Copyright © 2001 by Adarna House, Inc., Rene Villanueva, and Ibarra Crisostomo
Story by Rene Villanueva
Drawings by Ibarra Crisostomo
Cover design by Guia Anne Salumbides
SYNOPSIS
Alam ba ninyo kung bakit malalakas at mititibay angmga Filipina? Dahil ang lahat ng kababaihan ay mula kay Lola, na hindi lamang nagmamay-ari ng pinakamatibay na buhok, mayroon din siyang pambihirang tapang!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Si Rene ay awtor ng mahigit na limampung (50) klat pambata at isang Don Carlos Palanca Hall of Fame awardee. Isa siya sa mga orihinal na manunulat ng Aklat Adarna. Naging executive producer siya ng Batibotat creative director ng Philippine Children's Television Foundation.
REVIEW
If there was a woman I am most thankful to have in my life, it would most definitely be my mom. Ever since I was young she already dedicated her life to me and our family. Despite getting tired every now and then in doing her daily routine, she always finds a way to get back up strong and committed to her goals. Nothing can replace the industriousness, love, and sacrifice my mom has devoted to us.
It may not necessarily be mother's day or my mom's birthday today. However, in celebration of the National Language Month, I cannot help but praise the courage, resilience, and strength of Filipinas (Filipino women), especially the frontliners who stand up together to combat the pandemic and its effects on global society. Regardless of where you are in the world, you will definitely be amazed not only at the beauty and charm of the Filipina but also at the moral values they uphold.
The resilience and strength of the Filipina is the theme of this children's book. The author paints to young children the admirable characteristics and traits of the Filipina in the image of the long-haired grandmother. Having an extraordinarily long hair may look like a hindrance at the age of 105, but she continues to work for her community while keeping a truly happy smile. Even during social gatherings, her hair is the center of attention to the community for how neatly arranged it looks like and how healthy it is.
Later on, the local community experienced thunderstorms and heavy winds. The townsfolk lost almost all hope of recovering from the calamities that came, but the grandmother wasn't swayed. She used her long hair strands to protect every house and edifice within the community, saving every property in the community. Throughout the 15 typhoons that came afterwards, she was even able to protect the livestock and prevent any damages within her community.
In the real world, the strong values of the Filipina are also acknowledged. According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2020 of the World Economic Forum, the Philippines ranks 16th worldwide, 2nd in the "East Asia and the Pacific" region, and 1st place in the Asian continent. This means that the involvement of Filipinas in society is well-esteemed in terms of economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Even if the Philippines has dropped from the global ranking in terms of gender equality from 2006, the role of the Filipina continues to be positively acknowledged even at the global stage.
Philippine society also honors the contributions that women give. Many legislations acknowledge and respect the rights of Filipinas, such as Republic Act No. 9262 (the "Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2005), the 'Anti-Rape Law' of 1997, and, more recently, Republic Act No. 11313 (the 'Safe Spaces Act' of 2019), an extension to Republic Act No. 7877 (the "Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995). Women have also played important roles in Philippine politics and businesses. This is evident as the Philippines has already had 2 female presidents (the late Pres. Cory Aquino and former Pres. Gloria Arroyo) and continues to have many women participating not only in government positions but also as top executives and recognized professionals such as Ms. Tessie Sy-Coson, VP of SM Investments, and Ms. Lilybeth Rasonable, VP for Entertainment Group of GMA Network, Inc.
In honor of our frontline workers I would like to give them a special mention in this review, especially to Filipina nurses. You continue to spread the warm, welcoming culture of our country by offering your lives to care for others. As someone who will begin undergraduate studies in the same field I honor you for the commitment and dedication you put not only in your profession but also in preserving our beautiful and rich culture regardless of wherever you live.
Long live the Filipina!
Sources:
6) Global Gender Gap Report 2020 by the World Economic Forum: http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2020.pdf
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