Echo Boomers’ Shawl: The Iconography of the Modern Filipina

I read an exciting essay writing contest from my friend Mathe's blog. The contest is in celebration of the upcoming Women's Month and WikiPilipinas is releasing a new portal called Encyclopedia of Philippine Women, a portal that provides unlimited information about Filipinas' successes and triumphs anywhere. The contest partnered with FilipinaImages, a fascinating site that promotes Filipina image globally. The said contest revolves on empowering and elevating the Filipina image through the Filipina stories. Watch out for this portal and you'll definitely learn as much as information about successful and inspiring Filipina Stories. For more information on this contest,visit WikiPilipinas.org and check the details out.

So to accomplish all the rules of the contest, I'm posting my essay in my blog. Take time to read my thoughts on women and Filipinas' great contribution on many unitemized things. You can also visit FilipinaImages, a great developing site for your reference. For that one, click here and if you wish to proceed, read on!

Gender equality, regardless how ancient this issue is, has never completely penetrated the social strata to date. Pull my brows down but despite each states or country’s determination to address this issue, gender equality remains a concern and yes, the topic pisses off women in the society, young and old.

Not this time. Not during the decade of the echo boomers, and us, the Pinay Gen-X.

What exactly do you know about the echo boomers? Don’t get yourself confused but echo boomers are also coined the X-gen or Generation X. Sometimes, this generation is tagged the Generation-Y. This is us, the children of the Baby Boomers who are currently on their 60s, while us, are halfway through that age.

In comparison, women of the Baby Boomers generation are those that we high regard as our grand mothers, parents and great great grandmothers. Needless to say, these women are elevated out of their sensibilities in taking care of their families after the postwar era. Baby boomers generation have the work-really-hard attitude, bringing optimism after the war. And look what do we have here? Yes, they are exhausted and we could see from our parents’ eyes how much world changes they’ve seen so far. See and observe their hands and you’ll see how much they’ve labored for us, the Generation X.

Gone are the days when women would prefer home over outdoors. The Generation X, who are usually on their mid 20s or those who were born between 1979 and 1994, amused the demographics how engaging this generation is in terms of proliferating business and economy to the next level. Ask around how assertive this generation is and you’d get a unified answer “so much!”

Filipinas aren’t isolated in such pivot in the world history. And while many are living still in the far flung areas of the country, Filipina entrepreneurs are most evident these days than before. Go to the Mountain Provinces and see how resourceful and diligent women are! Same holds true in the Southern part of the Philippines where you’ll see women working hard not only in the fields but also in the offices. The truth is that greater numbers of women are in the offices, in the market places, cities and at home.

Mutitasked women of this generation are silently promoting the all-laid capabilities of human power. That’s right, the Filipina image has evolved and is bound to be the leading epitome of success in the country, an icon of winners and an image of futuristic path towards success. From our loving mothers, performing artists like Lea Salonga, hear the voice of the young but powerful Charice Pempengco, American Idol candidate Ramielle Malubay, the current President Arroyo, the big league of sweet-yet-powerful-voiced female call center agents who are driving huge profits in the country’s BPO industry and the millions self-sacrificing unnamed heroine of our countries in the overseas areas. Don’t you just agree that these women provide more than what they’re capable of and yet their smiles never fade?

Yes, gender inequality remains yanking along the streets and debate rooms, Filipinas on the other hand have worn new shawls, not just for their comfort and fashion but shawls that depict the real sense of a Filipina in the 21st century. So yes, we’re the Boomers’ daughters and we take pride on our unwavering energy to keep our families intact, promote our omnipotent shadows of our husbands yet elevating ourselves on the right position in the households and society as women of the Generation X—untiring, boundless yet elegant.