Ang Paghaharing-Bayan bilang Kaisipang Diwang Panlipunan ni Bonifacio at ng Katipunan

Si Andres Bonifacio na kinilala bilang Presidente ng "Republica de Tagala"

DALA NA RIN ng matinding impluwensiya ng kolonyal na mentalidad, madalas at palagi nating iniisip na mga Pilipino na lagi na lamang tayong kumukopya o gumagaya sa halos lahat ng mga bagay sa ating paligid, ito man ay produkto, bagay, palabas sa telebisyon, mga awitin o mga pelikula. Maging sa ating sistemang pulitikal, malaon na tayong namulat at naturuan na ang ating “demokrasya” na tinatamasa ngayon ay diumano’y “tinuro” at “ipinamana” lamang sa atin ng mga Amerikano.

Bagamat may katotohanan ang pananaw nito, ito ay sa kadahilanang ang pagtingin natin sa ating kasaysayan at kultura ay hindi lubos na nakaugat talaga sa ating sariling kalinangan at pagkakakilanlan bilang mga Pilipino. Gaya nga ng palagian at maka-ilang ulit nang pagdalumat at pagtalakay dito ng kagalang-galang na istoryador at Pilipinolohistang si Dr. Zeus A. Salazar, ito ay dahil sa ang ating pagtingin sa kasaysayan ay palaging patungo sa palabas. Ito ay ang tinatawag niyang pang-kaming pananaw. Ayon sa kanya, ang pang-kaming pananaw ay ang pagpapaliwanag ng ating kasaysayan at mga gawi sa mga dayuhan at taga-labas gamit din ang wika nila (Espanyol sa una, at Ingles sa ngayon). Kumbaga, sa simpleng pangungusap, ito ang pang-kaming pananaw: “Ganito kami noon, tulad niyo, may ganito din kami, blah, blah.” Sa madaling salita, ang nagiging batayan ng pang-kaming pananaw dapat laging may bahid ng impluwensiya at pagkakatulad ang ating mga gawi at kasaysayan sa mga taga-labas. Hindi naman masama talaga ito kung tutuusin sapagkat may pakikipag-ugnayan naman talagang nagaganap sa pagitan ng mga tao’t bansa subalit gaya nga ng pinupunto ni Dr. Salazar nagbubunga ito ng pagkawala ng ating pagkakakilanlan at pagkawalay natin sa sariling kasaysaya’t kalinangan. Dahil sa siyang namamayaning pang-kaming pananaw nito kung kaya maging ang pagtingin natin sa sarili nating kasaysayan ay panlabas at pang-kami na rin at ang bunga nito, lagi nating iniisip na “wala tayong sariling kalinangan, kabihasnan at pagkakakilanlan” na maituturing na isang malaking kalokohan.

Taliwas sa pang-kaming pananaw, ang pantayong pananaw naman na binuo, inisip at pinalalim ni Dr. Salazar ay ang pagtingin sa ating sariling kasaysaya’t kalinangan mula sa loob. Gaya nga ng madalas sabihin ni Dr. Salazar, ang pantayong pananaw ay ang pagtingin at pagpapaliwanag ng Kasaysayang Pilipino para sa mga Pilipino mismo. Kumbaga, ang pantayong pananaw ay pagpapaliwanag sa ating mga sarili kung sino at ano ba “tayo” bilang mga Pilipino. At di-tulad ng pang-kaming pananaw, wika ng bayan – ang wikang Filipino – ang siyang gamit na wika sa pag-aaral, pagdadalumat at pagpapaliwanag sa Kasaysayang Pilipino. Layon ng Pantayong Pananaw na muling balikan ng mga Pilipino ang kanilang sarili, katangi-tangi at taal na kalinangan, kagawian at kaayusan na mababanaag hindi lamang sa ating kasaysayan kundi maging sa ating kasalukuyan. Bagamat hangad ng Pantayong Pananaw na muling maugat ang Pilipino sa kanyang taal na kalinangan, hindi naman nito tinatatwa ang mga impluwensiyang banyaga o dayuhan sa ating kultura laluna’t kung ito ay pumasok sa proseso ng pagsasakatutubo o inculturation sa terminolohiya ni Fr. Anscar J. Chupungco, OSB.

Katunayan dahil sa mga layunin nito, masasabi na ang Pantayong Pananaw ni Dr. Zeus Salazar at ng Bagong Kasaysayan ay pagpapatuloy at muling pagbubuhay sa mga kaisipa’t adhikain ng Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, o KKK, na tinaguyod at itinayo ni Andres Bonifacio noong 1892 hindi lamang bilang isang pambansang kilusan para sa kalayaan ngunit bilang katuparan na rin ng kanaisan ng mga Pilipinong anak ng bayan na makamit ang ganap na kalayaan mula sa mga Kastila at magkaroon ng sariling pamahalaan at bansa. Hindi lubusang mauunawaan ang Pantayong Pananaw kundi uunawain ang halagahin at layunin ng Katipunan ni Andres Bonifacio. Makikita ang ugnayan ng Pantayong Pananaw at ng Katipunan sa iisang bagay: ang pagiging tunay, taal at katutubo nito o sa lenggwahe sa mga panahong ito, sa pagiging orig nito (orig kung ikaw ay jologs) at uniquely Filipino naman ang tawag mo (kung ikaw ay sopistikadong elit).

Sa madaling salita, taliwas sa palagian nating iniisip na wala tayong orihinalidad, makikita sa kaisipang diwang panlipunan (social philosophy) ng Katipunan (na dinadalumat ng Pantayong Pananaw ngayon) na mayroon talaga tayong malawak, malaon, makulay, masining, at mayaman na sariling kaisipan, kabihasnan, kalinangan at kaayusan, higit laluna pagdating sa aspeto ng pulitika at pamamahala. Kitang-kita sa kaisipang diwa o pilosopiya ng Katipunan ang mga taal na konseptong pampulitika tayong mga Pilipino noon pa man.

Bagamat madalas sabihin na hiram at pamana lang diumano ng mga dayuhan sa atin ang demokrasya, wala itong katotohanan at masasabing isang kasinungalingan. Para bagang sinasabi na wala sa wika o kahulugan ng mga Pilipino ang kaisipan ng kalayaan at pamahalaan. Noon pa man, umiiral na ang mga kaugaliang demokratiko sa Pilipinas, iyon nga lamang, hindi “demokrasya” ang tawag dito dahil na rin sa ang demokrasya ay salitang Griyego at dahil na rin sa may sariling katawagan o kaayusan ito noon sa mga sinaunang Pilipino. Katunayan, ang pagtatanghal sa isang tao noon bilang isang hari, datu, raha o maging ng isang bagani ng mga mamamayan dahil sa kanilang ipinakitang katapangan, kadakilaan o kabayanihan ay maituturing na demokratiko o dili kaya’y masasabi pa nga sa Ingles na ito ay isang pagkilos o exercise or example of a direct democracy.

Dito sa puntong ito, papasok ang kahalagahan ng ginampanan ng Katipunan sa ating kasaysayan at kalinangan. Bagaman laging sinasabi sa tuwina ng mga mainstream na istoryador na ang Katipunan diumano ay halaw lamang sa La Liga Filipina ng mga repormistang propagandista sa kadahilanang ang tagapagtatag nito na si Bonifacio ay kasapi nito, wala itong batayan. Sa katunayan pa nga, mahihinuha na bagupaman matatag ang La Liga, naisip na ni Bonifacio na bumuo ng samahan o kilusan na magpapalaya sa mga Pilipino mula sa Espanya at marahil kaya lamang siya sumali sa Liga upang makaakit at makahikayat ng mga taong may mataas na katayuan sa lipunan na sumali sa kanyang binabalak na Himagsikan. Malayung-malayo ang Liga sa Katipunan, gaya ng pagpapaliwanang ng marami nang beses ni Dr. Salazar. Unang-una, ang hangarin ng Liga ay mga reporma at awtonomiya para sa Pilipinas samantalang ang sa Katipunan ay ganap na kalayaan at kasarinlan mula sa mga dayuhan. At isa pa, sabi nga rin ni Dr. Salazar, di-gaya ng Liga na puspos ng mga kaisipang Kanluranin, ang Katipunan ay nakaugat sa taal na kalinangan ng mga Pilipino.

At talaga naming makikita ang pagkakaugat na ito ng Katipunan sa taal nating kalinangan sa pamamagitan ng mga adhikai’t layuning pambansa nito. Kitang-kita ito layunin ng Supremo Andres Bonifacio sa kanyang pagtatayo ng Katipunan. Mababanaag sa kanyang mga sinulat at gayundin ng mga nasulat ni Emilio Jacinto na kanyang kanang-kamay at sanggang-dikit na ang Katipunan ay hiniraya hindi lamang bilang isang mapanghimagsik na kilusan at samahan ngunit bilang isa ding pamahalaang ganap at baying tunay na kukupkop sa lahat ng mga Pilipino sakaling magtagumpay ang Himagsikan ng mga Anak ng Bayan. Makikita ito mismo sa kung paano tinawag ni Andres Bonifacio at ng Katipunan ang Pilipinas bilang Inang Bayan at ang mga Pilipino bilang mga Anak ng Bayan. Sa kabuuan ng pagbubuo ng Bansa, tinawag niya ito bilang Haring Bayang Katagalugan (Katagalugan ang nais na itawag ni Bonifacio at ng Katipunan sakaling mapalayas ang mga Kastila sapagkat ayon nga sa Kartilya ng Katipunan, “Ilocano, Pampango, Bisaya o Bicolano man, atbp., ay Tagalog din; dapat ding tandaan na ang salitang Tagalog ay mula sa salitang “Taga-Ilog” at marami sa mga sinaunang Pilipino sa lahat ng panig na kapuluan sa Luzon, Visayas man o Mindanaw ay palaging nakatira malapit sa mga ilog, dalampasigan o baybaying-dagat, kung kaya Tagalog din sila). At bilang kinilalang tagapagtatag ng Katipunan at siyang Supremo nito, tinanghal naman siya ng mga Katipunero bilang Pangulo ng Haring Bayang Katagalugan.

Ang Haring Bayang Pilipino ang inasam na kaayusang pambansa at pamamahala ni Bonifacio at ng Katipunan. Ito marahil sa aking pananaw ang ating taal na konsepto na maaari nating itumbas sa “demokrasya” ng Kanluran. Bagupaman sabihin ng iba na ang “Haring Bayan” ay ang isang isinalokal lamang na bersyon ng demokrasya at hindi talaga uniquely Filipino, mahalaga na dapat dalumatin ang salita at kaisipang ito ni Bonifacio at ng Katipunan. Sabi nga ni Dr. Salazar (1997) sa kanyang monograf na “Si Andres Bonifacio at ang Kabayanihang Pilipino,” ang Haring Bayan bilang taal at natatanging kaayusang pampulitikal na nakaugat sa Kapilipinuhan ay “isang pagdadalumat mula sa loob ng ating kalinangan. Bilang tugon sa pueblo soberano (“naghahariang bayan”) ng Kastila at Europeo, ang konsepto ng “haring bayan” ay tumutukoy kapwa sa ideya ng paglilipat ng kapangyarihang pulitikal at panlipunan sa bayan (bunga ng makademokrasyang puwersang rumaragasa sa mga bayan ng mundo noong ika-19na dantaon), at gayundin sa panloob o taal na pagtingin sa “hari” bilang bayani ring tagapagtanggol ng kabuuan sa anumang paghahamon o panghihimasok mula sa labas” (Salazar, 1997). Dinagdag pa ni Dr. Salazar na tinignan ni Bonifacio ang “kanyang “Haring Bayan,” kung saan ang pinuno ay isa lamang katiwala o tagasilbi/tagatulong (bayani nga!) ng Bayan at ng mga “kapatid” na kapwa mamamayan” (Salazar, 1997).

Sa yugtong ito, masasabi nga talaga na ang Haring Bayan ay kapwa ang pamahalaan, kaayusang pambayan, at bansa na hiniraya at hinangad ni Andres Bonifacio at ng Katipunan na itaguyod sa pagbagsak ng Espanya sa Pilipinas. Makahulugan at makabuluhan ang Haring Bayan sapagkat ipinapakita nito na ang siya talagang sentro ng Himagsikan 1896 ay ang Bayan, kaya nga siya ang “hari.” Dapat maunawaan ang Haring Bayan hindi bilang tungkol sa mga hari at naghahari-harian kundi bilang ito ay ukol sa Bayang Pilipino na siyang hari at dapat maghari sapagkat sa kanila nanggagaling ang kapangyarihan ng mga pinuno na maglingkod at mamahala para sa kabutihan ng Bayan at ng lahat. Kung kaya nga ang paghahari ng Bayan o ang Paghaharing-Bayan ang siyang maituturing na siyang kaisipang diwang panlipunan, pamamahala at pambayan ni Bonifacio at ng Katipunan. Sa pagkakatatag pa lamang ng Katipunan, mababanaag na ang mga demokratikong gawi sa ating kalinangan. Ang mga pinuno ng Katipunan ay hindi lamang basta tinanghal ang mga sarili na mga pinuno ng kilusan kundi hinain nila ang kanilang mga sarili sa pasya ng mga kasapi nito na sila ay ihalal. Katunayan, si Bonifaciong siyang nagtatag nito ay tumanggi na tumakbo sa panguluhan ng Katipunan at sa halip si Deodato Arellano ang nahalal ng mga Katipunero bilang unang pangulo nung 1892 ng noo’y samahan pa lamang na Katipunan bago ito naging isang pamahalaang mapanghimagsik noong 1896 na niluklok si Bonifacio bilang unang pangulo at supremo nito. Patunay lamang ito sa mga taal na konseptong demokratiko’t pulitikal ng mga Pilipino na nananalaytay noon pa man sa kabila ng pananakop at paniniil ng mga banyaga.

Sa panghuli, masasabi na ang paghaharing-bayan na ito na binuo ni Bonifacio at ng mga Anak ng Bayan ay hindi lamang bersyon ng Kanluraning demokrasya (na ang sinaunang pakahulugan ay “pamumuno ng mga tao”) bagkus ito ay ang talagang ating taal at katutubong “demokrasya.” Higit pa rito, ang haring bayan o paghaharing-bayan ay hindi lamang basta tungkol sa paghahari ng bayan, ito rin ay tungkol sa pagtuturingan ng mga nakapaloob sa kaayusan ng haring bayan bilang mga magkakapatid at mga Anak ng Bayan na siyang nagtatanggol, nangangalaga at nagpapayabong sa kalayaan at kaginhawaan ni Inang Bayan. Ang Paghaharing-Bayan ang siyang kaisipang diwang panlipunan na hinangad at minithi nina Bonifacio at ng mga Anak ng Bayan. Bagamat hindi ito ganap na nagtagumpay, nasa atin pa ring mga kamay na mga anak at apo nina Bonifacio at ng mga naunang mga Anak ng Bayan na talagang ipagpatuloy ang adhikain nilang ito na pagtataguyod ng isang Bayang talagang nakaugat sa mga kalinanga’t halagahin nito.

Sa panahong ito ng “Bagong Pilipinas” na tumatahak na ngayon sa Matuwid na Daan, nararapat lamang na dapat muling ibalik sa diskursong pambansa ang Paghaharing-Bayan na ito nina Bonifacio at ng Katipunan bilang siyang tunay na kaganapan ng ating Demokrasyang Pilipino.

MGA BATIS O PINAGSANGGUNIAN:

Salazar, Zeus A. (1997). "Si Andres Bonifacio at ang Kabayanihang Pilipino." Lunsod Mandaluyong: Palimbagang Kalawakan.

______________. (1999). "Ang Kartilya ni Emilio Jacinto at ang Diwang Pilipino sa Agos ng Kasaysayan." Lungsod Quezon: Palimbagan ng Lahi.

The enduring legacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton

Photo Credit: www.businessinsider.com

IN JUST A few hours after I finished writing and posting my latest blog entry and piece on why I consider Hillary Rodham Clinton one of my feminist heroes alongside former Philippine president Corazon Aquino, here I am finding myself typing another related blog entry about Hillary again, this time, I am writing about her political future and legacy.

According to official press releases and transcripts from both the Philippine and American governments, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's recent 2 day-visit to the Philippines serves as an affirmation and renewal of historic ties between the two countries. As a matter of fact, Hillary's visit was timed to commemorate the 60 years of the US-Philippines' Mutual Defense Treaty and Partnership, which was began in 1951 during the time of President Quirino. And at this time when there is so much animosity in the South China Sea (or what we know and call now as West Philippine Sea), Clinton's visit could not be more timelier and significant than ever. First, in the face of growing Chinese political and economic clout, a military boost and moral support from the U.S. is what exactly ill-equipped Philippines badly needs. Second, in view of its diminished standing in the world, exploiting the territorial disputes among Asian neighbors is very much to the advantage of the United States as it seeks to halt the growing influence of China and salvage its struggling star power. In other words, the Clinton visit to the Philippines (and other ASEAN countries like Thailand and Indonesia) is mutually beneficial to all parties involved. And given Hillary Rodham Clinton's global rockstar standing and stature, there is no other American official (not even the now unpopular US President Barack Obama) who can do this job well in renewing America's global leadership than her.

After all, whenever and wherever Hillary Clinton travels the globe, she carries with her not just the name of the United States but also what Americans call her truly American story, which serves as an inspiration to millions of people, women in particular, that she meets around the world. In truth, aside from remarkably performing her official duties and functions as US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton also brings with her job her personal advocacy of promoting women's rights and gender equality. In fact, Hillary Clinton has made gender equality and women's rights, aside from the restoration of American power, the cornerstone of her international statecraft diplomatic agenda. Whether she be in the White House, the Senate or the State Department, Hillary will always be a feminist and constant champion of women's rights throughout the world. And since she became secretary of state, she has constantly spoken about emphasizing on the promotion of equality between women and men, especially in the developing world and the battle to end human trafficking, whose victims have always been women and young boys and girls.

As such, I can say that the candidate Hillary Clinton whom I rooted for during the 2008 US presidential primaries is still the same Hillary Clinton the diplomat that she is today. And oftentimes, I am really amazed at how people in other countries receive her as if she is the head of state of her country. Just look at how she was recently received in Manila in the past two days. Many Filipinos, especially young Filipinos and women, were very much thrilled and excited to see and get a glimpse of her. (In my case, as a certified Clintonista, I am really frustrated that I didn't get to see her in person). As I said in my previous blog on her, since her epic quest for the US presidency in 2008 which helped pave the way to elect the US' first African-American president, Barack Obama, she has inspired millions of people everywhere and I count myself among those millions of people she has inspired.

And judging from the questions, queries and remarks made to her by her Filipino audience and fans during her public forum, it is very clear that many still think that she should still run for U.S. president and finally become the first woman president of the United States. However, just like in her other statements, Hillary Clinton has time and again said that she is not anymore seeking the presidency and will definitely retire from politics in 2012. Without a doubt, these constant pronouncements from her very lips have disappointed many Clintonistas both in America and around the world. Some still believe, given the economic and political situation of the United States, that Americans should elect in 2012 the woman they should have elected all along in 2008, in order to get them out of the mess that they are currently in right now. And I am actually one of those fans who are hoping that she would still give the White House a second try if not in 2012 then in 2016 after her party mate President Obama finishes his full-two terms in office. And I am sure, that'll be both exciting and sizzling.

Nonetheless, given Clinton's consistent reluctance, it seems to be a far-fetched possibility and perhaps, a dream that should be bade goodbye for now. Given that, I cannot help myself but feel sad and sorry not just for Hillary but for the United States. I really feel sorry for the prospect that Hillary Rodham Clinton will end his public career without having able to realize her childhood dream of becoming the first woman president of the United States and that America will have the first and the best woman president it never had. 

Somehow, it puzzles me as to how she ended up losing the presidential nomination when she almost had it from the beginning. Was it because of political blunders? Lack of an inspiring message and theme? Poor organization? Negative campaigning? Black propaganda? Or was it simply a case of sexism and chauvinism? As one friend of mine commented, after Hillary conceded and declared her support for Obama, it seems that Americans are more sensitive to racial issues than gender issues and that given its history and psychology with race, Americans are more willing to elect an African-American than a woman for president of the United States. After all, he surmised, America needs to heal its wounds and find a closure to its dark past on race and slavery and at the time, Obama's candidacy was the perfect moment to finally put an end to this haunting saga. 

Perhaps, my friend is correct, after all. Because rather than wallowing in self-pity and bitterness, Hillary Clinton poured all her heart out to ensure Barack Obama's election as the United States of America's first African-American president and thereby showed that race and gender are two issues that go hand-in-hand, which require to also be addressed hand-in-hand and heart-to-heart. That is why somehow, I also I understand why Hillary Clinton is not anymore eager to become president of the United States. I think Hillary Clinton knows deep inside her heart that she has already secured a venerable place in U.S. and world history. And perhaps, she is taking consolation to the fact that if she does not become the first woman president of the United States, whoever becomes the first woman president of America will always look back with gratitude to the historic campaign and quest that she mounted to capture the White House in 2008. And certainly, every  woman who becomes president of the United States from that day onward will always look up to her for gratitude and inspiration. Without a doubt, that would ultimately be her greatest legacy as a woman and as a leader.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, My Feminist Hero

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EVER SINCE I was a kid, I have always looked up to one of America's most popular and powerful political couples: Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton. I was amazed at how they were able to pull it together through all the political crises - and personal scandals - they had to face during their time and stay in the White House. In particular, I came to admire the fortitude and steeliness that Hillary Rodham Clinton displayed through all these stuffs. As a matter of fact, alongside our very own and dearly beloved icon of Philippine democracy, President Corazon C. Aquino, then U.S. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was one of the women in politics that I looked up to with deep respect and reverence. And as the years went on, from her stay in the White House to her foray into the U.S. Senate, I came to admire Hillary Clinton all the more.

That was why when she declared her intention to seek her Democratic Party's U.S. presidential nomination in 2008, there were no second thoughts on my part on who I would be rooting for in the race for the White House. Even if during the US primary season, many people (including my friends) began to be attracted by the charisma and appeal of the equally formidable and great Democratic candidate Barack Obama (who I later rooted for when he became the nominee against the Republican John McCain), I stuck it out with Hillary Rodham Clinton from the first primary and caucus in Iowa in January 2008 (where she disappointingly placed 3rd) to her first place comeback in New Hampshire and up to her historic and gracious concession speech to Obama in June 2008 at Washington, D.C. 

Though I am not an American or a U.S. immigrant or national, I was very much hooked into the primary race between Clinton and Obama. Although Obama was far more eloquent and oratorical than Clinton, I was more moved by Hillary's clear vision and strong determination to serve her people and restore her country's diminished standing in the world as a result of George W. Bush's 8 year-leadership in Washington. I also liked how she conducted her campaign with courage, perseverance and grace, in spite of all the attacks hurled at her. Most of all, I was very much touched by how Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign appealed to American women, wives and mothers. Even though at first, she did not want to play the "gender card" during her campaign, millions of American women responded and warmed up to her and canonized her as their crusading Joan of Arc and took it upon themselves to see her elected as America's first woman president to finally break the glass-ceiling against them in U.S. politics, once and for all.

Despite this, Hillary Clinton's campaign received not just criticisms but even unnecessary and uncalled-for sexist, misogynistic, chauvinistic and bigoted remarks and ridicules from different quarters in U.S. society.  As someone born and raised in a country where women are given high esteem and a country that already had two successive women presidents in just a short span of 15 years, I was really appalled and disappointed, and to think, that Hillary is running for president of the United States, the world's most powerful, progressive and liberal country in the world. Her campaign, on the one hand, made me realize that though there have been gains in gender equality throughout the world, discrimination and stereotyping of women are still persistent. It somehow reminded me of stories here at home on how during the 1986 snap presidential election the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos sarcastically dismissed and pejoratively ridiculed then opposition candidate Corazon "Cory" Aquino as a "mere housewife" who had no experience and as a woman whose only place in Philippine society is the bedroom. To which, the saintly heroine Cory Aquino retorted cleverly that it was true that she was just a housewife who had no experience: no experience in killing, stealing, cheating and assassinating political opponents. And like my first and other feminist hero, Cory Aquino, Hillary Clinton also responded with grace and strength to all the attacks, political, sexual and personal, that were hurled against her.

And at the time that Hillary Clinton was running for president, I was also in my last year in college, preparing for my undergraduate thesis. As such, these circumstances that Hillary's campaign faced, coupled with my realization that gender equality is an issue that is so often neglected, overlooked and underestimated, helped me a lot in deciding that my undergraduate thesis shall focus on the condition of women in the workplace. Though it may sound exaggerated for some, I believe that this decision was one of the most important decisions and choices that I ever made in life. That decision to choose gender equality as a topic for my thesis not only opened my eyes to social realities and inequities that were unfolding right before my eyes but also radicalized my view on women's rights and welfare. Ever since then, I have taken and made gender equality my personal cause, advocacy and commitment in life, which some of my friends find unlikely and quite surprising especially since I am a guy. And I am happy to say that in in my current work where I do researches and policy studies on labor and employment, I am able to fulfill this commitment by always making gender equality between women and men very much a part of my research agenda and studies. In a way, I credit both women - Cory Aquino and Hillary Clinton - and their life stories for awakening the male feminist in me.

Photo Credit: blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2008/08/hillary-clinton.html

And somehow, I know deep down inside my heart that I owe my renewed and full-fledged male feminism to Hillary Rodham Clinton and her historic bid to become America's first woman president. The seeds of feminism in my life were planted in me unconsciously by my mother who told me stories about Cory Aquino and how she inspired millions of Filipinos to liberate themselves. Eventually, these seeds finally grew, sprouted and blossomed when I came to witness and marvel at Hillary Clinton's epic campaign to become the first woman president of the United States. In as much as Cory Aquino's story touched me, Hillary's quest also moved me. 

Looking back, somehow, even if she did not succeed in her quest to become president, I can say that her campaign was a campaign that truly made a difference not just in America but around the world - a truly historic campaign that made an impact not just to women but even men like me, as well. And for that, I will be forever thankful and grateful.