Advances in technology have made it easier for the Filipina to reach out to the world and make her voice heard. The Internet, for instance, has widened her horizons and enabled her to gain access to valuable knowledge about herself, her distinctive qualities and the boundless growth opportunities that await her.

While there are thousands of successful Filipino women who have made a mark in their respective fields of endeavor and brought pride to our nation, there are many who are left under the shadows of poverty, illiteracy, violence and exploitation. These pressing issues that continue to beset a large number of Filipino women remain a hindrance to the complete transformation of every Filipina into confident, proactive and globally competitive individuals.

One of the critical issues that need to be addressed concerning the Filipina is her tarnished image in the eyes of the world. This is particularly evident on the Internet where Filipino women have been branded as merely domestic helpers and worse, as mail-order brides. The proliferation of online dating sites that cater solely to Filipino women looking for foreigner husbands has made a negative impact on the image of the Filipina. Blame it to poverty, lack of education or the “get-rich-quick” mindset, but many Filipino women are resorting to this unconventional practice without calculating the risks and consequences of their actions. On the other hand, instead of her abilities and good qualities, her physical attributes have become the subject of obsession of men from all over the world. This is alarming and should never be the case.

In a serious effort to rehabilitate the image of the Filipina, many women groups and pro-women movements have emerged on the Internet and used the power of blogs to pursue endeavors that seek to educate and empower Filipino women and correct the misconceptions attached to their name.

Blogs are online journals that talk about a particular subject or topic. There are blogs that serve as personal diaries and there are those that focus on a specific niche. Through the years, blogging has revolutionized the way people read, think and act. What started as a form of self-expression online is now a venue for sharing valuable information, doing business, making money and promoting advocacies.

As bloggers, we can help promote the advocacy of uplifting the image of the Filipina by joining online campaigns whose primary goal is to spread the word about the achievements, accomplishments, talents, skills and positive qualities of Filipino women. Our respective blogs could also serve as an online platform in voicing out our views about Filipino women on such important issues as gender equality, violence against women, upholding of women’s rights and expanding of women’s roles in society.

Blogging about Filipino women by introducing their real persona to the world is the first step to shaping a good image of the Filipina not just online but also in the eyes of the world. Her continued quest for survival in a male-dominated world, her ultimate goal of preserving her dignity and integrity as a woman, her capability to lead, love and live, her capacity to make a difference and serve as a catalyst for change and her compassion as a human being are just some of the topics worthy of discussion in our blogs. This way, we can help enlighten minds and change the way people look at the Filipina.

As a Filipina myself, I know I have a responsibility to uphold the image of Filipino women. As a blogger, I know I can contribute to empowering the Filipina in more ways than one. I have a strong conviction that Filipino women can accomplish anything and everything given our confidence, intelligence, toughness and generosity of spirit.

Let us keep in mind that empowering Filipino women and maintaining their good image are a continued process and a lifelong endeavor. It is a commitment that needs to be renewed regularly and passed on to future generations of Filipinos.

While efforts and initiatives towards redefining the image of the Filipina online continue to increase in number, there are still so much to be done. Let us do our share in this direction by doing what we preach and living what we blog about Filipino women.

Now, more than ever, is the time.