Silence is a virtue, that is what our elementary teachers told us way back then. As such most of us can recall our class officers keeping their long lists of “Noisy” either on their pad papers or on the black board to further the shame of those “Noisy Students”. If one can remember, it is often the case that the boys infiltrate these lists first, and as expected, there are indeed a few girls who made it to the list.

I can still remember my Professor in Filipino Psychology, way back in UP. He said that there is indeed a problem in terms of how our children are educated in our schools. In the Philippines, children are expected to behave, follow the instructions of their teachers, be silent and pay close attention to the one speaking in front. Barely did the children are allowed to explore their natural impulses, and much more, it is forbidden to talk one’s mind out, otherwise one will be tagged as a bad student- a student who will not bring home his or her mom the a star on his or her wrist; and a student who is not loved by Jesus.

The power of the woman’s voice has been viewed by some feminist writers, most specially by Carol Gillighan as very vital to the exercise of women’s experience and power. The meaning of women’s silence, more particularly, the aforementioned’s willingness or unwillingness to speak is something that is of a complex and psychological source of women’s exercise of power.

Gillighan and her colleagues’ view women’s strength as something that could be lifted from the emergence of an authentic voice, and of which such a voice is effectively expressed. On the other hand, the silencing of a woman’s voice is something that is synonymous to subordination, and of course the lack of power.

It is not oblivious to us, that Filipinas are often taught to be silent. The problematic educational structure that is further worsened by the religious dogmas brought forth by the Spaniards further complicated everything. As such, it is not no longer surprising that Filipinas most of the time are passive and powerless and have seldom affected the course of their lives or history.

The value of women’s voice is something that need not be over emphasized. Catholicism and our perverted culture has led to its loss. Now, what can I say, screw all of them.