12 December, 1888
TODAY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY
The so-called 20 Women of Malolos signed and presented to Spanish Governor-General Valeriano Weyler a letter requesting permission to open a night school where they could study the Spanish language.
Teaching of the Spanish language was not encouraged during that time, not just for women but Filipinos in general. The friars feared that proficiency in the Spanish language would give the natives the ability to communicate directly with Spanish government officials and would expose them to liberal and progressive ideas then emerging in Europe.
Weyler, who initially denied the request of the women, eventually granted the petition which became the turning point of the status of women to have the right education. Weyler permitted them to open the school the following year — on February 20, 1889. They financed it themselves since the government had refused to do so.
(Ref: Philippine News Agency; Photo from gotadeleche.com/the-philippine-feminist-movement-from-the-women-of-malolos-to-gota-de-leche/)
