Reaction Paper: To the Women of Malolos

The musical documentary-drama film affected me way more than a Nicholas

Sparks’ movie, cause it did not only swell up my eyes but also my heart and not
because of sadness but for it held plenty of honor for the women of Malolos who not
only aim for the betterment of themselves but also for the other women who are
unaware that they are capable and should be given of such degree of breakthrough that
eradicates the cause of ignorance that the women of such colonial time were
experiencing. The film also affected me to a point of realization that there is no such
someone as a Maria Clara today, who is the very idea of a beautiful “dalagang Filipina”
of the yesteryears; a woman of grace, humility, and modesty and yet still not only was
she in no doubt ignorant of the socio-political and economic happenings in her
surroundings but also brainwashed of that patriarchal supremacy Spaniards have
brought, I believe this all because of the legacy the women of Malolos truly transcend
up until now is strong and impactful.

Exactly when the film ended, it made me felt more proud and strong being called
a Filipina and also furious for another reason. Proud and strong, due with the reference
to the result of the uprising of empowerment of women after they confidently yet
respectfully spoke with the friars even though the friars did not spoke to them as same.
For now on, I shall refer myself as a proud Filipina in correspondence with the fact that
being a woman in the Philippines held such honorous meaning. Furthermore, I felt
furious due to the fact that the government then and those friars that refuse to provide
the right that the women should be experiencing because of their normative patriotic
view of everything that became a hindrance to the eradication of ignorance of the
Filipinos’ for centuries in which they suffered most, is painful to just hear but what about
those who truly experience that during their time.

The key message of the film is despite being stunted of intellectual and personal
growth by being deprived of education and encouragement of submission for centuries
of Spanish colonialism the Filipino women will no longer be kept on a constricted
environment of continuous belittlement of their capabilities and shall be perceived as an
equal partner in life with indifferent opportunities, such as education, and will be given
importance as a being responsible for shaping and strengthening a young individual, the
future of this state, and not just a mere slave of the household and an instrument of
human reproduction.

Films, such as these, which showcase historical and meaningful events narrating
the times of Spanish colonialism, provided me sensuous knowledge of their social
ethics. It seems to me that base from what I’ve watched and read, that during those
time they represent the modification of the social ethics that the pre-colonial Filipinos
are accustomed to and provided for the development of the holistic being, therefore
when they come forth with the influence of Christian morals through friars, which later
became a form of colonizing us, being subject to its virtues in mostly every action that
we do then redeveloped the minds of Filipino’s. In some way, the stated etiquette and
manners were addressed mostly to the women, which actively illustrates that it became
one of the reasons why women are foreseen only as an image for the church and as a
helper.

Taking everything into consideration, we may learn from the video that
continuous seeking of knowledge is key and is natural for every being, similar to what
the women of Malolos have spoken about to Governor-General Weyler and in addition
to that, ignorance should have no part in our life for it only constricts us to do what we
ought to do. Another point worth noticing is the resilience of every woman is for the
sake of the whole of those concerns and resilience is a great trait that every Filipino
takes pride up until now. Finally, I stand my ground that there is no Filipina as ignorant
and as weak as Maria Clara today because of our developing world and shaped minds,
Filipina’s now know better than to be on the sideline.