Mighty Magulang: Women of Malolos

Kasaysayan, Sibika

14 Mar 202203:26

Summary

TLDRIn celebration of Women's Month, the video script highlights the pioneering efforts of 20 women from affluent Chinese-Filipino families in Malolos, Bulacan. In 1888, they petitioned Governor General Valeriano Weyler for a night school to learn Spanish, facing opposition from the Agustinian friars and the Spanish administration. Despite controversy and closure, their initiative marked a milestone in Filipino feminist activism. The script delves into the lives of these influential women, many of whom supported the 1896 revolution and became suffragettes, leaving a lasting impact on Philippine history.

Takeaways

📜 On December 1888, 20 women from affluent Chinese-Filipino families in Malolos, Bulacan, petitioned Governor General Valeriano Weyler for permission to open a night school to learn Spanish.
😠 The request was met with outrage from the Augustinian friars and the Spanish governor general.
🌟 The efforts of these women garnered support from ilustrado reformists like José Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and others.
🏫 After public debate, the school opened with conditional approval in February 1889, but faced accusations of immorality and was forced to close in April of the same year.
🚩 The women's initiative is recognized as a pivotal event in the development of Filipino feminist activism.
📚 The book 'The Women of Malolos' by Nika North Yongsan provides insights into the lives of these women from closely-knit mestizo clans.
👭 The 20 signatories shared five surnames: Reyes, Tanchanco, Cantoco, Tiongson, and Uitanco, indicating familial ties and intermarriages among them.
🛡️ Many of these women supported their Katipunero relatives during the 1896 Revolution and became active suffragettes in peacetime.
👵 Basilia Tyongson, the oldest signatory at 28, and her sisters Agapita, Aleja, and Mercedes, were all part of the historic petition.
🏥 Olympia Reyes, the youngest at 12, married Vicente Reyes, and their son José Reyes had a hospital named after him, the Jose A.R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center.
💼 Aurea Tanchanco, considered the brightest student, married Dr. Eugenio Hernando, who later became the director of the Bureau of Public Health under President Quezon.
🏛️ Alberta Oitanko married Paulino Santos, and their home is now a heritage site and the Museum of the Women of Malolos.

Q & A

What significant event took place on December 1888 in Malolos involving 20 women?
-On December 1888, 20 women from prominent Chinese Filipino families of Malolos, Bulacan signed and presented a letter to Governor General Valeriano Weyler, requesting permission to open a night school where they could be taught Spanish.
What was the reaction of the Augustinian friars and the Spanish Governor General to the women's request for a night school?
-The request was met with outrage from the Augustinian friars and the Spanish Governor General himself.
Which reformists supported the efforts of the women of Malolos?
-The efforts were supported by ilustrado reformists like Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and you go.
When did the night school finally open, and under what conditions?
-The night school opened with conditional approval in February 1889.
What accusations led to the closure of the night school in April 1889?
-The school was accused by church officials of immoral teaching and of eating meat on days of abstinence, which forced the school to close.
How is the event in Malolos recognized in the context of Filipino history?
-The efforts of the women of Malolos are recognized as one of the most important events towards the development of Filipino feminist activism.
Who is Nika North Yongsan and what contribution did he make to the understanding of the women of Malolos?
-Nika North Yongsan is the author of the book 'The Women of Malolos,' which provides more information about the lives of these young women from closely knit mestizo clans.
What commonality did the 20 signatories of the letter share in terms of their surnames?
-The 20 signatories shared five surnames: Reyes, Tanchanco, Cantoco, Tiongson, and Uitankoi.
How were the women of Malolos related to each other?
-Many of the women were related by blood, marriage, and friendship. The Reyeses and Tanchancos were cousins, and some ended up marrying brothers or cousins of the other girls.
What role did the women play during the Revolution of 1896?
-Many of the women helped their Katipunero fathers, brothers, and cousins during the Revolution of 1896.
Can you provide an example of one of the signatories and her contributions?
-Basilia Tyongson, the oldest signatory at 28, was the daughter of an anti-friar gubernatorial of Malolos. Her sisters also signed the historic letter, and she was active in suffragette movements during peacetime.
What is the significance of the Jose A. R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center?
-The medical center is named after Jose Reyes, the son of Olympia Reyes, who was the youngest signatory of the letter. He became a doctor, highlighting the impact of the women's educational efforts.
What notable achievement is attributed to Hermene H. Reyes?
-Hermene H. Reyes, another son of Olympia Reyes, along with four others, established the Makati Stock Exchange in 1963.
Who was Aureka Tanchanko and what was her connection to the Spanish Army?
-Aureka Tanchanko was considered the brightest student in the women's school in Malolos. She married Dr. Eugenio Hernando, who later became the director of the Bureau of Public Health under President Quezon.
What is the significance of the Oitanko Santos Home today?
-The Oitanko Santos Home, where Alberta Oitankoi married Paulino Santos, is now a heritage site and has become the Museum of the Women of Malolos.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Women of Malolos and the Fight for Education

In December 1888, twenty women from affluent Chinese-Filipino families in Malolos, Bulacan, petitioned Governor General Valeriano Weyler for permission to establish a night school to learn Spanish. The request sparked controversy, with the Augustinian friars and the Spanish administration opposing it, while reformists like Jose Rizal and Marcelo H. del Pilar supported it. Despite initial resistance, the school opened in February 1889 but was closed in April due to accusations of immoral teachings and violations of religious observances. The women's efforts are celebrated as a pivotal moment in Filipino feminist activism. The book 'The Women of Malolos' by Nika North Yongsan sheds light on these women's lives, who were part of a close-knit community bound by blood and marriage. The signatories shared five surnames, indicating familial ties, and many supported the 1896 Revolution and later became suffragettes.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Women of Malolos

This term refers to a group of 20 women from prominent Chinese-Filipino families in Malolos, Bulacan, who played a significant role in the advancement of women's education and rights in the late 19th century. They are central to the video's theme, which highlights their efforts to establish a night school for women to learn Spanish, a move that sparked controversy and debate but also garnered support from reformists. Their actions are recognized as a pivotal event in Filipino feminist activism.

💡Night School

A night school is an educational institution that operates during the evening, allowing individuals who work or have other daytime commitments to attend classes. In the context of the video, the women of Malolos sought permission to open a night school to learn Spanish, which was a bold move at the time and indicative of their desire for education and empowerment.

💡Governor General Valeriano Weyler

Governor General Valeriano Weyler was the Spanish colonial official in the Philippines during the late 19th century. His role in the video is as the authority figure to whom the women of Malolos presented their request for a night school. His initial reaction of outrage, along with that of the Augustinian friars, underscores the resistance to women's education and the challenges the women faced.

💡Illustrator Reformists

Illustrator reformists were a group of Filipino intellectuals and reformers during the late Spanish colonial period who advocated for social and political change. In the video, they are shown as supporters of the women's initiative to establish a night school, highlighting their progressive stance and the broader movement for reform in the Philippines.

💡Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal is a prominent Filipino national hero, known for his literary works that criticized Spanish colonial rule. In the video, he is mentioned as one of the illustrator reformists who supported the women of Malolos, indicating his role in the broader movement for social change and his support for women's education.

💡Conditional Approval

Conditional approval refers to permission granted with certain stipulations or restrictions. In the video, the night school for women opened with conditional approval in February 1889, after much public debate. This term illustrates the cautious and reluctant acceptance of the women's educational initiative by the colonial authorities.

💡Immoral Teaching

The accusation of 'immoral teaching' was one of the reasons given by church officials for the closure of the night school in April 1889. This term reflects the conservative attitudes and resistance to change, particularly in the context of women's education and independence, which was seen as a threat to the established social order.

💡Days of Abstinence

Days of abstinence refer to specific religious days when certain activities, such as eating meat, are prohibited. The video mentions that the school was accused of eating meat on these days, which was another reason for its closure. This accusation highlights the strict adherence to religious norms and the scrutiny faced by the school.

💡Katipunero

Katipunero refers to a member of the Katipunan, a secret society that aimed to achieve Philippine independence from Spanish colonial rule through revolution. In the video, many of the women's relatives were Katipunero, indicating their families' involvement in the struggle for independence and their connection to the broader revolutionary movement.

💡Suffragettes

Suffragettes were women who advocated for women's right to vote and greater involvement in politics. In the video, it is mentioned that during peacetime, many of the women of Malolos were active suffragettes, showing their continued commitment to women's rights and social change beyond the establishment of the night school.

💡Mestizos

Mestizos are individuals of mixed European and Filipino ancestry. The video describes the women of Malolos as coming from closely knit mestizo clans, indicating their social status and the influence of their families in the community. This term provides context for the women's background and their ability to take action within the society of that time.

💡Heritage Site

A heritage site is a place of historical significance that is preserved for its cultural or historical value. In the video, the Oitanko Santos home, which is now a museum dedicated to the women of Malolos, is mentioned as a heritage site. This term highlights the recognition and preservation of the women's contributions to Filipino history and feminist activism.

Highlights

In December 1888, 20 women from prominent Chinese-Filipino families of Malolos, Bulacan, requested permission to open a night school to learn Spanish.

Their request was met with outrage from the Augustinian friars and the Spanish Governor General.

The initiative received support from reformists like Jose Rizal and Marcelo H del Pilar.

After public debate, the school opened with conditional approval in February 1889.

The school was accused of immoral teaching and closed in April 1889 after only two months.

The women's efforts are recognized as a significant event in Filipino feminist activism.

The book 'The Women of Malolos' by Nika North Yongsan provides insights into their lives.

The 20 signatories shared five surnames, indicating close familial ties.

Many of the women assisted their revolutionary family members during the 1896 revolution.

In peacetime, they were active suffragettes advocating for women's rights.

Basilia Tyongson, the oldest signatory, had a family with a history of anti-friar activism.

Olympia Reyes, the youngest signatory, married a man whose son became a notable doctor.

Aurea Tanchanko married a doctor who later became the director of the Bureau of Public Health.

Maria Tantoco's son became the mayor of Malolos.

Mercedes Yongson's husband was the founder of the Nacionalista Party.

Alberta Oitankoi's home is now a heritage site and museum dedicated to the women of Malolos.

The story of the women of Malolos demonstrates the early strides in women's education and activism in the Philippines.