You can now read Louisa May Alcott’s ‘Little Women’ in Filipino

Louisa May Alcott’s classic coming-of-age novel Little Women can now be read in Filipino as Mga Munting Babae.

The novel was translated into Filipino by Rowena Festin and Sophia Flor Perez, edited by Bibeth Orteza, and published by Southern Voices Printing Press.

Set in Massachusetts in the United States, Little Women tells the story of the four March sisters Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy, as they scrape by with little money while their father serves in the American Civil War. At the same time, the sisters face all the issues that come with growing into womanhood – from falling in love, building careers, to discovering their identities.

Little Women is considered a landmark work of literature, and has been translated into various languages and adapted for the stage and the screen. The 2019 film adaptation, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Saoirse Ronan, was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

The translators underlined the book’s value even for women and children today, saying that it’s there to remind women to assert themselves and be who they want to be, regardless of what society says.

“Sa tingin ko makakatulong ito sa mga babae para mag-remind na hindi natin dapat binubuo ‘yung ating sarili na ayon doon sa kung ano ang sinasabi ng lipunan, na dapat binubuo natin ang ating sarili doon sa kung paano natin gusto,” Rowena said at the book’s launch streamed on Facebook on Friday, October 29.

(I think this book will be able to help women as a reminder that we shouldn’t shape our identities based on what society says but by what we want.)

“Mahirap maging babae sa kahit anong lipunan for as long as nagpapatuloy ang isang kaayusan na ang tingin sa babae ay maliit. Kaya ang isang tulad ni Jo sa librong ito ay isang magandang isnpirasyon, sana tumagos hanggang sa mga kabataang babae sa panahong ito na hanapin mo ‘yung sarili mong galing, hanapin mo ‘yung sarili mong boses, at huwag kang matakot na ibahagi ito sa nakararami na nasa likod ng iyong pagbabahagi ay gusto mo makagawa din ng mabuti,” Sophia added.

(It’s hard to be a woman in any society for as long as the system that sees women as weaker persists. A character like Jo in this book is a great inspiration for young women to hopefully find their own talents, their own voices, and to not be afraid to share these with people with the intention to do good.)

Mga Munting Babae is available via the Southern Voices’ Shopee or Lazada stores for P450. – Rappler.com