by Louise
For Philippine Independence Day 2024, I created and introduced a fictional alter-ego of Lakambini from the Spanish colonial eraㅡLa Filibustera. Born Felicidad Bustamante, she was a Filipina-Spanish mestiza who was born into nobility, schooled by priests and raised by the catholic church... only to turn against them when she had to. She goes by the pen name "La Filibustera" and she writes of poems, songs and prayers addressed to attack the oppressive friars and abusive curates in the Philippines. But she is more than a dainty miss who writes and a damsel in traje de mestiza, for this señorita fights with her pen at day in the confines of their mansion, and wields her sword at the forefronts at night. "The pen is mightier than the sword, but those who can wield both are the most favored." ㅡLa Filibustera I posted La Filibustera's most courageous and most revolutionary works every night since June 7 until June 12, 2024.