In line with Women’s Month, Google Doodle celebrated the 142nd birthday of Rosa Sevilla de Alvero, a remarkable activist and journalist who fought for the suffrage of Filipino women. 

The March 4 Google Doodle depicts Rosa casting her ballot, succeeded by future generations of women empowered by their right to vote.

De Alvero founded one of the first schools for women in Filipino history, Instituto de Mujeres (Women’s Institute) and the Liga Nacional de Damas Filipinas (National League of Filipino Women). 

Under her leadership, the Instituto de Mujeres educated and mobilized Filipino women on suffrage and the Filipino language, which prompted the first poetic debate verse or balagtasan. 

By battling the status quo of colonial and elitist education, De Alvero actively shaped revolutionary discourse by protesting with other Filipino women in pushing for their right to vote. After years of resistance, Filipino women were finally granted the right to vote on September 17, 1937.

The homage to the activist is timely as the nation prepares for the next elections in 2022. Filipinos can register to vote for the upcoming elections until September 30, 2021.

Maligayang kaarawan, Rosa Sevilla de Alvero! Learn more about the history and influence of Rosa Sevilla de Alvero here. – with reports from Mikaela de Castro/Rappler.com