«Women have to unite and struggle for liberation" THE LATEST important event in the Philippines, the plebiscite of February 2, 1987, gave overwhelming approval to the adoption of the New Philippine Constitution. Few really voted on the content of the document. At this time of political crisis in the country, it essentially meant a big yes to President Corazon Aquino and a big no to the military right. (1)
Looking at what this Constitution has to say in terms of the rights of Filipino women, it maintains a no-divorce, no-abortion policy. The provision states: 'The state recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception." (2) SONIA RUPON
PHILIPPINES liberation we already have to address ourselves, and we really have to unite and struggle for women's liberation." (4)
Recently, in October, a new women's group in the form of a women's political party was launched. The Kababaihan para sa Inang Bayan (KAIBA) or Women for the Mother Country, is an initiative to make actively involved in electoral women political life, while differentiating itself from traditional parties in that it "seeks to change traditional Philippine politics rooted in patronage, personalities and promises to have a popular, program-based politics. It will give special attention to women by articulating, asserting and defending their rights." (5)
Many of the cadres of the new women's party belong to the militant left, including the national democratic current. Nevertheless, its representatives cover a rather broad political spectrum with, for example, newly-elected chairperson, Princess Tarhata Lucman, governor of Lanao (Mindanao) from the Liberal Party (Salonga wing).
The women's party has been met with great enthusiasm by many women, and with some doubts, too, by others. It represents a very original attempt to establish a women's party effectively involved in global popular struggles.
We are publishing here an interview with Maita Gomez, present secretary general of KAIBA, held in August last year. Maita Gomez was at that time already vigorously engaged in the preparation of the launching of this party.
Likewise, we are reproducing sections of a speech given by the same woman leader while she served as chairperson of the Metro-Manila region of GABRIELA until she took on her present post. It deals with a critical history of the women's move. ment in the Philippines and gives important insights about the evolution of the struggle of women in this archipelago. The speech was delivered on the occasion of GABRIELA's Third National Congress, in March 1986.
1. See 'International Viewpoint,' No. 114, February 23, 1987.
2. 'State Policies, the Constitution of the Philippines, adopted by the Constitutional Commission of 1986, Section 12, p. 3.
3. 'Statement of Common Position and Concern re: Constitutional Provision on the "Right to Life," ' August 1, 1986, Manila, mimeographed, p. 4.
4. Sr. Mary John Mananzan, 'Opening remarks' in "Proceedings: International Solidarity Affair the Philippines". (WISAP) February March 1986: "GABRIELA Third National Congress." March 13-14, 1986, Quezon City, Philippines, p. 98.
'Why a Political Party of Women? A Primer.'
3
Confronting the issue of abortion is fairly new for the Filipino women's movement. The deep influence of Catholic values in Philippine social life, and the weight of the Catholic Church in the country's politics, evidently complicates this task. Yet the problem of abortion, particularly amongst poor and working women, is acute.
The Filipino women's movement marked a big step when, in August last year, certain parties of women came out with their position on how to handle the problem of abortion in the country. In their Statement of Common Position and Concern, which they submitted to the Consti. tution Commissioners, they firmly stated that: "Such a constitutional provision would be discriminatory against poor women, who, being the ones deprived of option in the first place, would continue to submit themselves in silence to highly dangerous forms of abortion, subject to the raw exploitation of unscrupulous persons." (3)
The women committed themselves to look seriously into the extent of the problem in the country, the existing legislation and support structures, and to unite efforts in exchange for having such a provision in the Constitution.
The past few years, particularly after the murder in 1983 of Ninoy Aquino, the president's husband, saw the formation of women's groups in different sectors of society. Since
International Viewpoint 9 March 1987 then a redefining of roles has been constantly made as the movement develops and matures, and as the situation changes. Debates on whether to take on a strictly feminist perspective, or whether to address the national liberation struggle as politically active women, seem to lead to clearer positions today.
GABRIELA is a federation of different women's groups and will soon be having its Fourth National Congress. They are also presently sponsoring an international gathering of women from different parts of the world. In last year's congress present national chairperson Mary John Mananzan said, in reference to the ongoing debates then: "We think that there are two main principles on which a women's movement in the third world should be based. The first is that women's liberation in the third world cannot be separated from the context of economic, political, and socio-cultural life of society. «Women's struggle cannot be isolated"
"We cannot consider the women's struggle as something isolated from the context of social liberation. But we should not wait until society is liberated before addressing ourselves to the women's question. It is clear that even in the process of societal
PHILIPPINES
Corazon Aquino (centre) at a 15,000-strong women's demonstration against Marcos, Manila 1983 (DR)