RIPH Blog

Pre-Hispanic Time in the Philippines: Was it patriarchal?

Published: September 10, 2022

We must trace its history back to its beginnings. By doing this, we would get a peek into the past as well as what we may take away from it. At first, I thought the pre-Hispanic period of the Philippines is patriarchal, where it is always that men should govern everything in the society, but after some readings and researching my point of view changes that it is that they are both equal in the society.

According to, (https://www.pinoyedition.com/history/philippines-prehistoric-culture/) "Contrary to popular belief, Philippine society was not always patriarchal. There was a time when women were treated as equally as men. Precolonial "Filipinas, unlike their modern-day counterparts, enjoyed the same privileges, rights and opportunities as did men. They played key roles both in and outside. Before the coming of the Spaniards, women were already active in business, politics and even religion."

Even that men have also attained such women also should.

 
And also, according to (https://filipinawomensnetwork.org/epahayagan/did-you-know-pre-colonial-philippines-longstanding-tradition-of-women-leadership-and-mysticism) "It was interesting to learn that the community structure of pre-Hispanic Philippine society could neither be described as a patriarchy nor a matriarchy. Before the Spanish colonized the Philippines, there existed a 500-year long tradition of indigenous feminism that predated women's liberation in the West."

And lastly to prove that my stand is in both men and women, according to (https://tonkshistory.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/the-role-of-women-from-pre-hispanic-to-spanish-era) "Men and women were treated equally, they had equal rights. Women had the right to inherit property and they also had important parts in business and trading. They would weave, do pottery and make jewelries to be used for exchanging in the market, in other tribes and other foreign traders like the Chinese."

They are both important in the society even after the colonizers came, the men and women play significant role that makes them important part of society, there is no such thing as a higher position than the other, but rather they are equal but have different roles that they play.

REFERENCES:

- N. (2012, February 22). The Role of Women from Pre-Hispanic to Spanish era. Tonks

- Philippines Prehistoric Culture - Philippine History - Pinoy Edition. (n.d.). Philippines Prehistoric Culture - Philippine History - Pinoy Edition. Alvero, R. (2016, March 3). 

- DID YOU KNOW? Pre-Colonial Philippines' Longstanding Tradition of Women Leadership and Mysticism — Foundation for Filipina Women's Network. Foundation for Filipina Women's Network.