History of GE in Philippines

Pre Colonial Period

In the pre-colonial Philippine society, the babaylan was the major
representation of the status accorded to women in a balangay or barangay.
The babaylan was mostly concerned with culture, religion, medicine and
other theoretical knowledge crucial to the conduct of pre-colonial Philippine
society. The babaylan was called the 'proto-scientist' among the ancient
Filipinos. Although the role was often given to women, Salazar noted that
there were also biological males who performed the role of babaylan. The
babaylan was not subservient to the datu, who was considered the
wealthiest, the strongest, the wisest, and often the bravest, member of the
clan – which made him the rightful head. Instead, the datu and the
babaylan worked together on important social activities.1
These are the following rights and role of woman in pre colonial
period:
o They hold high characters in communities like healers,
priestess, leadership roles and warriors
o Right to inherit property and have an importance part in trade
and business(weave, pottery, jewelry)
o They enjoy equal rights without interference from the male
 Heiress are one of the choices to be a Datu
 Right to divorce her husband

Spanish Period
They brought with them their own idea of what woman is and where
she is supposed to be placed in the society. Educational system altered
where priest are educators. Education and opportunity were prioritized
for men.
Although woman were able to attend vocational schools, most are not
given opportunity because priests believe that woman should stay at
home., hence woman became attached at home and that developed that
there duty was to be an obedient and respectful daughter, good wife and
mother.2
Typical Maria Clara, ideal woman for Spaniards is someone overly
religious, submissive and obedient (can no longer loiter around, run
along meadows and swim in rivers, climb trees as children,)
The real Filipina was replaced by the ideal woman dictated by the
Spaniards. Because of these, men rise to be more dominant, women
were not allowed to hold positions and participate in political activities.3

American Regime to Present

Suffrage
Many Filipino men were opposed to the idea, and held fast to the
traditional view that a woman's place was cooking, cleaning and child
rearing in the home. The males of this perspective were primarily
concerned that the familial dynamic would destabilize if women were to
formally step outside their customary role.

1
library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/philippinen/14072.pdf
2
tonkshistory.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/the-role-of-women-from-pre-hispanic-to-spanish-era/
3
tonkshistory.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/the-role-of-women-from-pre-hispanic-to-spanish-era/
 “…it is essential and even imperative that the right to vote be granted
to Filipino women if they are not to be treated as mere slaves” and
that, for women, it was “…their opportunity to wield a very important
weapon to defend their right to secure for themselves and those to
follow them their well-being and happiness.”4
-President Quezon, having signed the
Woman's Suffrage Plebiscite Bill,

Constitution
Article II, Section 14 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution maintains that
the State "recognizes the role of women in nation building and shall ensure
the fundamental equality before the law of women and men."5

International Commitments

The recognition and promotion of the rights of women to participate in

politics and other decision-making processes are enshrined in international
human rights instruments to which the Philippines is a State Party. These
include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the
International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and, in
particular, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW).6

Present State of GE in Philippines

Over the past century, noticeable developments have been made
which have led to greater endorsement and protection of these rights. The
progression towards gender equality came about through women's
movements, increased numbers of women political representatives,
increased numbers of educated women, greater specificity on women's
issues instituted under legislation, and the focused application of those
laws. In recent years, the Filipino government has addressed the rights of
women under a multitude of legislative schemes including workplace
discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and human
7
trafficking.

Labor Force
In the past, firms and businesses generally hire Filipino women for
less pay and secretarial functions. But at present, Filipino women are given
the same opportunities as their male counterparts in the business realm.
This is due to the political and economic changes at the global and national
levels in urban society that have led to the growth of export-based
industries and the service sector, which then created more opportunities for
Filipino women
The 2018 Global Gender Gap report recorded an improvement in
economic participation and opportunity in the Philippines, as wages
increased for women’s estimated income and equal pay for similar work.

4
officialgazette.gov.ph/1936/09/30/speech-of-president-quezon-on-woman-suffrage-september-30-1936/
5
1987 Philippine Constitution
6
pcw.gov.ph/international-commitments/list
7
wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights_in_the_Philippines
RA.9710 salient features:
 Increasing the number of women in third level positions in government
to achieve a fifty-fifty (50-50) gender balance within the next five years
while the composition of women in all levels of development planning
and program implementation will be at least 40 percent;
 Leave benefits of two (2) months with full pay based on gross monthly
compensation for women employees who undergo surgery caused by
gynecological disorders, provided that they have rendered continuous
aggregate employment service of at least six (6) months for the last
twelve (12) months;
 Non-discrimination in employment in the field of military, police and
other similar services that include according the same promotional
privileges and opportunities as their men counterpart, including pay
increases, additional benefits, and awards, based on competency and
quality of performance.8

Education
DepEd Order No. 32, s. 2017 “commits to integrate the principles of
gender equality, gender equity, gender sensitivity, non-discrimination and
human rights in the provision and governance of basic education”. The
policy amongst others highlights the following:
 Enforcement and compliance with RA 9710 on non-expulsion of
women faculty and female learners who become pregnant outside of
marriage;
 Implementation of sexual and reproductive health services in every
school;
 Formulation of policies to boost women’s participation in sports;
 Provision of facilities for differently-abled people;
 Establishment of media network and mechanism to disseminate
GAD-related information/advocacy campaigns;
 Establishment of VAWC desk in schools; and

RA.9710 Section 13: Equal Access and Elimination of Discrimination in

Education, Scholarships, and Training. - (a) The State shall ensure that
gender stereotypes and images in educational materials and curricula are
adequately and appropriately revised. Gender-sensitive language shall be
used at all times. Capacity-building on gender and development (GAD),
peace and human rights, education for teachers, and all those involved in
the education sector shall be pursued toward this end. Partnerships
between and among players of the education sector, including the private
sector, churches, and faith groups shall be encouraged.

(b) Enrollment of women in nontraditional skills training in vocational and

tertiary levels shall be encouraged.

(c) Expulsion and non-readmission of women faculty due to pregnant;

outside of marriage shall be outlawed. No school shall turn out or refuse
admission to a female student solely on the account of her having
contracted pregnancy outside of marriage during her term in school.

In areas such as engineering, technology, trade and agriculture the

graduates predominantly remain to be male. It has been hoped that this
can be addressed through changes to school curriculum, educational

8
R.A. 9710 Magna Carta of Women
classes based on the elimination of gender stereotypes and the boosting of
general awareness of gender issues.9
The former gap between male and female literacy and tertiary
graduates no longer exists. Accessibility and attainment of education has
been a major contributor to the general well-being and standard of living for
not only all women, but all people, throughout the Philippines.10
Political Empowerment
Filipino women have become increasingly involved in politics on both
the local and national level. Women have come to occupy wide-ranging
positions such as members of senate, members of congress, senators,
governors, mayors and judges. The greatest exemplification of Filipino
women’s involvement in politics is the occasions of female presidency.11
 María Corazón Aquino
 11th President of the Philippines (1986-1992)
 Abolished the 1973 Constitution that was in force during Martial
Law, and by decree issued the provisional 1986 Freedom
Constitution until the ratification of 1987 Constitution and
restoration of congress.
 Maria Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
 14th President of the Philippines(2001 – 2010)
 expanded value added tax (e-VAT) law, considered the
centerpiece of her administration's economic reform agenda,
that could plug the country's large budget deficit
Suffrage

Qualified to
Vote(60,572,900)

30,146,20 Male
0
Female

30,156,70
0

Non-Registered Voter
(6,209,056)
male
female
2,364,0
62
3,844,9
94

As shown in the chart above, female practice their right to suffrage

more compared to male (based on overall qualified voter)12.
The Philippines has also enacted RA 7192 or the Women in
Development and Nation Building Act, which requires all government
9
www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/csw55/statements/Philippines.pdf
10
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights_in_the_Philippines#Suffrage_movement
11
wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_Philippines#cite_note-Shah-5
12
psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/attachments/hsd/pressrelease/Table4_9.pdf
departments to ensure that "women benefit equally and participate directly
in the development programs and projects."
Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women (MCW), the
country’s comprehensive women’s human rights law, provides under
Section 11 the undertaking of “temporary special measures to accelerate
the participation and equitable representation of women in all spheres of
society particularly in the decision-making and policy-making processes in
government and private entities to fully realize their role as agents and
beneficiaries of development.”
It mandates incremental increase of women in third level positions in
the civil service until a fifty-fifty (50-50) gender balance is achieved; sets a
forty percent (40%) quota for women in local development councils and
planning bodies; and provides for the creation of an incentive system for
encouraging political parties to integrate women in their leadership
hierarchy and electoral nominating processes, among others.
Gender Gap
The WEF noted the country has managed to close about 80% of the
total gender gap, which is the “highest value ever recorded” for the
Philippines. Philippines ranked 8th in this year's Global Gender Gap report,
out of 149 countries.13
Improvement in economic participation and opportunity in the
Philippines was also recorded, as wages increased for women’s estimated
income and equal pay for similar work.
The WEF noted the country has managed to close about 80% of the
total gender gap, which is the “highest value ever recorded” for the

Philippines.14
Issues and Challenges to Gender Equality in Philippines

13
www.weforum.org/reports/the-global-gender-gap-report-2018
14
rappler.com/nation/219124-philippines-ranking-global-gender-gap-report-2018
Labor force
Despite of the increasing female employment over the years,
women’s labor force participation is significantly lower than men’s
participation with a gap of 28%-32% since 1998.15
Filipino women are unable to pursue the same opportunities in the job
market as the men because of cultural and social barriers. They are
expected to do the bulk of domestic work, including child rearing and
domestic chores, keeping them from the job market. Lack of child care
facilities in the workplace hinders their opportunity to pursue higher-paying
jobs.
These include recruiting practices that exclude qualified female
candidates because of the nature of the job, manager bias and work force
policies that are not conducive to women who have to balance their work
and family life.

Political Participation
Philippines, despite having two female Presidents and publicized by
the World Economic Forum as the most gender equal country in Asia, has
its own share of political struggle of women in power.
The reason is the strong patriarchal systems remain in our society
due to Spaniards colonization making it difficult for women to break into the
male-dominated world of politics. There continues to be a strong emphasis
across societies of women’s roles in the home, as mothers and wives. Also,
politics remain a ‘male’ structure.
To add up, the fact that the ratio of women to men voters are 51:49
and still, as past elections have shown, men clearly dominate the political
scene. There are presently only six women in the Senate—and that is the
highest number in Philippine history. In the House of Representatives—
excluding the party-list representatives—there are only 60 women out of
the 234 representatives.

Sociologist Clifford Sorita, former secretary general and current

project officer of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting

15

psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2017%20Gender%20Statistics%20on%20Labor%20and%20Employment%28GSLE%2
9%20publication_0.pdf
(PPCRV), said that in the Philippines, the low percentage of women
participating in politics was not an issue of opportunity.

“As long as a woman is willing to be of service to our country, there is no

limit to the extent of her involvement,” Clifford Sorita, However, certain
social realities hamper the participation of women in politics.

“Like in any other workplace, most women put into high consideration the
extent of her involvement in politics vis-à-vis her role as mother and wife in
the family and its consequent double burden of work which includes the
multiple demands in running a political career and a family,” he added.16

Norms
The male is the one that provides while women take care of the
house, male must impose dominance while female must be submissive
and male must make the decision while female must adhere, these are
the few things that we learn from past generation and we cannot deny
that social norms are the most significant factor that made a major effect
on how we perceive or treat thing based on gender. Even though we are
aware that we must treat each other equally we unconsciously make our
own contribution of discrimination as a result daily experience and
interaction not only outside but also inside our home.

Recommendations to Address the Issue to GE

1. Implementation of policies and programs including practice of
diversity to improve gender balance in male-dominated industries
Concentrate on equal representation as basis of hiring and not by
gender, this might include flexible schedules that encourage a
work/life balance, paid leave, programs that support adjustment in
corporate life after maternity or other career breaks, and training and
development plans that help women advance in the organization.
2. Elimination of reading materials, textbook and images that may
attribute to gender bias or discrimination, this includes regular
inspection and communication.
3. Continued advocacy, mainstreaming and acceleration addressing the
rights of women including their right to political participation.
4. Voluntary participation in different programs raising awareness
regarding gender equality.

16
gmanetwork.com/news/news/specialreports/558302/more-female-voters-but-much-fewer-women-running-
and-winning-in-elections/story/