Thread by @indiohistorian

#TodayinHistory in 1879, Rosa Sevilla de Alvero, suffragette, feminist & educator, was born in Tondo, #Manila #PH. Her campaign led to the passage of women's suffrage in 1937 making #PH one of the few Asian countries to grant women's right to vote. THREAD. #WomensHistoryMonth

Born to Ambrosio Sevilla, a Spanish military officer, & Silvina Tolentino (related to revolutionary playwright & writer Aurelio Tolentino), she was reared in robust debate among Filipino intellectuals who were invited by her aunt into their home.

In 1899, she was part of the editorial staff of Antonio Luna's, La Independencia, w/c was one of the Filipino newspapers providing political commentary & news at the time when the fledgling 1st #PH Republic was seeking int'l recognition & est. authority.

https://twitter.com/indiohistorian/status/1268833155311480832?s=21

In July 1900, as a new graduate from Assumption Superior Normal School, Rosa Sevilla put hands & feet on her advocacy for women's education by establishing the Instituto de Mujeres, a school for girls, & administered by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The same school would host the first ever Balagtasan in 1924, w/c she fully supported, given her unwavering dream of a vibrant culture in an independent Philippines.

https://twitter.com/indiohistorian/status/1379382002227482624

In 1922, she founded the Liga Nacional de Damas Filipina, w/c sought to give a louder voice to Filipina women, as well as support to the campaign for #PH independence from the United States. In her 11 Feb 1922 inaugural speech in the Liga, she said:

"The Filipino woman, with the exquisite femininity that characterizes her, never leaves home but for the home's sake... But when her home and her children are threatened by some peril you will see this same woman... aiding and saving the defenders of the fatherland." #QOTD

Together w/ other feminist activists, she drummed up the campaign for the women's right to vote. Her generation succeeded when via a national plebiscite on 30 April 1937, 447,725 voted in favor of women's suffrage, surpassing the 300k mark set 1935 Consti Art V.

She was an avid writer, becoming the editor of the women’s columns of the Filipino newspaper in Spanish, La Vanguardia, & founder of The Woman’s Outlook, @GFWCHQ PH’s magazine.

For her tireless service to the Nation, she was given the Presidential Medal of Merit on 4 July 1948.

Photos:
- Portrait of Rosa Sevilla de Alvaro, from @NHCPOfficial, via @eufems
- Instituto de Mujeres ad, & School Board, @AskNLP
- PH Free Press, 7 April 1937,
- MLQ signs Women’s Suffrage, from the Presidential Museum & Library

For @subselfie.
@jmnualla
@tonitiemsin