I have been writing an essay on the life history of Frida Mujer, a writer in LitErotika novels, as a requirement in my Psychological Anthropology class this summer; and in the course of creating a presentation for the preliminary draft of my essay, I was reminded of a poem by Joi Barrios. I did a thesis proposal last semester in my Popular Culture class called "A Feminist Reading on Filipina Sexuality in LitErotika Novels" and part of my related literature wasNeferti Xina Tadiar's essay on "Filipinas Living in a Time of War;" her essay contained an excerpt of Barrios's poem.
Tadiar said "Joi Barrios’s subjective reconstitution of reality as war, enables a new role for women that makes them warriors of and for life, where living is a creative struggle for freedom.” I would like to share the poem in its entirety which I got from this website. Who ever said post-feminism is here has never heard of or has been turning a blind eye to new traditionalism, where popular culture has reverted to stereotypes of women typecasted in new and yet strangely familiar forms.
Tadiar said "Joi Barrios’s subjective reconstitution of reality as war, enables a new role for women that makes them warriors of and for life, where living is a creative struggle for freedom.” I would like to share the poem in its entirety which I got from this website. Who ever said post-feminism is here has never heard of or has been turning a blind eye to new traditionalism, where popular culture has reverted to stereotypes of women typecasted in new and yet strangely familiar forms.
"Ang Pagiging Babae ay Pamumuhay sa Panahon ng Digma"
ni Joi Barrios
Ang pagiging babae
ay pamumuhay
sa panahon ng digma
Kapiling ko sa aking paglaki
ang pangamba
hindi ko tiyak ang bukas na laging nakakawing
sa mga lalaki ng aking buhay;
ama, kapatid,
asawa, anak.
Kinatatakutan ko ang pag-iisa.
Sa pagiging ina,
kaharap ko'y tagsalat.
Pagkat ang lupit ng digmaan
ay hindi lamang paggulong ng mga ulo
pagguhit ng espada,
kundi unti-unting pagkaubos
ng pagkain sa hapag.
ay, paano magpapasuso ng bunso
habang naghahanap ng maisusubo sa panganay?
Walang sandaling walang panganib.
Sa lansangan,
ang paglakad sa gabi'y
pagtukso sa kapahamakan.
Sa sariling tahanan,
ang pagsagot at pagsuwa'y
ay pag-aanyaya ng karahasan.
Kaytagal kong pinag-aralan
ang puno't dulo
nitong digmaan.
Sa huli'y naunawaan kong
ang pagiging babae
ay walang katapusang pakikibaka
para mabuhay at maging malaya.
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