Legislation and laws[edit]

In 1937, the women in the Philippines were first granted the right to vote through the Women's Suffrage Bill
(which was approved in a special plebiscite mandated by Commonwealth Act No. 34).[33][34] Even at that time,
women were repeatedly look down upon, abused, and discriminated against in society.
Before special laws addressing violence against women were passed, women could only resort to the Revised
Penal Code for defense. Today, the Philippine government has passed several legislation and laws that
address the problem of violence against women.[35] Among the Philippine laws that aim to protect women are:
Republic Act No. 9262, Republic Act No. 9710, and Republic Act No. 8371.

Republic Act No. 9262[edit]

Republic Act No. 9262 is known as The Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of
2004.[36] Recognizing "the need to protect the family and its members particularly women and children from
violence and threats to their personal safety and security", RA 9262 was signed by former President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo on March 2, 2004.[36]
Under the RA 9262, VAW refers to "any act or a series of acts committed by any person against a woman who
is his wife, former wife, or against a woman with whom the person has or had a sexual or dating relationship, or
with whom he has a common child, or against her child whether legitimate or illegitimate, within or without the
family abode, which result in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or
economic abuse including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment, or arbitrary deprivation
of liberty."[36]
Furthermore, RA 9262 gives women and their children the right to file a protection order. A protection order is
"an order issued for the purpose of preventing further acts of violence against a woman or her child and
granting other necessary relief."[36] The protection order "safeguards the victim from further harm, minimizing
any disruption in the victim's daily life and facilitating the opportunity and ability of the victim to independently
regain control over her life."[36] The types of protection orders that may be issued are: the barangay protection
order (BPO), the temporary protection order (TPO), and the permanent protection order (PPO).[36]
For BPOs, the order is usually issued by the Punong Barangay or Barangay Kagawad. Barangay officials are
expected to "respond immediately to a call for help or request for assistance or protection of the
victim."[36] Likewise, they are expected to "arrest the suspected perpetrator without a warrant when any of the
acts of violence is occurring, or when he/she has personal knowledge that any act of abuse has just been
committed, and there is imminent danger to the life or limb of the victim."[36] Any barangay official or law
enforcer who fails to report the incident shall be liable for a fine not exceeding P10,000 and/or whenever
applicable, criminal, civil, or administrative liability.[36]

Republic Act No. 9710[edit]

Known as the Magna Carta of Women, Republic Act No. 9710 "affirms the role of women in national building
and ensures the substantive equality of women and men" in society.[37] Pushing for the empowerment of
women and for equal opportunities for both women and men, RA 9710 highlights the state's position,
particularly of how the state "condemns discrimination against women in all its forms and pursues."[37] RA 9710
was signed on August 14, 2009 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.[37]
The MCW consists of provisions on: (1) the principle of human rights of women, (2) the definition of women's
rights, (3) the duties related to the human rights of women, (4) the rights and empowerment of women
(especially those in affected by calamities or disasters, in the marginalized sectors, or in especially difficult
situations), (5) the institutional mechanisms through which rights of women are protected and upheld, and
finally, (6) the implementing rules and regulations concerning the Magna Carta.[37]

Republic Act No. 8371[edit]

Republic Act No. 8371 is known as The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.[38] Signed on October 29,
1997, RA 8371 highlights the state's recognition and promotion of all the rights of Indigenous Cultural
Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs).[38]
Under RA 8371, ICCs or IPs "refer to a group of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription
and ascription by other, who have continuously lived as organized community on communally bounded and
defined territory, and who have, under claims of ownership since time immemorial, occupied, possessed
customs, tradition, and other distinctive cultural traits or who have, through resistance to political, social, and
cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions and culture, became historically differentiated from the
majority of Filipinos."[38]
 Other Philippine laws[edit]
Among other pieces of legislation that are related to VAW and were passed by the Philippine government to
protect the rights of women are:

1. The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 7877)[39]

2. The Anti-Rape Law of 1997 (Republic Act No. 8353)[40]
3. The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (Republic Act No. 9208)[41]
4. The Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998 (Republic Act No. 8505)[42]
5. The Women in Development and Nation Building Act (Republic Act No. 7192)[43]
6. The Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 9775)
7. The Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act (Republic Act No.
7610)[44]
8. The Family Courts Act of 1997 (Republic Act No. 8369)[45]
9. The Revised Penal Code (Republic Act No. 3815)[46]
10. The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10354)[47]
11. The Domestic Workers Act (or Batas Kasambahay) (Republic Act No. 10361)[48]
12. The Solo Parents' Welfare Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8972)[49]

Government, non-government, and other organizations[edit]

Philippine Commission on Women[edit]
Formerly known as the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), the Philippine
Commission on Women (PCW) serves as the voice for Filipino women. The organization performs as the main
body, which relay gender and feminist concerns to the Philippine government. The PCW is the main advocate
of gender equality and women empowerment in the Philippines.[50]
The PCW was first established on January 7, 1975 upon the passing of Presidential Decree No. 633. The PCW
acted as the main consultant of the President regarding matters concerning the welfare of women in the
country.
Its main priorities during that time were as follows:

 Organizing women into a nationwide movement called "Balikatan sa Kaunlaran" (or shoulder-to-shoulder in
development) (This organization is now registered as an independent women's organization.)
 Conducting policy studies and lobbying for the issuance of executive and legislative measures concerning
women
 Establishing a clearinghouse and information center on women
 Monitoring the implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW).
After the Martial Law, the new administration ordered for a change in the Constitution, which led the NCRFW to
revise its platform and ultimately, decide to prioritize the "mainstreaming [of] women’s concerns in policy
making, planning, and programming of all government agencies." The organization’s main concern now is not
to be merely an adviser to the President, but to voice out the concerns of Filipino women in society, spearhead
the creation of laws that support the welfare of women, and make sure that all women that work not only in
government agencies, but also in the whole Philippines, get the rightful and equal treatment as men do.
The establishment of the gender equality principle in the 1987 Philippine Constitution indicated that the
concern for the welfare of women rose as one of the top priorities of the government. Only two years after the
integration of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the very first Philippine Development Plan for Women (PDPW) -
which would go on for 3 years (1989-1992) - was established through Executive Order No. 348. This was
followed by the passing of RA 7192, also known as the Women in Nation-Building Act. The Women in Nation
Building Act advocates for the equal treatment of women and men in Philippine society. It likewise promotes
the equal importance of women in the building of the Philippine nation.
As mentioned earlier, the NCRFW kept its name until the establishment of RA 9710 (or the Magna Carta of
Women). Upon the passing of the Magna Carta, the organization modified from its original name to a new
one—today, it is better known as the Philippine Commission on Women.

GABRIELA Women's Party[edit]

General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action or GABRIELA, for
short, is a leftist Philippine organization—specifically a party list that advocates issues related to that of women
and children. It is composed of over 200 organizations and institutions all concerned about the welfare of
women in the Philippines.
GABRIELA was established in April 1984 after 10,000 women came together and protested against the Marcos
administration. It was also at this particular point of history that the group decided to name their organization as
"GABRIELA" in honor of the woman who fought alongside the Katipunan against the Spaniards in the 18th
century, Gabriela Silang.
GABRIELA is focused on addressing issues that affect women such as domestic violence, sexual abuse,
gender inequality, sex trafficking, and rape culture as well as issues that affect the Philippines in general
namely poverty, militarism, health, and globalization.

SAVE Our Women[edit]

Stop the Abuse and Violence against Our Women (SAVE Our Women) was founded in 2007 in Baguio city. It
is a local non-government organization that provides psycho-social support and referrals to female survivors of
domestic and intimate-relationship violence (and their children). The organization also aims to spread
awareness about the realities and prevalence of domestic and intimate-relationship violence through
information dissemination of facts, statistics, procedures, and Philippines laws that protect women, prosecute
abusers, and prevent further abuse. Mainly serving Baguio City and suburbs, SAVE Our Women works with
various agencies and volunteers, including lawyers, guidance counselors, and other service-providers, in the
city to spread its advocacy.[51]

Bathaluman Crisis Centre Foundation[edit]

The Bathaluman Crisis Centre Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1991 to help female
survivors of violence. The foundation provides a support system, including a service and referral centre, to help
survivors deal with their physical trauma.[52][53]

Women's Crisis Centre[edit]

Established in 1989, the Women's Crisis Centre (WCC) provides a supportive and affirming environment in
which women who have survived violence can interact with other survivors through group counselling,
education programs, recreation activities, or skills training.[52]

Bantay Bata 163[edit]

Bantay Bata is a welfare organization and foundation founded by ABS-CBN in 1997.[54] The main objective of
Bantay Bata is to respond to children's needs. They respond to reports about domestic violence and child
abuse. Bantay Bata also helps children who have serious illnesses or are inflicted with rare diseases. Its
emergency hotline is 1-6-3 and is accessible anywhere in the Philippines. Concerns of Bantay Bata include
child abuse, child neglect, child trafficking, and domestic violence.[55]
Although its headquarters is located in Mother Ignacia, Quezon City, the foundation has ventured out of Metro
Manila and has offices in cities and municipalities all over the Philippines. This helps the foundation to respond
immediately and cater to reports more efficiently. A recent addition to their services is their online counseling
for child abuse victims and child-family relationships.
Furthermore, Bantay Bata spearheads psychosocial activities that help the child victims cope with their difficult
pasts and experiences. The foundation also organizes seminars all over the country, raising awareness about
child abuse, domestic violence, or child trafficking.[54] Some Bantay Bata projects include medical-dental
services, child counseling, the Children's Crisis Center (which serves as a temporary home for child abuse
victims until their cases are resolved), and the Children's Village (which takes in children who need further
attention and care).
Contemporary History[edit]
Today, violence against women remains to be one of the most persistent and alarming issues that the
Philippines has faced.
According to a survey conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) in 2008, one in every five
Filipino women aged 15 to 49 has experienced violence.[14] When the NSO conducted the 2008 National
Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), the survey introduced different types of violence that were
done to women or experienced by Filipino women at least once their lives. The types of violence that
were indicated were: physical violence, sexual violence, physical violence during pregnancy, and
spousal violence.[14]
The results of the survey revealed that women in the Philippines experience all sorts of violence.

 14.4 percent of married women were said to have experienced physical abuse from their spouse,
while about one-third (or 37 percent) of separated or widowed women admitted to experiencing
abuse.[14]
 In the issue of sexual violence, one in twenty-five women age 15-49 (who have had sex) has
experienced being forced into sexual intercourse at least once.[14]
 The numbers on physical violence during pregnancy showed that four percent of women (who have
ever been pregnant) have experienced physical violence from their partners during pregnancy. The
incidents of abuse increased slowly with the number of children living, decreased slightly with age
and education level, and degenerated steadily with wealth quintile.[14]
 Finally, in terms of spousal abuse, 23 percent of ever-married women experienced emotional and
other forms of non-personal violence. One in seven ever-married women experienced abuse and
violence from their husbands, while eight percent were sexually abused. Patterns in the frequency
of spousal violence were found to be similar with the violence experienced by women ages 15–49
(but most likely higher among separated, widowed, and divorced; currently married women who
have been married more than once, and in CARAGA region, Central Visayas, and in
SOCCSKSARGEN). The survey also revealed that spousal violence declined as the husband's
age, education, and wealth quintile increased.[14]
In the reports of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the statistics revealed that there has been a
steady increase in VAW cases reported to them from 1997-2013.

 The year 2013 was reported to have had the most cases of VAW in history. The number of VAW
cases increased to 49.9 percent from 2012 to 2013. From these reports, a total of 16,517 cases
was filed under the complaint or violation of the RA 9262 (in 2013).[14]
 According to the information gathered by the PNP, the general category of the violation of RA 9262
is the most prominent type of VAW, accounting for 57 percent of the total number of VAW cases
reported. Physical injury comes in at second with an accumulated 19.7 percent of the reported
VAW Cases.[14]
 Region 6 (or Western Visayas) was found to have had the highest number of reported VAW cases
nationwide in 2013 with a record-breaking 4,833 reported cases (which accounts for 20.3 percent
of the total reported VAW cases in the Philippines). Among the highest number of VAW cases was
Region 11 (Davao) with 18.5 percent and Region 7 (Central Visayas) with 14.5 percent. The region
which had the least amount of reported VAW cases was the Autonomous Region of Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) with just 86 cases.[14]
These reports, however, do not imply an increase or decrease in the incidences of VAW as it only
shows the cases which were reported to the PNP. This means that either the incidences of VAW has
been increasing or that awareness about VAW is becoming greater.
As for the survey of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), the board researched and
looked into the numbers related to violence of women in especially difficult circumstances (or WEDC).
WEDC includes women who are victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, maltreatment, battering,
illegal recruitment, involuntary prostitution, armed conflict, human trafficking, detention, and others like
HIV patients/potentials, abandoned, emotionally distressed, unwed mothers, sexually exploited,
voluntary committed/surrendered, and neglected victims of disaster.[15]

 The number of WEDC who have been served by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) (1998-2007) has dwindled over the years. The most common cases of
WEDC are women who are physically abused/maltreated/battered followed by the group that
includes HIV patients/potentials, emotionally distressed, stranded, unwed mothers, neglected
victims of disaster, and sexually abused women.[15]
 NCR used to have the most number of WEDC, but in 2007, Regions III, X, IX, VII and VIII (in that
order) overtook the region on the category of the most number of WEDC.[15]
 In 2007, the most common case of WEDC of physical abuse/maltreatment/battering is most
rampant in Region IX, followed by Region VII, CAR, Region III and Region II.[15]
 According to the NSCB, girls who are abused are usually outnumbered by boys two to one.
Majority of these girls range from ages 10 to 18.[15]
Aside from the types of violence mentioned above, Filipino women experience violence, specifically in
how women are often objectified in media. Cases of women being forced to pose in magazines or use
their bodies for money (i.e. pornography) are growing more and more each day. More than magazines
and videos, many women (especially, celebrities) have been targeted and exposed through sex
scandals and the release of their private (often, nude) pictures on the internet. On a more daily basis,
Filipino women also experience violence in being 'cat-called' on the streets as well as being touched
and/or sexually harassed by co-workers, classmates, friends, and even strangers on the commute
(Cat-calling happens when "people shout uncalled for and sexual comments at women on the street").[1

Siya na nagluwal sa akin

Na umantabay sa aking kamusmusan
Siya na nagmahal sa akin
Ng wagas at walang alinlangan.

Siya na nagbigay buhay sa akin

Handang ialay buo niyang sarili
Siya na palaging nakabantay sa akin
Na nagpakasakit sa aking paglaki.

Siya na naghihintay sa akin

Sa gabi, sa alanganing oras na pag-uwi
Siya na nagbibigay lakas sa akin
Sa tuwing ako’y malapit ng magapi.

Siya na naniniwala sa akin

Kahit ako’y tinatalikuran ng lahat
Siya ang nag-aalalay sa akin
Kapag nadadapa’t nakakalimot.

Siya ang nagsilbing tala

Sa panahon na madilim
Siya ang aking mahal na ina
Na naging huwaran sa akin.