 considered, she, too, becomes rebellious.
This is an appeal to you, Filipino brothers. Your Filipino sisters want you to treat them as your real sisters—be protective instead of injurious—be considerate instead of fault-finding. They want to be your comrades. They want to be able to speak of you with their heads held high. Would you give them reason to? They want to be respected and appreciated and defended in society, and that depends upon you. They’ll sacrifice much, and suffer much for your cause; and all they ask is your going hand-in-hand with them; understanding, sympathizing, protecting. 2
"Ambition in the Filipina"
by Helen Rillera
Helen Rillera's daughter, Lala Lacuna, reported to me that her mother experienced many difficulties in her youth in the U.S., especially as a single working mother in the U.S. The previous essay hints at some of her hardships. However, this essay published in 1935 suggests that Rillera–then attending Commerce High School in San Francisco–still felt optimistic and adventurous about the opportunities available for Filipinas. The essay also gives some sense of her growing sense of a distinction between the lives of Filipinas in the Philippines, and of those growing up in the U.S. Given the few numbers of Filipino women in California at the time, it was easy for a Filipina to feel isolated. Still very young herself, Rillera's article seeks to inspire confidence in the "girls" and to remind them that their ambitions are worthwhile.
Yes, girls, it is a thrill, a fascinating and an interesting one, I mean, being here in this beautiful country, amidst adventure and animation. It is not at all an [exaggeration] to say we are lucky.
While we are here, we are having an opportunity to live, which our own sisters back home never had and may never have. what lovely times they boast of there, but I'm sure there are not many that could really excel our own experiences here. It seems that everything is to our advantage, except the fact that they are at home, where it is home, where their appreciation of 'Filipinas' is not from mere heresay, but from actually knowing it. If you have ever known and loved the Philippines, you will realize the significance of this point.
In the Islands today, we hear of youth rising to fame in the respective worlds of drama, art, literature, and music. We know the interest for the Fine Arts has kindled quickly and now burns with fervor. We are informed of talents, ambitions, and finally success of our girls there. And we are proud [are] we not, that the products of our native land are a credit to its worth and pride? But shouldn’t we [be] proud, shouldn’t we be inspired to do our own [limited] bit, even if we are far from home? I have already mentioned we have advantages and opportunities here, and surely we would not admit that we have less intelligence or less talent than they.
In California alone, we know of many lovely girls, not without promise of brilliant futures. All over the United States, I feel that there is intellectual power in our Filipino girls. Yet, very few, if any at all, ever come out; very few are developed and used.
Girls, ambition is lacking. This precious lamp of ambition is cold and dead. It is up to us to light it, and keep it ever a burning lantern to guide us in our paths.
Our general attitude is, we don't care. We're having a good time, and after a while, we'd settle down, and then live happily ever after. This is really a good course any girl can follow; but those of you who have extraordinary gifts should do more than this. God has endowed you with powers that your nation and your world may benefit. Therefore, don't be selfish of them.
Then, there are those of us who have no self-confidence. It is not nice to be egotistical, but one should be able to trust, know, and believe in himself. Often, rare ability is hidden under an inferiority complex. We are ourselves, as we only can judge and as we alone can mould our lives to our desires.
Some girls who were plucky enough to want to get ahead have been unfortunate in [one] way or another. Yet, th