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Damian Domingo's illustrations of Filipino women from Pampanga and Ilocos wearing a tapis. Photos from THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY
Pre-colonial dress is an important part of Philippine fashion that shouldn’t be overlooked. As with any material archive, examining the clothing of our ancestors can give us a peek into their complex world. For one, visual evidence of the pre-colonial Filipina’s place in society can be found in her fashion choices. Whereas the Western world had strict female clothing standards in the 1500s, Filipinas wore relaxed, light, and functional clothing, ones suitable for their work and climate.
In the 16th century, a time when gender inequality was a pervasive but often ignored issue in many parts of the Western world, Filipino women are reported to have possessed the agency to act regardless of their gender. “Don’t be surprised, but in precolonial PH, the Filipina was revered,” says the Ayala Museum in a tweet. “They enjoyed the same rights and privileges as men did.” Women were given leadership positions — usually as babaylan, entitled to property, possessed the ability to divorce, and take up work.