Filipina Pride

Where are the inspiring Filipinas online?

When I was a child, the inspiring Filipinas I heard about were those listed in the history books. You know, heroes such as Melchora Aquino, the mother of the Katipunan. She was also known as Tandang Sora. You might also recall the founder of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Josefa Llanes Escoda.

Yet those names sound so far away, as if they belong to a time partly hidden in the recesses of my childhood memories.

Today, I wonder which Filipinas have made their mark, given the speed at which information travels around the internet. And so I begin my quest to find contemporary Filipinas who have served to inspire more Filipinos who have long left the hallowed corridors of grade school.

Mikaela Irene "Mikki" Fudolig is popularly known for her April 22, 2007 speech delivered during the 96th General Commencement Exercises, at the University of the Philippines, Diliman: Take Not The Road Less Traveled.

Download the MP3 version of the speech

You also have the inspiring team of Filipina mountaineers who reached the summit of Mt. Everest: Janet Belarmino, Carina Dayondon, and Noelle Wenceslao.

Ems writes in Tagalog about her mom in Happy Mother's Day. I admire Ems for sharing her love and affection for her mother online. Usually, bloggers tend to write about "more" kewl things like gadgets, parties, or barkada stories.

"Pambihirang Patis!" is the favorite expression of my high school biology teacher. What happens when you get Filipina moms from around the world and gather them around a virtual platito of patis (fish sauce)? You get FilipinaMoms.com -- check out their flavorful tales today!

On the search engine side...

According to WordTracker, there are about 4,500 searches daily for "filipina", while there are about 3.77 million pages in Google when you search for "filipina." Of the 3.7 or 3.8 million, 825 pages are in the main index while the rest are in the supplemental results.

(This post is still in its early days, and will be updated as we find those places online which provide more information about these Filipinas. I invite you to share online your views on the Filipina. Please participate in the Filipina Writing Project.)

This writing project will not be possible without the support of sponsors such as Barangay.ph, Kababayan.ph, MyUSMailbox.com, RegaloService.com and Acclaim Butterflies.

Here are other blog entries about the Filipina:

• Filipina Writing Project Podcast
• Filipina: Isa ring Ina
• Filipina Writing Contest and My Favorite Filipina Blogger
• Filipina is a Filipino Woman
• Ang mga Filipina ng Buhay Ko
• The Filipina in the Eyes of the World
• 3 Things You Possibly Do Not Know about the Filipina
• A Topless Filipina in Europe
• What is a Filipina?
  
• Ako si Pina.. At ito ang aking kuwento...
  
• Filipina - Boholana, Part 1
• Dalawang Anyo ng Pinay
  
• Never Underestimate the Heart of a Champion Filipina
• Nang Itaas Niya Ang Kanyang Kamay
  
• Hindi lang Filipina Dating, Dating Filipina, Wow Filipina talaga!
• A Different Filipina
• Filipina: prostitution and exploitation
• Ang Pinay sa Buhay ni Pinoy Ambisyoso
• They are Filipinas Too
• Filipina 2007
• The Portrait of a Japayuki as a Filipina
• Filipino DH (Die Hard Filipina)
• Maria “Ria” A. Jose is a Filipina
• The Ideal Filipina In The Heart And Mind of A Filipina (Not A Mere Dating Or Sex Object)
• Filipina
• Different Faces of a Filipina
• Are you just a Filipina?
• Ako po si Elay, Nagbibigay Pugay
• Filipina Since Birth
• Filipinas are Natural Entrepreneurs
• Spotlight: Filipina Bloggers

Have you seen an uplifting story about a Filipina online? Please let me know, and I will share your story (as well as your blog, if you wish) here in Viloria.com Thanks!

[ First posted on 08/13/2007 by Manuel Viloria ]