To The Fierce Women In Our Lives

To The Fierce Women In Our Lives

I was born to a family and nation of strong women.

My grandmother, who became a widow at a young age, just a year shy after giving birth to her youngest child, raised all of her six children singlehandedly. Not afraid of hard work, she ran a school canteen and a sari-sari store, while maintaining a disciplined household and was able to support all her kids through college. I remember going to the market with her as a child, always before the crack of dawn, so she could score the freshest produce, as well as the sight of her wielding her tabak vigorously chopping the weeds that grow around the house, even in her twilight years as her strength ebbed away.

My mother, the big “ate,” second child of the brood helped take care of her siblings. She married young, and took care of us three kids while my father worked abroad. She was a teacher, and then moved to the Philippine Postal Service later on to become the youngest Post Master in the country (and a woman at that) in those days. And despite suffering from the “big C” almost two decades ago, she has always been the active driver of the family, pushing us all through growth, setting up businesses as well as charitable endeavors while keeping her eight “apos” in constant check until she passed away last year.

I am very sure that my stories aren’t exactly unique. Having strong women in the family is something most Filipinos share.

We are born to strong women who not only take care of the family, teach our young, but also take care of business and run the country as well. We have women doctors, law makers, architects and engineers, heads of industries and government leaders. We have female soldiers and military officials, boxers, martial artists and all sorts of athletes, not to mention, artists, performers and beauty queens. We have heroines in Philippine history and everyday heroes who take it upon themselves to provide for their kin even as they work in faraway lands across the globe.

The Filipina is not just the pleasant, alluring and sun-kissed presence of Amorsolo’s canvas. She is a strong, intelligent, capable modern woman, whose resolve to accomplish and prevail, even in the direst of situations, is even bigger than her heart.

We could only hope that we are able to honor her grace, her sacrifice and fortitude.

And so, as we continue work to champion the world class Filipino, join us in contributing to the continued upliftment of Filipinas. Let us pay tribute to the fierce women in our lives.

Taas Noo, Filipino!

Lalaine Chu-Benitez