MANILA, Philippines – March is Women’s Month, and while we tend to honor the likes of our mothers and grade school teachers (as we should; they are awesome!), we have to remember that the roles of women have moved far beyond just motherhood and schooling!

In 2018, the roles of women in society have expanded to virtually any movement and any industry, and many outstanding women have stepped up to prove that they can do amazing things – and then some!

Here are some stories of women who truly inspire us. We hope reading about them can make your day brighter! 

• PMA’s woman topnotcher ran slowly, but took big strides
• How a Filipino woman saved the Pope
• Ligao city’s female police chief is ‘top performer’ in Bicol anti-drug campaign
• PMA valedictorian, 7 more topnotchers are women

• The women of Hacienda Luisita
• Women, the sea, and food security
• The women of Baruya: Invisible food producers
• The centenarians of Narvacan

• What women worldwide owe Leticia Ramos-Shahani
• PNP’s first female 2-star general heads human rights claims board
• 2 young Filipinas speak up for girls’ rights in Denmark
• Marawi resident makes emotional plea vs human rights abuses

• Q&A: Sheila Coronel on diversity and the ‘digital eruption’
• Between journalism and advocacy: blurring the lines
• ‘Maria, we’ve been kidnapped’
• HerStory: Women journalists speak out

• What’s the Big Idea? Scientist writes children’s book for girls
• The Filipina who proved Einstein right
• 18-year-old Filipina wins int’l science video contest
• Iranian is first woman to win mathematics ‘Nobel’

• Two women in love: From Pampanga to Manila and back
• Enduring, legal love: A Filipino lesbian wedding
• When a woman has a wife
• WATCH: Angie, Joey Mead King tell-all in TLC feature

• Women martial law survivors to girls today: Understand the past 
• The Atenean facing martial law
• To friends, Jo Lapira was a tiny UP activist with big dreams
• Comfort women: ‘Hustisya para sa mga lola’

• Alma Quinto: The artist as cultural healer 
• Pixar’s first female supervising animator is Pinoy
• Mat weavers of Tawi-Tawi face the waves of change
• The woman and gallery that spurred Philippine modern art

– Rappler.com/Ilustrations by Raffy de Guzman