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7,107 islands – actually a challenge for the international tourism industry to make the Philippines one of its main destinations. But under the sweeping palm trees there is poverty and violence. The Philippines – a specialty in the region – owe their name to a Western European heir to the throne and later king. Colonized for many years – first the Spaniard, then the United States of America with a Japanese interlude during the Second World War – the Filipinos fought with verve for independence, freedom and dignity.

Gender

According to thereligionfaqs, the Philippines are often described as a nation of strong women who, directly or indirectly, determine family life, manage businesses, run government agencies or manage large plantations. Although women (have to) define themselves in the milieu of a male-dominated post-colonial Asian Catholic society, Filipinas live in a culture that is strongly shaped by community spirit, in which the (extended) family enjoys the highest social priority.

To assert oneself within the framework of strong hierarchical structures, pronounced class and class differences, religious justifications and a nation facing the challenges of globalization and to fight for dignity and respect remains a constant challenge for Filipinas. Compared to their Southeast Asian sisters, however – according to Wikipedia – they enjoy a higher degree of legal equality.

EXCURSION – Recalling Gabriela S.

In April 1984, almost a year after the murder of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, the father of President “Noynoy”, who has been in office since summer 2010, over 10,000 women defied the henchmen of the Marcos regime, marched on the streets of Manila and demonstrated for their rights. At that time there were 42 women’s organizations that had come together nationwide to form a political alliance that has since written the following central concerns on its flags:

• Fight against foreign interference
• Fight against landlessness
• Fight against political oppression
• Fight against prostitution and trafficking in women
• Fight against militarism
• Fight against patriarchal structures in society

Today more than 250 organizations and institutions belong to this network, whose members – primarily (skilled) workers, farmers, trade unionists, housewives, urban poor, academics, students and nuns – form an important political bloc nationwide and whose voices are unmistakable.

Since Filipinos appreciate acronyms and they are quickly found, it was astonishing at best to astonished or ignorant men and comrades when the name of this politically militant network of committed women’s rights activists and feminists was inspired by a person who saw the light of day more than 250 years ago – Maria Josefa Gabriela Carino Silang, Gabriela Silang for short, born on March 19, 1731 in Santa, a town in the province of Ilocos Sur. In memory of and in remembrance of this courageous woman, the women’s network founded in 1984 gave itself the name GABRIELA. The word stands for General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action and means – loosely translated – as much as general assembly of women, connected in a spirit of reform, integrity, equality, leadership and energy.

Historians consider Gabriela Silang to be the first Filipina to lead a revolt against the hated occupiers during the Spanish colonial rule. As an active member of the rebels under Diego Silang, her husband, she took over the leadership of the group for four months after his death, which had taken up arms for the liberation of the province of Ilocos from the Spanish tyranny, until they too were captured and the just 32-year-old hanged in the city of Vigan on September 20, 1763. Gabriela Silang was considered a fearless and bold woman who also mastered the art of riding.

In 2003, GABRIELA founded the GABRIELA Women’s Party, which a year later won almost 465,000 votes (3.65 percent) nationwide in the parliamentary elections and won a seat in Congress with Liza Maza. In 2010 the party received over one million votes (3.31 percent) and by 2013 its members Luzviminda C. Ilagan and Emerenciana “Emmi” A. De Jesus have two congressmen. Even after the May 2013 elections, GABRIELA is present in the lower house with its own MPs.

In the USA, GABRIELA maintains an offshoot or sister network with the GABRIELA Network (GABNet), which in recent years has been particularly committed to the protection of human rights and the numerous extrajudicial executions during the tenure of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2001-2010) denounced in several major US cities.

Role and status as well as the status and role of Filipinas provide a deeper insight into the world of ideas and life of the Filipinas.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees helps victims of sexual violence.