In society, there is this famous phrase, "Woman is indeed not a "just woman". Brushing her hair, putting on some lipstick and making herself look good to feel confident for herself and not for anyone else—a simple definition of how a woman can be confident and independent. Showing power through different forms like a pen full of ink that is still far-away from running out.
Ms. Lualhati Bautista, a novelist and activist, broke the allegations of women being weak as she showed the beauty of bravery through her literary works.
As stated in an article by The Philippine Star, Bautista is known for her award winning novels like “Gapo”, “Dekada ‘70”, and “Bata, Bata…Pa’no Ka Ginawa?”. She is known for being a true feminist for her advocacy on women’s rights. Through her works, she shared her knowledge and strength.
Dekada '70
Bautista narrates through the lens of struggles to the power of a woman. One of Lualhati’s famous novels, “Dekada ‘70”, got an offer to be published in Penguin Classics last January 2022. The novel tells the story of a family living during the Martial Law of Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorship. It showed the danger of life in the Philippines decades ago. It also illustrared how hard it was to live as a woman back then, especially wheb the suppression is at its highest—men being equal to women was just a concept during those days. In the novel, not only it depicts the highest point of Martial law but it also portrays feminism—knowing their rights and capabilities.
"Bata, bata... Pa'no ka Ginawa?
A woman is a daughter, mother, or a wife. In this novel, the cruel events in the past wherein women must only do and be a wife to a man were shown. There is this typical thinking where a wife should serve to his husband—it is like mandating women to just show their skills to someone. The story shows the perspective of society on what being a woman is and how difficult it is for a woman to be a mother. It roared the voice of how society deals with different types of thinking.
“Gapo”
Discrimination, mistreatment, and inequality—people experiencing it in their own motherland—this is where the story “Gapo” by Bautista revolves around. The novel opened the secret wound of Filipinos being a foreign national in his own country. This situation still reiterates in the present times. The value of a Filipino being equal to its currency and stating that it has lesser value than the dollars of Americans is how the other nationals viewed the Filipinos. Women who fall in love to a pit of baseless promises and settling for less just to survive and fill in their empty stomach. Gapo showed different hardships of Filipinos, especially women, to live is what opened their eyes to different perspectives.
“For her honest realism, her courageous exploration of women’s issues, and her compelling female protagonists, who confront difficult situations at home and in the workplace with uncommon grit and strength,” the Ateneo Library of Women’s Writings said in a statement, referring to Bautista.
Bautista passed away last February 2023 but her powerful novels remain outspoken. Through the power of writing, Bautista revealed many injustices and truths. She showed the struggles of being a woman and on how they survive it while continuing to show its power. Women being able to succeed in different issues in life reveals the beauty of their extraordinary abilities. Bautista’s Novels can be bought in different bookstores, and there are also some who sell a softcopy of her books. May the strength of women continue to soar and grow.
REFERENCES:
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/13/2244501/activist-novelist-lualhati-bautista-77
https://philnews.ph/2020/12/08/bata-bata-paano-ka-ginawa-buod-at-iba-pang-kaalaman/
http://iamdeogratias.blogspot.com/2016/02/buod-gapo-ni-lualhati-bautista.html
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