’s rights. She served in several government roles, representing Muslims and cultural minorities. These included serving as Commissioner of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) from 1976 to 1985; serving as UNESCO Honorary Ambassador in 1990; serving at the UNESCO Philippine Commission from 1986 to 1989; and serving as a member on the Textbook Board at the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports in 1986. She was the first and only Muslim woman to serve in the Philippine Senate and the first Muslim to be reelected, serving from 1992 to 1995. Senator Santanina also authored several landmark laws, such as R.A. 7192, which ended gender discrimination, allowed women to enter the Philippine Military Academy, and provided funding for women in all government agencies. Other laws she helped pass include R.A. No. 6850, which grants civil service eligibility to government employees with at least 7 years of service, and R.A. 7168, which converted the Philippine Normal College into a State University to be known as the Philippine Normal University. Not many may know this, but it was Santanina Rasul who sponsored R.A. 6949, which declared March 8 as National Women’s Day, later expanded into a month-long celebration of empowerment and gender equality. Even after her tenure in the Senate, Santanina Rasul continued her lifelong mission to combat illiteracy through the Magbasa Kita Foundation, a program she spearheaded to uplift communities in Mindanao.

Education for all was also Bai Hadja Fatima Matabay Plang’s advocacy. She established the Mindanao Institute of Technology (MIT), now known as the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), in 1951. Today, the university is recognized as one of the country’s leading schools for agricultural education. More than 20 years after her passing in 1984, the two schools she started continue to serve as centers of excellence, giving many students from low-income families the chance to pursue their dreams and improve their lives through education. Just like Santanina Rasul, Bai Hadja devoted her entire life to helping others by expanding access to education, especially in rural communities.

There was also the late Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, who made a major impact on Philippine laws, especially in supporting and protecting women. She helped shape the global women’s agenda when she served as the first representative (1967-1975), then later became Chair (1986-198) of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW). As the former Chair of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), Leticia Shahani contributed to drafting the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1967. The NCRFW was renamed as the Philippine Commission on Women under R.A. 9710, or the Magna Carta of Women, in 2009. This declaration laid the foundation for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), recognized as the international bill of rights for women. Leticia Shahani authored several laws, including R.A. 6725, the “Strengthening the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Women in the Workplace”; R.A. 8353, the “Anti-Rape Law of 1997”; and R.A. 8505, the “Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998.” She championed the Gender and Development (GAD) Budget Policy, which stipulates that at least 5% of each government agency’s total budget be allocated to advancing women’s rights and gender equality. As a diplomat and legislator, late Senator Shahani’s influence reached beyond the Philippines when she led the 1985 World Conference on Women in Nairobi, making her an important leader in shaping gender equality policies and fighting gender-based violence.

Women as Mediators

When conflict arises, women and young girls are often the most at risk of gender-based violence. Yet, people sometimes overlook the important role women play in resolving conflicts. Women draw upon their interpersonal skills and knowledge of customary norms to facilitate dialogue. One of the many great examples of women mediators is the late Princess Tarhata Alonto-Lucman. She was known as a “rido settler,” helping to settle clan disputes. Princess Tarhata believed so deeply in interfaith dialogue and peace that she worked to build stronger relationships between Muslims and Christians, reaching beyond her own community. In 1971, she became the first Muslim woman to serve as provincial governor of Lanao del Sur. She was one of the Moro leaders who stood up to the Marcos dictatorship and helped the release of the kidnapped Filipino Carmelite nuns and an American Protestant missionary in Marawi City in 1986. Through her bravery and commitment to peace, Tarhata was the last woman among Mindanao’s post-war leaders who promoted alliance politics and a collective way of life that helped the Moro people survive government neglect, civil war, and ongoing economic hardship.

Women as Brave Leaders

Women’s impact on history goes far beyond well-known Filipina revolutionaries. Women have always led in homes, communities, non-profits, and businesses, often guiding their people. One example is Princess Hadja Tarhata Kiram, the first Filipina Muslim leader. During her time, the colonial government wanted to educate these Muslim youth to become the next generation of Moro leaders who would help “civilize” their fellow Muslims in the southern islands. Consequently, she was chosen as a pensionado and sent to the United States in 1920, along with Carmen Aguinaldo, the daughter of former President Emilio Aguinaldo. After finishing her studies at the State University of Illinois, she returned to Sulu and became a strong advocate for Muslims. She wrote an editorial for the Los Angeles Times about the uprising and her involvement. Kiram also worked with the late Senator Hadji Butu Rasul, Chief Minister to the Sultan of Sulu and the great-grandfather of the late Ambassador Abraham Rasul Sr. (Santanina Rasul’s husband), to oppose efforts to exclude the Sulu archipelago from Mindanao. In 1984, the National Historical Institute placed a marker in her hometown of Jolo to honor her lifelong dedication to Muslim Filipinos.

Remembering the Women Before Us

The struggle for equality has taken a long time. The independence that many women have now came about through actions that were often uncomfortable, unconventional, or even risky. Womanhood is not only about being gentle and caring; it often involves great sacrifice. Women pay a gender tax just to live. Society often praises these sacrifices without asking why women are always the ones expected to give so much. The quiet labor of survival and participation is always gendered, and people call it love so they do not have to call it injustice. 

This is not to say that women are better leaders than men. Women lead differently, and that difference is exactly what our world needs now if we want to heal the damage being done in society. The courage of women in seeking freedom and agency is not new, and we inherit it from those who came before us. In this Women’s Month, we must also remember the women who were forgotten or not recorded in our history, including indigenous women.

Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay’s recent inappropriate remarks about actress Anne Curtis are yet another example of how women are often not seen as people. During a House committee on justice hearing, he argued that Vice President Sara Duterte’s threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. cannot be made an impeachable offense. To illustrate his argument, Suntay then drew an “analogy” involving his own sexual fantasies toward the actress upon seeing her in person, insisting that since such thoughts exist only in his imagination, he cannot be charged for them. Following this, while some celebrities, netizens, and politicians condemned Suntay’s behavior, others came to his defense. For example, controversial lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, who once proclaimed his admiration for fascist dictator Adolf Hitler, defended the congressman during his radio program. In defense of Suntay’s backlash, Topacio lashed out at Jasmine Curtis and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Elago for defending Anne Curtis, blaming the women for “enticing” with the way they dress online. Topacio rationalized his remarks with the notion that men are “wired” to have sexual desires, while confessing his desire to Elago.

Here’s the thing: one of the biggest problems with many lawmakers is their lack of understanding of the very laws they are meant to uphold. Too often, they make questionable statements with absolute confidence, while those around them laugh it off as if it’s just another ordinary day. We see them commit heinous acts and walk away with little more than a slap on the wrist. If a so-called ‘honorable’ congressman believes such remarks are acceptable in the halls of Congress, one can only imagine the private conversations that occur when women are not present. It is deeply troubling that we are expected to address these officials as ‘honorable,’ a title that should be reserved for those who act with genuine integrity and respect, not for those who behave disrespectfully, dishonestly, or abusively.

Both Bong Suntay’s and Ferdinand Topacio’s statements should not be mistaken as ‘compliments’ or harmless admiration. Rather, they reinforce evidence of gender-based sexual harassment as defined under RA No. 11313, also known as the Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos Law), or RA No. 9710, also known as the Magna Carta of Women, or RA No. 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. 

Public figures who do not hold themselves accountable exemplify how those in positions of power often embody authoritarian politics that fuel the current rise of fascism. While it is true that society has made significant progress in fighting for women’s rights and welfare, there is still a need to deconstruct the systemic levels of misogyny that exclude women, label them as inferior, silence their voices, and even persuade them to defend the very system that oppresses them. 

Their statements are violations not just against Anne Curtis but against all women who have felt threatened or unsafe by the reckless language of those in power. As we celebrate National Women’s Month, let us remember that a woman’s dignity is not defined by men’s desires or by callous remarks. It is a fundamental human right that must never be trampled upon, especially by lawmakers entrusted with upholding justice.

The project aims to enhance the Diploma on Women, Peace and Security (DWPS), currently being offered in MSU by strengthening its academic framework, capacitating the faculty, and promoting wider outreach by offering training to communities. The launch, held at the CHED Auditorium in Quezon City, brought together academics, government officials, the diplomatic community, development partners, and civil society representatives committed to advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

The president of PCID, Amina Rasul-Bernardo, and the Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines, H.E. Ambassador Massimo Santoro opened the event with inspiring messages for the future of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, which set the tone of the afternoon: optimistic and forward-looking. The ceremony was a celebration of new beginnings and a commitment to the future, not only in the academe in Mindanao but to the whole of the Philippines.

The Ambassador Santoro stated, “I have witnessed the resourcefulness, resilience, and capacity of Filipino youth. Among you are future leaders, peacebuilders, and change makers. By equipping you with knowledge and skills on women’s role in resolving conflicts and building peace, we are one step closer to guaranteeing that the Women, Peace and Security agenda is not only discussed at policy tables, but that women’s role is recognised and respected in communities.”

Affirming this statement, current students of the DWPS highlighted how the program has deepened their understanding of gender-responsive peacebuilding and empowered them to lead transformative initiatives with their stakeholders. This was further strengthened by Dr. Bai Hejira Nefertiti M. Limbona, the chancellor of MSU- Maguindanao campus, who emphasized the program’s role in equipping women leaders and peace advocates with critical skills and knowledge to address conflict through inclusive and sustainable approaches. Dr. Limbona underscored the program’s continued commitment to strengthening the capacities of its diverse cohort—comprising government workers, grassroots organizers, and civil society actors—through interdisciplinary training grounded in both theory and practice.

This commitment was supported by the President of Mindanao State University, Atty. Basari D. Mapupuno, the Minister of the Interior and Local Government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and newly appointed member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament, Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, the Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women, Chair Ermelita V. Valdeavilla, the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity of the Philippines, Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Margaux Salcedo, who delivered the message of support for DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman.

They delivered inspiring messages of support that touched on the importance of this moment and the opportunities that lie ahead for the project. Dr. J Prospero E. De Vera III, Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, confirmed this in his keynote speech, stating that “Mindanao, as we know, has been at the heart of some of the most complex peace processes in the Philippines and so it is especially meaningful that an institution located at the epicenter of both challenge and resilience is taking a role—a crucial role—in building peace from the ground up. This project will provide the tools, the knowledge, and the platform for women and allies to engage more effectively in peace-building processes.”

To solidify their support and their stance in the institutionalization of the women, peace, and security agenda in Mindanao through higher education, the key figures of the event, together with the attendees, signed a pledge wall led by Executive Director Susana Guadalupe H. Marcaida, the head of the newly created Center of Excellence for Women, Peace and Security.

Capping off this momentous event of solidarity, Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea, the President of UPCWSFI, encapsulates the program’s goals: “At the end of the day, what we want are desired outputs, outcomes, and impacts. […] This is not only for the women of Bangsamoro but for everyone who believes in our collective responsibility to ensure that peace and security are strengthened across now and for future generations.”
The ceremony serves as a reminder that this new beginning is not just a moment in time but a journey of growth, development, and service to the community. It marked a significant milestone in the journey towards institutionalizing Women, Peace and Security in Mindanao. It underscores the commitment of the EU, PCID, and MSU to empower women and promote peace and security in the Bangsamoro region.

The launch coincides with the 25th year anniversary of UNSCR 1325, the landmark resolution adopted in 2000 recognizing women’s roles in conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict recovery.