Women Who Write, Women Who Refuse To Be Tamed

by Roger B. Rueda

Let us dispense with the nonsense right away: Women are not fragile, delicate creatures who need rescuing. They are not here to smile sweetly, nod politely, and fade into the wallpaper while the world makes decisions for them. They do not need anyone’s permission to speak, and they certainly do not need validation to exist.

In literature, as in life, women have been raising hell for centuries. They have used ink as a sword, pages as battlegrounds, and words as ammunition. Consider Merlie Alunan—her poetry does not whisper; it slices, exposing wounds and wisdom in equal measure. Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo is a literary trailblazer, proving that women can—and will—write their own journeys, whether the world likes it or not.

Christine Godinez-Ortega ensures that history does not slip through our fingers, demanding that we remember who we are and where we came from. Zenaida French and Alma Anonas-Carpio—no sugar, no fluff, just words that hit you like a slap you absolutely deserve. Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta wields poetry with the precision of a sniper; read her work and prepare to be both mesmerized and mortally wounded.

Elsa Martinez-Coscolluela reminds us that the past is never really gone—it lingers, waiting to be confronted. Marby Villaceran proves that some of the fiercest battles are fought in the quiet spaces, where women refuse to back down. Socorro Villanueva writes with the sharp understanding that women’s struggles are woven into the fabric of daily life, and those struggles are no less revolutionary.

And then there’s Rosario Cruz Lucero, whose stories serve as both mirror and machete—reflecting reality while cutting through the nonsense. Joi Barrios? She does not just write poetry—she writes manifestos, battle cries, and fiery declarations of war against oppression and ignorance.

Rowena Torrevillas masterfully blends poetry, fiction, and essays, proving that language is a weapon best wielded by those who refuse to look away. Jessica Zafra has turned sarcasm and social commentary into a literary art form—sharp, biting, and utterly fearless. Nikki Alfar refuses to be boxed into traditional storytelling, proving that women can conquer even the realms of speculative fiction.

Rica Bolipata-Santos writes with the rare combination of humor and depth, dissecting the intimate battles of modern life. Ma. Luisa Aguilar-Carino ensures that literature remains a space where the complexities of identity, history, and culture are interrogated with brutal honesty. Lakambini Sitoy crafts narratives that unsettle, challenge, and ultimately, demand a reckoning.

Dulce Maria Deriada continues the literary legacy of her father, Leoncio Deriada, but on her own terms—shaping narratives that push the boundaries of regional literature and asserting the vital role of women’s voices in storytelling. Cyan Abad-Jugo has taken young adult and speculative fiction to new heights, proving that women’s stories belong not only in history books but also in the boundless realms of imagination.

These women are not just writers. They are warriors. They do not sit around waiting for permission to speak—they seize it. They do not write to please delicate sensibilities—they write to shake the foundations of complacency. Their words are not lullabies to soothe the world into ignorance; they are battle cries, war drums, and relentless calls to action.

They are warriors because every word they put to paper is an act of defiance. They have been told—by society, by history, by those who prefer women to be silent—that their stories do not matter. And yet, they write. They write through rejection, through censorship, through the mind-numbing idiocy of those who think women’s voices should be polite, pretty, and unthreatening.

They are warriors because they refuse to be erased. They drag the untold stories of women into the light and demand that the world look—really look—at the truth. They refuse to let history forget, refuse to let ignorance reign, refuse to be sidelined by those who underestimate them.

They write not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. They are warriors because they know that words can break chains, topple tyrants, and outlast even the most stubborn fools. And so, they will keep writing, keep fighting, and keep proving—over and over again—that no one, absolutely no one, can silence a woman with something to say.

This Women’s Month, spare me the patronizing speeches and empty gestures. You want to honor women? Read their work. Learn their names. Teach their stories. Support their fight. Because if history has shown us anything, it is that women who write do not just tell stories. They shake foundations. They topple empires. And they will never, ever be tamed.