Today in History: Women Power

Mondays symbolize new beginnings as we face another week. But today, let us briefly go back in history and take a glimpse of how women have shown and proven their power.

Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart was the first woman who successfully finished a flight from Hawaii to California. On a solo trip, the American aviator departed from Honolulu, Hawaii to North America on January 11, 1935.

The weather played a big part in this historical event. In Honolulu, Earhart explained how fortunate she was to be aided by an aerological officer at Pearl Harbor. It was Lieutenant E. W. Stephens who plotted the weather and constructed a hypothetical weather map that covered the Pacific Ocean and Western America.

Two years after her successful flight to California, Earhart attempted to travel around the world with co-pilot Frederick Noonan. But her plane got lost somewhere between New Guinea and Howland Island in the South Pacific. Until now, what happened to Earhart remains a mystery.

Elizabeth Blackwell
Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female to graduate from medical school in January 11, 1849. She was the first woman to obtain a medical degree and was a pioneer in educating women in medicine.

During the Civil War, Blackwell trained many women to work as nurses who aided the army. Earning a good reputation for her deeds, she was able to establish a Women’s Medical College to train women, physicians and doctors.

She also taught at the London School of Medicine for Women and became the first female physician at the UK Medical Register.

Honorata “Atang” de la Rama

Atang de la Rama, a National Artist for Theater and Music, was born on January 11, 1902 in Pandacan, Manila. An orphan at an early age, she lived with her sister and discovered her love for music.

She was already a star of zarzuelas as young as 7 years old. Some of these zarzuelas were adapted into movies such as “Nabasag ang Banga,” which was the first Tagalog full-length feature movie, and “Mahiwagang Binibini,” where she gained popularity.

Aside from starring in zarzuelas and singing kundiman, Atang de la Rama also penned lyrics. These include “Pag-asa” which was composed with music by L. Ignacio.

Atang de la Rama also marked her name in Philippine politics as she led the Kaisahan ng Kababaihan ng Pilipinas, the Gagalangin Ladies Association, and the Red Cross Fund drive. She was a supporter of Confederation of Labor Organization, Home Nursing Association, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, PETA Babaylan and GABRIELA.

In 1987, she was recognized as a National Artist for Theater and Music. But even before she received this title, she was given several awards for her contributions in the culture and arts:

Panitik ng Kababaihan (1950),

Kababaihan ng Lahi (1975),

Presidential medal of merit (1966),

Sagisag ng Lungsod ng Maynila (1964),

Diwa ng Lahi (1974),

Reyna ng Kundiman at Mutya ng Dulang Tagalog (1963),

Queen of the Kundiman and Prima Donna of Filipino Theater (1968),

Reyna ng Kundiman, Paglilingkod sa Bayan (1973),

Tandang Sora trophy (1977),

Walang Kupas Award (1982) and

The Ateneo de Manila University Tanglaw ng Lahi.

Sources:

National Historical Institute

http://kahimyang.info/

http://www.history.com/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/