by Carlota Ader
The Ilocos region in the northern Philippines has produced a number of prominent women who have left indelible marks in history, including Anastacia Giron Tupas, who founded the Philippine Nursing Association, and Josefa Llanes Escoda, war heroine and founder of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.
We can certainly add a third historical figure to that list—Enriqueta de Peralta, an Ilocano poet, civic leader, social worker and champion of women’s rights.
In her honor, the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu held a book launch for “Enriqueta de Peralta: a Woman Ahead of Her Time” on January 10, 2025. The book is a collection of her work as well as a brief biography. Grandniece Patricia de Peralta was among the attendees.
“Enriqueta was a pioneer and a forward thinker in so many ways,” Patricia said.
“She was ahead of her time because she broke many barriers. While the stereotypical woman of her time was someone who took care of hearth and home, Enriqueta never married and was devoted to community service. The impacts of her contributions extend beyond our family to the cultural history of the Philippines. That is what makes me so proud of her accomplishments.”
Enriqueta was born on July 15, 1882 in Dingras, Ilocos Norte, an agricultural hub in the Philippines that produced rice, tobacco and other crops.
She was the fifth of eight children born to Isidoro and Monica. The family was patriotic and served as active members of the Philippine Independent Church.
She lived during a time when men were largely expected to play a significant role in service to the nation. She challenged the norms of the late 1800s, even learning how to drive a tractor which was considered for men only.
For the most part, her impacts on society at the time were not via grand gestures but largely through unwavering service and gentle courage. She was a voice that called for recognition of mothers, women’s suffrage and the welfare of children.
At an early age, Enriqueta was a voracious reader and was fond of writing poetic verses. She attended college at Centro Escobar University in Manila but discontinued her studies and returned to Dingras to help her mother with family responsibilities.
Enriqueta was known for looking out for the welfare of her townmates and friends.
She actively engaged in social work and became a highly-respected leader of several women’s organizations in her province, including the Ilocos Norte Women’s Club, the Dingras Women’s Club and the Provincial Women’s Club of Iocos Norte,
She also established the Puericulture Centers of Northern Luzon that cared for women and children, was an auditor of the Rural Credit Association of Northern Luzon, and served as a delegate to the 1920 Infant Mortality Conference in Manila.
Enriqueta also proposed the celebration of a Mother’s Day to the National Convention of Women’s Club and worked for the passage of a legislation that granted Filipino women the right to vote.
While working on a number of women’s causes, Enriqueta kept busy composing poems, ultimately becoming one of the most well-known poets in the Ilocos region.
Her work focused on patriotic themes such as the Philippine flag and included verses directed to Jose Rizal, Juan Luna and other national heroes.
Written in Ilocano, her poems were lyrical and emotional, cleverly crafted to convey a symbolic meaning. She even translated Rizal’s last poem, “Mi Ultimo Adios,” from Spanish to Ilocano.
Enriqueta’s inspirational poems have been included in anthologies of Ilocano poetry and served to uplift the status of women
She passed away from breast cancer on April 30, 1940 at the age of 58. She led by example and demonstrated that women have a role in advancing and improving the socio-economic conditions within the region.
Preserving Her Legacy
With no written account of her life and achievements, Enriqueta’s name passed into obscurity despite the fact that a statue was erected in her honor by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
That all changed in 2019 when the International Professional Association of Dingras (IPAD) began efforts to recognize local personalities whose achievements not only elevated the prestige of Dingras but also resonated on national and international platforms.
When the role of women was examined in the context of nurturing Philippine nationalism and patriotism, Enriqueta emerged as a larger than life symbol of inspiration.
IPAD’s board of trustees commissioned a book in her honor that delved into her leadership and impact on her community and country. Thus was born the book “Enriqueta de Peralta: a Woman Ahead of Her Time.”
The book includes a collection of her literary works in the original Ilocano language, accompanied by English translations. Reading through Enriqueta’s compiled works provides insight into her impact on literature and social causes, as well as her role as a trailblazer for women’s issues and cultural preservation.
Grandniece Patricia said that recognition has been long overdue.
“It took her so long to be recognized because she did not have an organization behind her that kept her legacy alive. No one ever wrote her biography,” she said.
Philippine President Ferdinand B. Marcos Jr., in the book’s opening message, writes that Enriqueta “embodied the transformative vigor of the Filipina in nation-building.”
“Her life reminds us of the immense importance of those who challenge the status quo, defy boundaries and champion the cause of the marginalized and the oppressed. In her words and deeds, we truly encounter a guiding figure that urges us to pursue a world of justice, equity and compassion.”
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