Women Power

The Long View : Women fought for their own rights

Manuel L. Quezon III
Inquirer News Service

TODAY marks 68 years since Manuel L. Quezon signed the law recognizing women's suffrage. He welcomed it, but hadn't always felt that way.

On Oct. 10, 1914, Quezon, then the resident commissioner, delivered some remarks in the US Congress, on a proposal to include a provision in the Jones Law extending the right of suffrage to women in the Philippines. He said, "Mr. Chairman, let me say right here that I believe in the political equality of men and women. I would not subscribe to the theory that the right to vote belongs exclusively to man because of his sex; therefore I would not withhold the franchise from women if they wanted to exercise it; but neither would I impose this duty upon them against their will. I say 'duty,' because, in my opinion, while the ballot is a right, once the right has been granted it thereby becomes one of the most important duties of citizenship. I am therefore opposed to the amendment ... because the women of my country -- practically all of them, so far as I know their will -- do not want to vote."

He went on to recount: "A few years ago, a woman suffrage movement was undertaken in Manila that ended in complete failure. A few meetings were held, but it has not been possible to create any interest in this movement either on the part of the men or on the part of the women, still less to find any number of advocates for it. In the provinces, nobody ever attempted to discuss the question, and our women there would be decidedly against it. I hope, therefore, Mr. Chairman, that the committee, in its wisdom, will not care to impose upon our women the duty of voting."

Still he made a spirited defense of Filipino women on the following grounds: "Since the establishment of public schools during the American regime, the benefit of free education has been equally enjoyed by our girls and our boys. Instances are not rare when in the classes the intellectual star shines from among the girls. In the University of the Philippines some of the graduating classes have been headed by girls. I venture to say, therefore, Mr. Chairman, that the character and intelligence of our women alone would justify our optimism as to the wonderful possibilities of our country. Now, let me give the committee a piece of information taken from volume 2, page 117, of the Philippine Census which is very interesting. It is as follows: The number of women who reported themselves as prostitutes was 476, nearly all of whom were in Manila. Of these, 75 were white, nearly all the countries of Europe being represented, besides the United States. Two hundred and sixty, or more than half, were yellow, practically all of whom were Japanese, and only 141, or 1 in 25,000 of the female population of the islands, were Filipinos. It is rather extraordinary that in this Malay Archipelago seven-tenths of all the prostitutes were from foreign lands, a fact which speaks volumes for the chastity of the Filipinos.... It is unnecessary to impose upon our women the burden of going to the polls because they are already interested in public questions. Their wholesome influence, exercised at home, tells on the public mind."

And yet, as Senate president, by 1919, Quezon came out categorically in favor of women's suffrage. What changed his mind? The women themselves-in particular their organizing themselves throughout the country, under the umbrella of the National Federation of Women's Clubs, and their determined lobbying for the right to vote. Thus, on Jan. 21, 1937, as President of the Philippines, he issued this press statement:

"To the Filipino People: On the eve of my departure abroad on a mission of far-reaching consequence to the nation, I desire to make an earnest appeal in favor of woman suffrage, which will be decided by the qualified women of the country in a plebiscite to be held on April 30, 1937.

"Almost every democratic country in the world today has woman suffrage; the Philippines cannot afford to be an exception.

"The common people, the farm laborers, the factory workers, and the small employees will be the first ones to be benefited by the extension of the vote to women, because the majority of these new electors, as is the case with the majority of male electors, belong to the class above mentioned, and, therefore, their influence in the Government will be greater and doubtless will be exerted in favor of measures and legislation that will promote their well-being. The women in the factories, in the barrios, and in the far-flung communities, who are qualified to vote, should all come out and vote for woman suffrage on the appointed day."

On April 4, 1937, by radio hook-up from Washington, D.C., he broadcast this appeal: "I am very happy to have this opportunity of addressing you today. It is a long way from Washington to the Philippines and I am beginning to feel homesick, but I am here in the performance of a most important duty that I hope will bring happiness to our people...

"I wish to reiterate my hope that the women of our country may at last use their right to vote. I hope all the women who possess the qualifications required by law will not only register but also vote favorably in the plebiscite upon this question. Filipino women are not as yet in full possession of all their rights, and unless they make an early decision on this question in the National Administration, it will take a long time before all their rights are secured. I hope all the men of the Philippines will be willing to seek the advice and collaboration of their mothers, wives, and daughters in public affairs just as they seek them in their private business. The Filipino woman is the equal of the best in the world and there is no reason why she should not enjoy all the rights and privileges of women in more progressive countries."

Women's rights have been the achievement of women alone; they have led, and forced the men to follow.