Although March is National Women’s Month here in the Philippines, the message that women can do anything and everything they set their mind to should be a point of emphasis in media, especially literature. Filipino women need more heroes to see and realize that there are no limits to what they can aspire to.
The above message was the key takeaway from the recently concluded book launch of Fearless Filipinas: 12 Women Who Dared to Be Different, the latest publication from online bookstore Bookshelf PH, specializing in business books and other non-fiction titles.
The book launch recently featured a panel discussion involving most of the women featured in the book, such as Kim Lato, Elda Rotor, Kaizen Dela Serna, Erika Legara, Jessica Cox, Jessie Sincioco, Dzi Gervacio and Asia Jackson.
Those featured in Fearless Filipinas were chosen for how they defied various odds and excelled in fields such as business, entertainment, sports, activism, and much more. The stories shared in the book lend insights on how to succeed as a woman leader, the importance of grit & resilience, and overcoming women-centric issues such as sexism and harassment.
From renowned actress and philanthropist Angel Locsin to astrophysicist Dr. Reina Reyes and renowned ballet dancer Stella Abrera and more, it is the aim of every feature included in the book to send a message to young Filipinas everywhere that although they may meet many challenges on the way to achieving their dreams, there is no shortage of real-life examples out there showcasing Filipina excellence for them to draw inspiration from.
To further augment the message, a foreword from Vice President Leni Robredo is also included in the book outlining the importance of celebrating women’s fearlessness, especially amid an unprecedented crisis.
“While all of the women featured here hail from different fields, they are all united in their demonstration of ‘fearlessness’ in the face of adversity, prejudice, or even the status quo. Celebrating their lives—and indeed, their moments of fearlessness—should serve as a rallying cry to all women: We are all capable of the courage it takes to achieve unprecedented greatness,” wrote VP Robredo.
Actress and philanthropist Angel Locsin also expressed her pride in being included in the book.
“Often, we only see Filipinas celebrated once they’re successful,” Locsin said. “Yet the beauty of ‘Fearless Filipinas’ is that it’s a dive into what Filipinas had to overcome to get to where they are today – it takes our stories back to when we were starting and full of doubt. But no matter what these challenges are, we all can get through them, and you can too, with courage, hard work, and determination.
The book was written by Monica Padillo, Pancho Dizon, and Mica Magsanoc, edited by Kyle Nate, and illustrated by Chloe Gaw. According to the team, they consider their work on the book their contribution to Filipina history. The team has also expressed that they will continue telling more stories that celebrate various Filipinas’ achievements in the future, pointing out that the 12 covered in “Fearless Filipinas” is only the tip of the iceberg.
“Although completing the launch of ‘Fearless Filipinas’ was certainly satisfying, our team looks forward to turning it into a series that shines a light on even more examples of what Filipinas are capable of,” said co-author Monica Padillo. “Knowing that readers gain inspiration from it and are driven towards achieving their dreams certainly keeps us going.”
