Woman Enough: and Other Essays

by Carmen Guerrero Nakpil

The twenty-two essays in this book were written during the hot and heady years of post-World-War II journalism in Manila. They represent work written between 1951 and 1961, a period when the author was writing a daily column on politics and general interest.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, History, Feminism

Paperback

First published June 1, 1963

About the author

Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil was a Filipino journalist, author, historian and public servant.

Reviews

[Jireh · Rating 2 out of 5]

(just personal rambles)

i only ever wanted to read more filipino-penned books, specifically ones that could give me insights on feminism in the context of being a filipino. not only did this book not give me that, but it also just didn't interest me enough.

the foreword mentioned that the essays in this collection were not meant to be a book (they were originally written as columns for newspapers and such) and maybe they shouldn't have been.

didn't glean anything insightful (except maybe in a negative light- this was very much a product of its time) and didn't have fun either. i'm sad and disappointed.

[cha-mei · Rating 3 out of 5]

had to skip 1 section (perspective) because its purely historical and i dont wanna read allat (esp since the writing style became more academic)

overall, im glad with the modern take of what a filipina is, especially considering the time that this was written, it showed how multifaceted we can be and how little credit is given to us (because as she said, we would deflect it to feed men ego— to make it seem like they are in "control"). There was also enough sociopolitical awareness and im like slapped by reality with how the things we are experiencing arent so far from the past. Interesting as well how she's really not glazing about parenthood and is honest about her feelings towards children and animals (she hated them) 😭

yet i must admit, the writing style is formal and academic in tone, even in the recollection of childhood memories, it really does seem like she is writing it as an adult and not as a child. BUT if there is anything that i do admire, is the author's sarcasm and wit, and descriptiveness, it just shows in the text how unserious/serious she is and that technique is interesting!

[Axel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

aside from being written within the same time period, there wasn’t much that bound these essays together. regardless, I enjoyed getting a glimpse of pre-war to post-war Philippines through her essays. there were a few that stood out, but not enough to merit a higher rating.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

“No one ever has to remind a woman to Be a Woman. For what every woman knows is better left unsuspected by all men, and even the least of us is always woman enough.”

“For the Filipina is a woman with a past- a long unburied, polychromatic, delicious past which is forever returning color to her days”


I loved this book and it’s collection of essays that were published post WWII in Manila. Really interesting how the author talks about tradition and how Filipina women are viewed through the different eras, from being greatly respected in Tribes to the conservative Spanish era to the radical transformation to express sexuality during the American era.

[Jodesz Gavilan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Nothing is as one remembered. But taste buds are more dependable than memories. The mangoes are a sweet as ever.”
––––
If anything, Carmen Guerrero Nakpil’s WOMAN ENOUGH AND OTHER ESSAYS is a great and amusing peak into how life was during post-war Manila. The collection of essays, albeit initially written for different newspapers and magazines to satisfy deadlines, easily lays out a narrative that essentially covers Filipino values and all the nuances of life during that period.

She eloquently put into prose her thoughts on various issues – from politics to the constant struggle of defining being feminine in the Philippines. I really loved her essay in which she dissected (and to some extent, lambasted) Maria Clara and how the rise of this central figure in Jose Rizal’s novels proved to be a burden to many Filipinas who do not live up to reflect her shy side.

Reading her essays felt like talking to a high society tita who is secretly part of the underground movement against one percenters. Her writing gives off a semblance of her upbringing. But I think, at the core of all her essays lies Carmen Guerrero Nakpil’s struggle to always separate the reality from the myth, to pry away from the dictatorial tendency of society, to be woman enough based on one’s own standards and no one else’s.

[ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

this might have been the first book i have read that contains only essays. im used to reading anything fiction, and only until the books last year and a book i read this year, a few memoirs and a bit of history.

out of the thousands of essays that author and journalist, Carmen Guerrero Nakpil made, there are a selected 22 essays in this book. all of it were written in post-World-War-II Manila; which were the years of 1951-1961. the contents of the book include: Woman, Politics and the Social Scene, Perspective, Humor, and Reminiscence, which the 22 essays are being arranged according to where they fit.

she writes amazingly because she narrates things in ways where either: the lines perfectly describe or emphasize a point she made, which makes me feel so pleased that some of the topics she has written on are what i have also been wanting to know or talk about.

the other way would have to be her writing it spectacularly well with words i have not encountered, that i’d have to take a few minutes trying to understand what it means. especially if it is a main idea and its following sentences have words that i have to..uncover. another thing would be understanding the words but not the context as to why this has been mentioned, which has happened many a time.

Carmen Guerrero Nakpil’s pieces all include her humorous remarks that makes it not only informative to read, but also enjoyable. there was no sugarcoating, and all her thoughts were the realest she wanted her readers to know about.

i just learned that her 101st birthday was just yesterday. she has truly contributed to the history and culture of the Philippines, and i have been fortunate to have read her pieces.

[Roy Oliver Corvera · Rating 4 out of 5]

"St. Joseph, then, who shares his anonymity and obscurity with all the fathers of the world, shares a great many more things today's Common Man. He, too, was a proletarian, a worker who lived from day to day, despised because he toiled with his hands, socially undesirable, dispossessed and persecuted. The Catholic Church wisely holds him up as a promise of glory to all the humble men of the world who, seeking nothing for themselves, are touched with the greatness of their own insignificance."
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Carmen Guerrero Nakpil's collection of essays written during the years of post-WWII shines brightest with its topics that tackle women's societal struggles, politics, and history. Potent, articulate, and striking–she manages to narrate the Filipino events and give a peek at different values during that period.

Her, castigating Maria Clara's image (and her influence on many Filipino women) and questioning the relevance of Santacruzan (pronouncing it as profane and stupid) are some of the highlights in this book.

Although this book could use more of the essays that revolve around the topic of "being a woman" (as the title itself suggested), this remains true to itself, exuberant, and enlightening.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title was kind of a letdown because it gave me the impression of a book about gender liberation or feminism. However, Woman Enough was the only section of the anthology that talked about it, and the majority of the book talks about something else, like how Manila is post-WW2.

As you continue reading essay by essay, it's oddly surprising. Once you get past the first section, you wouldn't know what to expect. A lot of them stood out. Nakpil's profound insights on topics such as politics are timeless. Her historical reviews are amusing. I also got to know about her upbringing on the latter parts of the book.

I picked up this book as one of my Women's Month reads and I liked it! I probably would reread some essays or bring them up to spark conversations with my scholar peers or students.

[Ti · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up

a charming read! super enjoyed reading about post-war manila, and discovering the prevailing notions during that period. i enjoyed her longer essays more than the shorter ones, but those weren't any less fun to read. the collection offers a pretty wide range of topics too!

i was surprised to find myself resonating with some of the pieces (i.e. antipolo, 1958). it's also interesting to contrast life then and now. my favorite pieces are the filipino woman, charity, and antipolo, 1958. excited to read more of her work!

[Cheska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming collection of essays written by Nakpil! Very lovely and easy read :) although some things were a bit dated it was a good glimpse in the life of the middle class filipino during the 50s to 60s. Her essays on femininity and what it means to be a woman were gripping as they were contextualized in relation to Filipino history. And her small anecdotes about her personal life, although less impactful were still as lovely.

[Chai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some essays were better than others. While there were topics/details discussed that aren't practiced or well-known anymore, I'd still recommend this book to anyone who wants to be reminded of our past and who we (Filipinos) were/continue to be.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great book. It contains essays, some of them remain true even in our time, despite the modernity of our time, when every woman has access to almost everything: education, business, and politics, being a woman in a society, is still in question. When a woman can ever be enough?

[Carabao · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Filipino feminist perspective. 💯

[kulisap · Rating 4 out of 5]

what's most striking here is how the essays on social and political issues are still as relevant over a century after they were written.

[Tine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total reading time: 5 hours

This tiny gem by Carmen Guerrero Nakpil is the happy read I badly needed after reading Confusion by Stefan Zweig.

These 22 essays were written and published in different dailies over a decade after World War II when Manila was still recovering from the aftermath of the war. I initially wanted to cite favorites from this “book” for their hilarity and humor, but doing so would consume anew the character limit set by Instagram.

Of the five segments — in no particular order — Politics and Social Sciences, Humor, and Reminiscence are my top favorites. Her clean humor blended perfectly with her candor like a warm chocolaté that pairs deliciously with a classic ensaymada.

I didn’t quite fancy the title essay and loved “The Filipino Woman” instead. The play of words was so good that I couldn’t help but nod, giggle, and laugh while flipping through the pages. “Myth and Reality” comes a close second for debunking ridiculous female stereotypes that still exist today — 40 years after the essay was first published.

Indeed, nobody truthfully writes about women, especially Filipinas, as well as fellow Filipinas.

GET A COPY OF THIS CLASSIC GEM!

We need this in our lives, girls!

[Lance Isaac Reamon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of readers didn't seem to enjoy this book because of the formal tone of writing, some opinions that didn't age well, and a lack of cohesion in an overall theme. But I'm going to say that I actually liked this collection of essays! Both in form and content, I tried not to evaluate Nakpil's work in modern standards.

The writing style was very much of its time but nonetheless sophisticated. The religious overtones and questionable perspectives on how to raise children made an eyebrow go up at times, but they did give me a glimpse of how Filipinos thought during that period. At the end of the day, I think this book isn't supposed to chronicle any definite and overt lessons or issues; it's beauty lies in that it's a time capsule for post-World War II Philippines, where there are subtle calls-to-action that are still applicable even over six decades later.

[Bay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carmen Guerrero Nakpil's book, Woman Enough and other essays, is a compilation of her previous columns during her job as a journalist. Her writing style is superb and entertaining as well. In one of her essays, which, in my opinion, my most favorite, she wrote a guide with regard to politics, the Constitution, etc.

she told to vote wisely and don't vote based only on popularity, an applicable advice especially to this day. She explained politics as though her audience were children.

Though some of her essays regard men as brutes and improvident, Ms. Guerrero Nakpil has valid points in that women are gentle and judicious. The only downside of this book is, it is really short, only 22 pages.

In sum, Woman Enough is a good read.

[katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot help but be reminded of all the filipino women such as myself that surround me, Around the first few essays I kid you not all my annotations are ‘this reminds me of my mother lol’.

Guerrero Nakpil encapsulates the filipino woman in such a raw yet lovely manner, I adore this collection to bits and I look forward to reading more contemporary filipino literature.