Babae by Inang Laya, Sung in Party Pilipinas

Last Sunday, I couldn't believe my ears when I heard Babae sung on TV, in Party Pilipinas no less. I was still a bit groggy from my catnap so I just made do with listening to it, not bothering to get up at all. It was part of a medley of songs that an all-girl group (the usual singers in Party Pilipinas) performed on stage. I couldn't find a video clip of that performance, so I went for this one containing the lyrics.

Looks like this song would likely take the course that Kanlungan and Tatsulok did. Kanlungan is the song that McDonald's used in one of its ads, since then Noel Cabangon revived his humdrum career. Tatsulok did even better than Kanlungan. It was sung by Bamboo, no wonder even kids were singing to it.

These are songs that tibaks or activists sing to and just one of the many alternative tunes that attempt to paint a different picture of the Philippine society. It is a song that most women can relate to. More than this, this song, if taken to heart, can and aims to empower women to not be slaves of society and patriarchy.

In having Babae performed on Party Pilipinas, I hope more women (and MEN!) listen to the lyrics with their hearts and let it open their minds to the plight of pinays today. The Maria Clara/Cinderella psyche is still a force to reckon with.

But please remember, singing Babae doesn't make you a feminist. Much like wearing a shirt with the Philippine map make you truly patriotic.

A salute to all women striving to make a change!

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This women's month, I had a run-in with some macho-shit. It made me think how

women STILL suffer from gender bias and sterotypes no matter what the government

says about women equality, the Magna Carta and all. These laws, after all, serve no

purpose if not followed up with concrete laws, stricter implementation and

widespread education for both men and women to address the cultural roots of

discrimination against women.

I am no hardline feminist. I have not done my reading on prominent feminists. Rather

I am only vaguely familiar about them until a certain period inmy life. But I did try

to be a feminist.


When I graduated from highschool and got accepted in a very prestigious university

known for its activism, I saw that as my ticket to freedom. Raised conservatively and

sheltered all my life, I was eager to spread out my wings and explore the world. So

first I did is rid myself of one of the most oppressive instruments in my wardrobe,

my bra. I thought bras are oppressive to women because they are worn so their

nipples won't show when they're cold --- or aroused. I was in my first year then and I

enjoyed the freedom of my breasts to wiggle any which way. It was liberating and

fresh!

But I have come a long way since then. I am wearing bras again but had not given up

on my feminist ideas. (I had to wear bras again because free breasts make running

very difficult and painful.)

In celebrating women's month and the continuing struggle to emancipate women, I

would like to share this song that makes the struggle bearable. It is from Tambisan

ng Sining, a progressive group.

ang pagiging babae
sa lipunang malupit
ay puno ng hirap at sakit

ang pagsasalita ay
pag-aanyaya sa dahas
na laging nakaamba
himagsik ay di maipakita

ang babae at bayan ay laging nagdurusa
sa bangis ng pagsasamantala
sa malalim na sugat ng pandarahas
ay buhay ang katarungang hangad
na ang maapi ay hindi na muli

ang paghuhulagpos ay mayroong panahon
ang panahon na iyo ay ngayon
kasama ng bayan sa pagpupunyagi
ang babae sa paglayang mithi

ang pagiging babae
ay pagiging mulat
sa hindi pantay na pagtingin
ang hindi pagkibo ay pag-aanyaya
sa higit pang dahas at banta
lakas natin ay ipakita

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