# 1937 Philippine women's suffrage plebiscite

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A plebiscite was held in the Philippines on April 30, 1937, to decide whether or not women could vote. Multiple women's movements started in 1910, which led to the plebiscite in 1937, where women voted for or against women's suffrage rights. Filipino women worked hard to mobilize and fight for women's suffrage in the early 1900s and gained victory after 447,725 out of 500,000 votes affirmed women's right to vote.
Counterarguments against women gaining the right to vote in the Philippines were stated because it would ruin family unity, giving less power to the husband or man of the house in the family.
Prior to the plebiscite, electors voted on the approval of the new Philippine constitution. Approximately 1,213,934 of the electors voted in favor of the new constitution, while 42,690 voted against it. The new constitution, which contains a provision for the mechanism of extending the right to vote to women, was also the shortest constitution that was ratified during modern times. This new constitution contained only a small number of articles.
Before women gained the right to vote, they had no legal rights during that time period. Even with the proper consent from their husbands, women still could not obtain any legal rights. Governor General Dwight F. Davis made it legal for women to have some legal rights when it came to the disposition of property. This allowed women to own personal items within their marriage.

## Background

In the beginning of the 20th century, various women's rights groups emerged shortly after the United States gained sovereignty over the Philippines. In 1905, the Asociacion Feminista Filipina (Feminist Association of the Philippines) was founded by Concepcion Felix Rodriguez along with 12 elite women. A year later, in 1906, women's rights pioneer Pura Villanueva Kalaw founded the Asociacion Feminista Ilonga; its goal was to focus on women's suffrage. Both of these organizations not only helped the suffrage movement, they were also one of the first organizations that built a foundation for the suffrage movement in the Philippines. The objectives of the organizations were to touch upon socio-civic matters some of which were prison reform, improving the education system and healthcare and labor reforms.
Governor General Frank Murphy was the first governor to take action on gaining civil and political rights for women, while other governors such as Dwight F. Davis aimed to help women gain civil rights, but never took initiative. Murphy, who aimed to gain peace and unity for all Philippine women, ultimately signed the Woman's Suffrage Bill, in hope that women would gain equal rights, fairness, and treatment.
Several feminist organizations played a role in enhancing the suffrage movement. At the same time, there was an all-male National Legislature that was against the feminist movement, thus did not support the movement because they feared that traditional family roles would start to change if women had the right to vote. Those who were opposed to the women's suffrage movement were not only men but also women.
In 1920, the Manila Women's Club emerged as the "next big step" toward forming the League of Women's Suffragettes, which worked toward women's right to vote. The club formed the League of Women's Suffragettes. A year after the League of Women's Suffragettes was formed, there was another organization called the National Federation of Women's Club in 1921–1937, which was known to be the vanguard of the suffrage movement.
In 1933, Act No. 4112 became law granting women the right to vote but this legislation was never implemented and was effectively revoked with the adoption of the 1935 constitution.

## Legislation and plebiscite

In 1934, the 1935 constitution was approved. Article 5 of the constitution stated that "The National Assembly shall extend the right of suffrage to women, if in a plebiscite which shall be held for that purpose within two years after the adoption of this Constitution, not less than three hundred thousand women possessing the necessary qualifications shall vote affirmatively on the question".
In response, Filipino women amped up their mobilization women to vote. There was widespread propaganda through media, posters, press, radio, house to house visits and such and they also had lectures informing women about the plebiscite. The Junior Federation of Women's Club was also created to help women with children so that they were able to vote while their children would be taken care of. Transportation and food were provided, creating less hassle for Filipinos that may or may not have financial abilities to go out and vote.
The National Assembly passed Commonwealth Act No. 34 which was approved on 30 September 1936; the act provided for the holding of the plebiscite for women's suffrage the following year. As mandated by Commonwealth Act No. 34, women who met the same qualification as men would be qualifies to vote in the plebiscite.
Voters were asked the following:
In English:
   Are you in favor of granting suffrage to women?
In Spanish:
   Esta Vd. en favor de la concesion del sufragio a las mujeres?
Out of the total of 500,000 women that voted in 30 April 1937, 447,725 women voted in favor of extending the right to vote to women while 52,275 voted against.
As a result of the majority of affirmative votes cast, the right of suffrage was extended to women, in compliance with section 10 of Commonwealth Act No. 34.

## Plebiscite results

Are you in favor of granting suffrage to women? :
| Choice | Votes | % |
| Yes | 447,725 | 91.00 |
| No | 44,307 | 9.00 |
| Total votes | 492,032 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 572,130 | 86.00 |
* Rules: In order to be approved, there should be 300,000 or more "Yes" votes.
1937 Philippine women's suffrage plebiscite results (excluding invalid votes) :
* Yes 447,725 (91%)
* ▲ 50% |

## Legacy

In 1947, 10 years after Philippine women were granted the right to vote, Geronima T. Pecson was elected as the first women senator. The election of Pecson prompted the entry of more women into governmental leadership positions, including the eventual election of two presidents, three vice presidents, congresswomen, senators, mayors, and many others. The Philippines is one of the earliest countries in Southeast Asia to have a female president, Corazon Aquino, who was elected to office on February 25, 1986. The country also has higher female representation in government relative to other Southeast Asian countries. The current Constitution of the Philippines, ratified in 1987, grants equality for both men and women, and guarantees the rights to suffrage, public service, political expression, and the right to information. The Philippines is also a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Political Rights of Women (CEDAW).