Originally posted on Instagram 16th April 2022

Almost exactly 85 years ago, Filipinas chose their right to vote. Prior to 1937, women in the Philippines had virtually no rights, and the all-male National Legislative were firmly against women’s suffrage, fearing that traditional family roles would start to change.

Momentum for the movement had been gathering since the early 1900s when feminist groups began springing up in the country. These included the Asociacion Feminista Ilonga and the National Federation of Women’s Club, the vanguard of the movement.

In 1907, the Women’s Suffrage Bill was filed in the Assembly, but it still faced extensive opposition.

In 1934, the 1935 Constitution was approved, Article 5 of which stated that women’s suffrage would be adopted if no less than 300,000 women voted in favour.

In response, suffragists began upping the ante on their campaign. There was widespread propaganda on the TV and radio, and even lectures on women’s suffrage.

On April 30th 1937, the agreed date for the plebiscite, 500,000 women (who met the same qualifications to vote as men had to) went out to vote. They were provided with food, transport, and childcare so that they would face no barriers to voting.

Results

447,725 (91%) women voted in favour

Just 9% of women voted against suffrage

Two years after the plebiscite, the Philippines’ first woman senator, Geronima T. Pecson, was elected.

With Corozon Aquino’s election in 1986, the Philippines became one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to have a female president.

As of February 2018, 51.49% of voters in the Philippines are women.

The National Assembly shall extend the right of suffrage to women, if in a plebiscite which shall be held for that purpose within two years after the adoption of this Constitution, not less than three hundred thousand women possessing the necessary qualifications shall vote affirmatively on the question.

Article 5 of the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines

See also:

• Blog post: Nüzi canzheng tongmenghui
• Blog post: Clara González
• Bitesize History: Summary