Written by Dana Jobelle A. Fernandez

The General Alliance Binding Women for Reform, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action (GABRIELA) Youth – UPLB, along with Kabataan Partylist Southern Tagalog, participated in an educational discussion held by the UP Varrons Ltd entitled “Half the Sky: Women Now and Then” at the Sunken Lobby of the UPLB Student Union building on March 20, 2025.

The event, in celebration of the National Women’s Month, featured discussions about the experiences of women from the past and the present including their similarities, differences, issues, and their continuous fight for equality. The speakers discussed the history of women’s struggle in the Philippines  before, during, and after colonization, as well as candidates in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections who advocate for women’s rights. 

Ma. Nicka Mae Zagguire, one of the guest speakers and the chairperson of GABRIELA Youth – UPLB, discussed the brief history of feminism specifically past Western movements where she critiqued women who claimed to be ‘feminists’ but had underlying racism and were fighting for the rights of only white women as opposed to equal rights for all.

Nicka Zagguire, spokesperson of GABRIELA Youth – UPLB, discussing the role of contemporary women during the educational discussion, “Half the Sky: Women Then and Now” organized by the UP Varrons Ltd. (Photo Taken by Dana Jobelle A. Fernandez)

“Ang peminismong walang tamang pagsusuri sa lipunang ginagalawan at isinusulong lamang ang interest ng kanyang uring kinabibilangan ay baog at hindi mapagtatagumpayan (Feminism that lacks a proper analysis of the society it operates in and only promotes the interests of its own class is barren and cannot be won)”, she said.

Zagguire then discussed the extensive history of women in the Philippines from the pre-colonial era to modern or contemporary times. She mentioned notable groups who were part of the fight for women’s rights such as the Katipuneras, Pinay Guirellas, the women of the HUKBALAHAP, and the GABRIELA Women’s Party. She said that, “Our fight today is the continuation of the battles fought by all the women who struggled before us.” 

An open forum was also held to allow the participants to share their questions, concerns, reflections, and manifestations.      

When asked about their experience attending the event, one participant said that, “Talagang mas marami akong nalaman about yung mga nangyayari sa kababaihan lalo na sa mga kabataan katulad natin kase base dun sa mga lesson namin about development, isa tayo sa laging naiiwan ay kabataan at kababaihan talaga.” 

“Aside sa being empowered na ako’y babae, I feel empowered kasi I’m proactive to these stuff na para maipaglaban and maging aware pa and mashare itong mga learnings natin from those speakers sa mga ibang tao na mag-aaral tulad natin,” another participant shared.

Zagguire also expressed that when speaking to older generations of women, they tell her that now is the time for the younger generation to fight for gender emancipation. “Hindi natatapos ang laban sa yugto ng ating buhay as long as may oppression. So maghahanap lang tayo ng mga roles. Sa ating mga kabataan, dahil marami pa tayong ways na pwede, bukod sa social media, mas kaya pa natin na mag on-ground,” she pointed out.