What about the often condescending and harsh assessment of Indonesian President Megawati, former President Cory C. Aquino and our incumbent President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as "indecisive" and "weak" – are these appraisals based on reality or clouded by chauvinist prejudices, or both? Were their political actions – for better or for ill – swayed by pressure from male prejudices? Was it just a remarkable coincidence that our macho junior military officers Gringo Honasan and Sonny Trillanes mounted their economically disastrous coups only against the two women presidents of our republic – Cory Aquino and Gloria Arroyo?
The political party of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar won 82 percent of parliamentary seats in the 1990 election, but the military junta refused to recognize the results and curtailed her personal liberties. Aside from the clash of political interests and ideological principles, gender bias seems to be a major cause for the all-male generals and colonels of the ruling junta to clamp down on this brazen challenge by this woman political activist. Coincidentally, all these Asian women leaders rose to positions of influence due to their marriages and familial ties to powerful men, which might have in fact worsened the gender bias against them.
Near the outset of GMA’s term, Confederation of Garment Exporters of the Philippines (CONGEP) president George T. Siy and Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) chairman Donald G. Dee gifted the President with a video copy of the 1997 film The Soong Sisters. It tells the colorful epic saga of the famous sisters who influenced China’s 20th century history through two revolutions and World War II. These women of extraordinary political skill and guts were Soong Ai-Ling who wed China’s finance minister and wealthy banker H. H. Kung, Soong Mei-Ling who wed Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek and who served as her husband’s co-ruler of the Nationalist Republic of China (ROC), and Soong Ching-Ling who wed the Father of Republican China Dr. Sun Yat-Sen and the socialist who became honorary president of Mao’s Communist People’s Republic of China (PROC). Daughters of a rags-to-riches overseas Chinese tycoon, the three Soong sisters were smart, American-educated, graceful and had tremendous strength of character.
Whom does GMA admire the most among the three Soong sisters – Madame Kung who loved money, Madame Chiang who loved power, or Madame Sun who loved her China above more than her own life? Is it fair to accuse women politicians of being too ambitious?
Imelda told this writer: "My dear friend Madame Mao was not fast enough in taking over power, so she lost, but she was a visionary leader." The winner in the political struggle after the death of Mao Zedong was an equally ambitious man, Deng Xiaoping, who eventually jailed Mao’s widow. Madame Mao and Imelda were not the only women accused of being overly ambitious. Western media even as recent as the November 3 issue of Time magazine published a facetious claim by an American writer that the late Madame Chiang Kai Shek supposedly told him her grand plan was to be co-ruler of the whole world.
What about the oft-repeated criticism hurled at vice-presidential candidate Loren Legarda as being too ambitious, can her allies not complain that other male vice-presidential bets such as Bayani Fernando or Noli de Castro are also equally ambitious? Why is ambition a crime if harbored by women, but seemingly a virtue for men?
A daughter of a business taipan told Philippine STAR: "We still live in a male chauvinist society in this modern age. How come political analysts pontificate that the country cannot accept two women as president and vice president at the same time, what about our long history of having a male president and vice president, senate president and speaker of the house at the same time? Since the Philippines has suffered continuous economic decline under all these male leaders for generations, why don’t they try to pin the blame on the male gender of all these failed politicians too?"
Even though Confucian beliefs of the feudal past said that having a woman rule the nation would be as unnatural as having a "hen crow like a rooster at daybreak," Madame Chiang emerged as the most famous woman of 20th century China. Called the "Empress of China" by Ernest Hemingway, the Los Angeles Times described Madame Chiang as "a dazzling and imperious politician. Her skill as a politician, alternately charming and vicious, made her a formidable presence."
The Los Angeles Times reported: "For many Americans, Madame Chiang’s finest moment came in 1943, when she barnstormed the United States in search of support for the Nationalist cause against Japan, winning donations from countless Americans who were mesmerized by her passion, determination and striking good looks. Her address to a joint session of Congress electrified Washington, winning billions of dollars in aid."
Madame Chiang said during her historic address to a joint session of US Congress: "We in China are convinced that it is the better half of wisdom not to accept failure ignominiously but to risk it gloriously." After her extemporaneous speech, a US Congressman told media: "I never saw anything like it. Madame Chiang had me on the verge of bursting into tears." After the speech, the US poured aid to China and Congress repealed the racist Chinese Exclusion Act, thus allowing Chinese immigrants to enter America and to become citizens.
Madame Chiang also once said: "We write our own destiny; we become what we do."
US President George W. Bush said: "Laura and I were saddened to learn of the death of Madame Chiang Kai-shek. Madame Chiang was a close friend of the United States throughout her life and especially during the defining struggles of the last century. Generations of Americans will always remember and respect her intelligence and strength of character. On behalf of the American people, I extend condolences to Madame Chiang’s family members and many admirers around the world."
Almost 1,400 years ago, another Chinese woman born to a noble family and wed to the ruler of the realm became Empress of China. Wu Zetian was unique for having been the only woman in 5,000 years of history to formally occupy the Dragon Throne, even as other women wielded power behind the scenes. To many male chauvinist scholars and other critics, she was an overly ambitious autocrat, ruthless in her desire to gain and keep power. To others she was a woman simply doing a "man’s job." That she might have been ruthless was no different than how most male emperors of her era ruled. Less chauvinist modern-day scholars acknowledge that Empress Wu provided decisive leadership and stability to China during one of its more peaceful and prosperous eras.
Like Madame Chiang Kai Shek, Empress Wu was also controversial, but foes and allies alike acknowledge that both women had exceptional intelligence, beauty, charm and iron will. During her reign, Empress Wu placed Buddhism over Daoism (Taoism) as the favored state religion. Chinese Buddhism achieved its highest development under the reign of Wu Zetian, because Buddhism recognized the importance of women in stark contrast to the past beliefs of Confucianism.
Perhaps future strong women leaders in our republic include Ilocos Norte Congresswoman Imee Marcos who is popular, smart and who can hopefully learn lessons from the terrible mistakes of her parents; the surprisingly capable Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos Recto who might even become more accomplished than her senator husband; Marikina Mayor Marides Carlos Fernando, who has the guts, economic sense and photogenic looks to become a national political star; Olongapo City Mayor Kate Gordon, who used to be disliked by her politician mother-in-law but now has become similar to her in strong will; Crying Ladies star Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan, who’s so well-read and smart she can even outshine her late father as a top political leader or as a magnificent First Lady; Kris Aquino, a troubled yet talented young lady who can still someday mature into an inspirational and less decadent political leader in the future.
Are women politicians more emotionally mature, socially more sensitive, more humane and patient, thus enabling them to better subvert the country’s endemic culture of corruption? Does GMA still have time to undergo a change of heart and do away with her traditional politician’s image and fearlessly push radical and reforms?
Since women as mothers are the most affected victims of mass poverty which dehumanize families and as widows suffering the endless violence of the NPA/Mindanao wars, can an increase in morally upright women leaders help reverse the tide of national pessimism, and spark the radical social, cultural, moral, economic and political reforms needed to save the Philippines from hopelessness?