10 March 2025, Singapore – The Philippine Embassy, on Sunday, 09 March 2025,  commemorated International Women’s Day, with a forum titled, “Kababaihan at Balota: Remembering the History of Women’s Suffrage and Mobilizing Filipina Migrants”.

The Embassy collaborated with Dr. Mary Dorothy “Doti” DL. Jose, Associate Professor at the Department of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila, on this endeavor which aims to foster awareness among women Filipino migrants of their political rights, particularly of their right to vote.

In organizing this lecture, the Embassy and Dr. Jose hope that a deeper understanding and appreciation of the history of women’s suffrage will inspire greater political engagement and civic responsibility among our kababayans, Juanas especially, who will be heading to the polls in the coming months.

Dr. Jose took the audience on a historical journey through the struggles and victories that paved the way for Filipino women’s political participation. She put a spotlight on the  women in the 1930s whose activism were instrumental in extending the right of suffrage to women. She also highlighted the advocacy work of key figures in the 1930s who played crucial roles in securing women’s right to vote. 

Among these pioneering suffragists were Encarnacion Alzona, Concepcion Felix, Josefa Llanes Escoda, and Maria Paz Mendoza-Guazon, who spearheaded efforts to convince the Philippine Commonwealth to hold a plebiscite on women’s suffrage. Their activism culminated on 30 April 1937 when 447,725 Filipino women voted in favor of granting women the right to vote – exceeding the 300,000 number of “Yes” votes required by the National Assembly. Later that year, in December 1937, Filipino women exercised their right to vote and stand for election for the first time in Philippine history.

Dr. Jose ended her lecture with a call to action for Filipina migrants to exercise their voting rights as a continuation of the Filipina suffragists’ struggle for gender equality and women empowerment. 

The Embassy echoes this call and emphasizes the vital role of Filipina migrants in strengthening democracy and contributing to nation-building. 

To ensure that no Filipino voice is left unheard – no matter where in the world they may be – the Embassy encourages all registered overseas voters in Singapore to enroll as online voters starting 20 March 2025.

#NationalWomensMonth2025

#WEcanbeEquALL

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