Pinay Pride: 5 More Filipina Heroines to Remember

There are many Filipina heroines whose legacies are overlooked. So let us celebrate five of them here!

Nanay Fedelina Lugasan

Nanay Fedelina, a domestic worker, was trafficked to the United States in the 1970s and subjected to emotionally abusive and exploitative conditions until her rescue in 2018. She passed away on June 11, 2020, at the age of 83. However tragic her story was, it made clear the difficulties faced by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and the requirement for more robust legislation to safeguard them.

Bai Rohaniza Sumndad-Usman

Bai Rohaniza founded the “Teach Peace Build Peace” Movement in 2013, which aims to promote peace education and foster a peaceful culture among Filipino youth. She has been working specifically on conflict and violence in Mindanao through the organization’s education and community engagement programs.

Gina Batuhan

Gina is an environmentalist and conservationist who has worked to protect the marine biodiversity of Palawan’s Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. She campaigned against illegal fishing and coral reef destruction, bolstering her support for marine conservation and sustainable fishing methods.

Joanna Patricia Kinatar Cariño

Joanna was awarded the 2019 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights for lifelong advocacy for indigenous rights and democracy. As a founding member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), she fought against militarization and human rights abuses since the Marcos era, despite facing illegal arrests and harassment. 

Leticia Bula-at

Letty, a Kalinga elder, led women in stopping the Chico Dam Project in the 1970s, which threatened their land. Coming from a farming family, she knew land meant survival. They blocked roads, dismantled sites, and even disrobed in protest, successfully halting the project and inspiring future indigenous resistance.

READ: Women Inspiring Me Right Now

These Filipina heroines are living examples of the bravery, tenacity, and devotion that have shaped Philippine society over the years. Let their stories inspire us to make changes for the betterment of our community.