Although the Institute has been in existence since 1988, the Research and Publications Program was instituted only in 1991. Since then they have been publishing books and pamphlets for women, of women and by women. The Institute is a non-government organisation and their funds come from foreign sources. The Research and Publications Program is just one of their component programs.

All our publications deal with women's issues. So far, we have come out with books on the following issues: women and violence, women and the environment, women and world religions, women and culture, women and migration. All of the publications are in English but some of the fiction and poetry are also published in Filipino, our national language.
Our main problem is gathering materials for publication. Seeing the fruition of the work we have undertaken - seeing the book finally published and read by people is the greatest pleasure we experience. And we have this in each of our publications.

A network of women's publishing publishing groups is helpful for information building and gathering, for exchanging ideas and trends in the publishing world. Definitely, new technologies like the Internet can be used to communicate with each other and strengthen each other's publishing efforts.

Lisa Dolor Fruto
Assistant
Research and Publications

Contact:

Women's Studies
St. Scholastica's College
Research and Publications Program
931 Estrada Street, Malate
1004 Manila, Philippines

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Cantata of the Warrior Woman
Daragang Magayon

Kantada ng Babaing Mandirigma
Daragang Magayon

Merlinda Bobis

Book and cover design
by Ida T.Bugayong.
All rights reserved: BWPC.

Filipino academic, poet and performing artist Merlinda spent her childhood in the foothills of Mt. Mayon. Legend has it that Mt. Mayon arose from the tomb of a 'beautiful maiden', Daragang Magayon. There are several variations of the myth but in each Daragang died when shot by an arrow which was either intended for her or struck her as she shielded her lover. This is a myth common across many cultures where the life of the woman is determined by the men around her. More often than not the woman sacrifices her life for her father or her lover or her tribe.

Merlinda's retelling of the myth is the story of Cantata of the Warrior Woman. Her poems give a significant twist to the myth. As she explains, "Bikolanos often think of the mountain as female. We say her appearance changes from moment to moment. She refuses to be fixed or named in one aspect alone. So I wonder how the old story about her which I learned as a child, came to be told." She is certain "Darangang Magayon didn't tell that story. It was spun by other tongues, like all the stories that keep the lifelines of women from running beyond our supposedly ever-open, and thus vulnerable, palms."

Cantata of the Warrior Woman, therefore, is a different story. The one which Merlinda Bobis heard Daragang sing. The one which Merlinda sings now.

This book will make you feel like going to the mountains. It will reaffirm your faith in feminine strength. This is a bilingual edition both in English and in Tagalog.

Also by Merlinda Bobis,
Summer was a Fast Train without Terminals and White Turtle.
(Both published by Spinifex Press)

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Other Publications

Women's Studies Series

Essays on Women
Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB, ed.
182 pp. 4th ed. (c) 1991 US$15.00

Articles on social issues such as child prostitution, domestic violence, sexism in media and feminist spirituality. Includes a historical and socio-political analysis of the status of women and gender oppression.

Woman and Religion
Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB, ed.
210 pp. 3rd ed. (c) 1998 US$17.00

Essays and personal narratives on the development of feminist consciousness in the Asian context.

Women Resisting Violence: Spirituality for Life
Sr. Mary John Mananzan, Mercy Amba Oduyoye, et al., eds.
184 pp. (c) 1996 US$15.00

Original essays from outstanding feminist theologians around the world on the impact of the many forms of violence against women.

Master Suppression Techniques
Beritos

Discusses how the five master suppression techniques are used by men-consciously or unconsciously-to make women passive, submissive and repressed.

Intercultural Course On Women and Society Training Manual

A basic guide to the ICSW, a three-month long training program of the Institute.

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Research

Brave Little Women: A Study on Incest
The Research Team, IWS/IIC
61 pp.(c) 1995 US$12.00

Testimonies of healing by victims of incest.

Beyond Bonding: A Third World Women's Theological Journey
Sr. Virginia Fabella, MM
155 pp. (c) 1993 US$15.00

The theological journey of African, Asian and Latin American women within the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians (EATWOT). The author reveals the growth in the theological consciousness of EATWOT women from a general acceptance of the association's theological direction and methodology to a gradual awareness of the male bias in the emerging theologies of EATWOT members, and from a limited male-defined liberation perspective.

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Journal

Lila: Asia Pacific Women's Studies Journal
One-year subscription US$20.00
Two-year subscription US$35.00

Research studies on various issues and concerns affecting women in Asia and the Pacific. All articles written in English. Annual release.

Pamphlet

The Woman Question in the Philippines
Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB
50 pp. (c)1997 US$7.00 (bookprint) US$5.00 (newsprint)

The various roles played by women in Philippine history and the historical development of the feminist movement in the Philippines. Includes some of the women's organizations and their efforts to advance the Philippine feminist movement.

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Fiction, Poetry and Literary Criticism

Herstory
Rosario Cruz Lucero
84 pp. (c) 1990 US$12.00

Insights into personal relationships and political struggles. Cited as The National Book Award for Fiction in 1990 by the Manila Critics Circle.

Flight is Song (Ang Lipad ay Awit sa Apat na Hangin)
Merlinda C. Bobis
117 pp. (c) 1990 US$12.00

Redefinition of ancient epic and myths that traces the stages of feminist awakening. Includes Filipino translation and author's monograms.

Spaces: Earthbound, Skybound
Aida F. Santos

Anthology of poetry including "Rhapsodies," Third Place 1998 Palanca Award for Literature, English Poetry Division.

The Long Stag Party
Dolores Stephens Feria
191 pp. (c) 1991 US$15.00

Literary criticism and reflections on the life and works of writers and artists in developing countries.

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Anatomy of Corruption (Anatomiya ng Korupsyon)
Malou Leviste Jacob
200 pp. (c) 1992 US$15.00

A three-act play on corruption in a small court that shows the dilemma of a woman whose principles are threatened by the bankrupt system she enters. English and Filipino versions.

'Storya and Other Poems
Lina Sagaral Reyes
69 pp. (c) 1993 US$10.00

Poems reflecting the poet's insights into and perceptions of women, ordinary people, relatives, friends, the simple life in her hometown, and the politics of the country. In English.

Bago ang Babae: Mga Tula
Rebecca T. A?onuevo
109 pp. (c) 1996 US$12.00

The thoughts, feelings and aspirations of today's in a vivid language yet poignant tone. Cited by the 1996 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature and the 1997 National Book Award for Poetry. In Filipino.

Twice Blessed
Ninotchka Rosca
269 pp. (c) 1992 US$15.00 (HB), US$10.00 (PB)

The story of a man's drive for power metamorphoses into an account of what happens to women trapped in male-dominated politics.

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Special Publications

The Political Economy of Gender
Elizabeth Uy Eviota
212 pp. (c) 1993 US$15.00

Explores the intersection between gender ideology and the sexual division of labor in the Philippines. First printed by Zed Books in London and New York.

Challenges to the Inner Room:
Selected Essays and Speeches on Women
Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB
233 pp. (c) 1998 US$18.00

Documents Sr. Mary John's journey of integrating feminist activism with faith and traditions of being a Benedictine nun.

In Every Woman: Asian Women's Journey to Feminist Awakening
Fe Coraz?n Tengco-Labayen
190 pp. (c) 1998 US$20.00

An ethnographic study on the transformation of women taking up women's studies.

Ecofeminism as Politics: Nature, Marx and the postmodern
Ariel Salleh
208 pp. Philippine reprint (1999) US$15.00

An exploration of the philosophical challenge of ecofeminism showing how confusion over the implications of 'difference' has held back radical change.

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Feminist Publishing in Asia - The Philippines

Discover some of the publishers and book-women of the Asia Pacific region.	Our search for women who publish in Asia. Join us in our journey.	Why we network and weave the web. Find out how to add your strand.

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