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Filipina - Reyna Ng Tahanan
A time long ago in a place now known as the Philippines was a village. The men at this time treated their tandangs (roosters) better than their wives and daughters. Every morning after breakfast, It was customary for the men in the village to gather under the shade of the Balete tree. There they played sabong (cockfights), boasted about beating their wives, and laughed how they cowered in fear of them. Lunch was fast approaching and trouble awaits a fear stricken wife who must have lunch prepared and ready to wait on her husband hand and foot until he took his afternoon siesta. The women led a sorrowful life; many mothers cried tears of grief when a daughter was born to them. Even the older women where treated with contempt and disrespect. They were foreseen as property and the slightest sign of insubordination meant a beating or even death. Awake at the crack of dawn, she must clean the house, tend the garden, care for the animals (especially the roosters ), go fishing, and fetch water from the river for her husband's breakfast and bath. She was also expected to take care of the children and labor under the intense heat of the tropical sun - planting rice, cassava, gabi, and other produce. Each night she cried herself to sleep, whispering a prayer of help in a hopeless situation beyond her control. One morning while the men were basking under the shade of the balete
tree and revelring in each others stories of spousal abuse. An old
lady carrying a bundle of sticks walked towards them. They started
taunting her, one shoved her to the ground, spit on her face while
the other got a stick with the intent of beating her. In an instant, That evening some of the men experienced a bangungot (nightmare of death) and died screaming in their sleep and this went on until there were a handful of men left in the village. With intense fear gripping the hearts of the men, they resolved to gather the women and children in the village. Under the shade of the balete tree, they got down on their knees, with much weeping and asked the women to forgive them of their actions. Pleading with their sons to learn from their mistakes and implored them to treat their lola's, mothers and sisters with dignity and respect. They vowed from this time forward to treat the women like a queen- to love, care and provide for them. The women shed tears of joy and laughter came out from their lips. It started to rain amidst the bright rays of sunshine - a sign given by Bathala that the curse had been broken. That evening none of the men died and the next day, they got up at the crack of dawn to fish, and fetch water for their homes. After breakfast, they worked hard in the fields and tended the animals. In the evening they spent time playing with their children and showering their wife with praises and affection. To this day, the Philippines is the only country wherein women are
treated as equals and with much respect. Many Filipino men's ideal
standard is to work hard -so as their wives can stay at home, manage
the household affairs, nurture the children and is affectionately
dubbed the "Reyna Ng Tahanan." (From the Beyer Library Collection, republished with permission from the author.)
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