I. Introduction A.

Play In 1976, Nick Joaquin wrote The Beatas, the story of a seventeenth-century Filipino beguinage, a religious community of lay women, repressed by a maledominated, colonial order. The subversive message of the play, in the particular context of martial rule, lent itself to a staging in Tagalog translation in the highly political campus of the University of the Philippines in 1978. The play, The Beatas by Nick Joaquin was awarded First Prize in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature winners in the year 1976. The Beatas or beatified women (a group of religious lay women who were "repressed by a maledominated, colonial order") and strange events occurring inside unfamiliar caves in the Metro Manila area.

B. Playwright Personal Information: A poet, playwright, fictionist, novelist, essayist and journalist, Joaquin, also known as Quijano de Manila, was considered one of the greatest and most influential Filipino writers of the 20th century. Joaquin was born in Paco, Manila, on May 4, 1917, to parents Leocadio Joaquin, a lawyer and colonel of the Philippine Revolution, and Salome Marquez, a school teacher. He attended a public elementary school and the Mapa High School in Intramuros, Manila, but did not finish. In 1934, he published his first poem in the pre-war Tribune at the age of 17 while working as a proof-reader at the Taliba-Vanguardia-Tribune at the time. In 1957, he won a fellowship from the Harper Publishing Company and while in the United States and Mexico, wrote one of his most important works, "The Woman Who Had Two Navels" which won the first Harry Stonehill Novel award. A three-time Palanca Awardee, Joaquin won first prize for his short story "La Vida" in 1958, for "Doa Jeronima" in 1965, and for the three-act play, "The Beatas" in 1976. Among his important works are Prose and Poem, Selected Stories, La Naval de Manila and Other Essays, Nora Aunor & Other Profiles, Ronnie Poe and Other Silhouettes,
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Reportage on Lovers, Reportage on Crime, Amalia Fuentes & Other Etchings, Gloria Diaz and Other Delineations, Doveglion and Other Cameos, A Question of Heroes, Tropical Baroque, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (one of the best known and most often performed Filipino play), Manila, May Manila: A History for the Young, The Ballad of the Five Battles, Rizal in Saga, Almanac for Manileos, Cave and Shadows. In 1976, Joaquin was named National Artist of the Philippines in the field of literature, earning highest recognition given in the Philippines to an artist. List of Works:

May Day Eve (1947) The Woman Who had Two Navels (1961) A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1966) Tropical Gothic (1972) Amalia Fuentes & Other Etchings (1977) Language of the Streets and Other Essays (1977) Tropical Baroque (1979), Language of the Street and Other Essays (1980) Cave and Shadows (1983) The D.M. Guevara Story (1993), Mr. F.E.U., the Culture Hero That Was Nicanor Reyes (1995)

List of Awards: Joe Garcia Villas Honor Roll (1940) Philippines Free Press Short Story Contest (1949) Ten Most Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM), Awardee for Literature (1955) Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Literary Awards (19571958; 1965; 1976) Stonehill Award for the Novel (1960)
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Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award from the City of Manila (1964)

National Artist Award (1976). S.E.A. Write Award (1980) Ramon Magsaysay Award for Literature (1996) Tanglaw ng Lahi Award from the Ateneo de Manila University (1997)

Contribution to the field of Literature: Joaquin was considered one of the greatest and most influential Filipino writers of the 20th century. Proclaimed National Artist in 1976, he was cited for his having "given his readers a life far larger, richer, and more beautiful than their own days. For them he has written fables of passion, terror and pity, songs of love, sorrow or happiness, a whole theatre of nostalgia and pain. The late National Artist for Literature Francisco Arcellana called Joaquin "the most distinguished Filipino writer whose stories are the finest Filipino short stories ever written." The late Jose Garcia Villa, National Artist for Literature, likewise hailed Joaquin as "the only Filipino writer who possessed real imagination that imagination of power and depth and great metaphysical seeing and which knows how to express itself in great language, who writes poetry, and who reveals behind his writings a genuine, firstrate mind. II. Synopsis A. General Synopsis Some pious women namely: Sebastiana de Santa Maria, Antonia Ezguerra, Francisca Ezguerra, Lorenza and Juana de la Trinidad secretly communicate their desire to live together, assemble, recruit and establish their own community called Beaterio. It happens inside the house of Antonia Ezguerra in the city of Manila. It is also the celebration of the Carnival/Masquerade wherein people wear facial masks and widow, Antonia reopens her house to the public and uses it to conceal their private assembly. Meanwhile, a mystery man in search of Hermana, his love interest, suddenly arrives suspecting that the lady is in the hands of these people who are trying to influence or change her. He tries to spy on them and discovers they are trying to hide an illegal assembly. Soon, the soldiers he called out arrive and surround the Ezguerra house. To stop him, Dona Luisa finally comes out and reveals

the beautiful young lady hes searching. She explains that she comes to the house all by herself and of her own free will. Due to the commotion brought by the arrival of the soldiers, Fray Santo Domingo steps into the house and asks for an explanation about the scandal. At that time, he discovers that these women are operating under cover and propose to establish their own Beaterio. In response, he argues with them saying that it is a form of breaking the basic law of society that states: Every woman, unless has renounced the world for a cloister, must be under the dominion of her father, her husband, her brother or son. Such act is impertinence and claiming such right is forbidden. However, after hearing Mother Antonias strong convictions, Fray Domingo is so enlightened that he becomes one of its powerful supporters. Being voted as the leader of the community, Hermana Francisca succeeds in getting their most awaited permission to open the Beaterio. It takes two years after Hermana Antonias death for them to receive the good news. Now, on its third year anniversary, all the beatas are joyfully sharing stories of how the Beaterio is established.Years after being licensed and permitted to open, their joy does not last very long. Since the number of girls they teach is continuously increasing, they find themselves needing more room. However, the Governor does not allow Mother Francisca to conduct any extension or construction without any license from their Lord, their King. Though she insists that the construction is still within scope of their license, the Governor does not listen. And despite the threat of being sent into jail once they disobey, all the Beatas vote to pursue the construction. For years their claims have always been an issue. For instance, the Archbishop wants the Beaterio under his jurisdiction. However, Mother Francisca rejects him and whenever she presents her side, he excommunicates her. There are times he places their house under interdict. Moreover, when Dominicans try to defend them, they earn displeasure from him as well as when the governor intervenes. These challenges and sufferings only make Mother Francisca matures spiritually and her desire to help those in need grows more. Their female independence is treated unnatural, that as women they should stay at home under a masculine authority. After years of fighting for their claim and independence, Mother Franciscas community has been dissolved. She starts facing the Dominican authorities. Their

license has been withdrawn and the even lose Hermana Barbara who gets tired of fighting for their right. Suddenly, she realizes that she only finds trouble inside the community, trouble with the state and the church. As a sign of sympathy, the governor offers a refuge for her at the school of Santa Potenciana and the invitation includes whoever of the community would like to join her. It is a place sadder than jail and serves to be her House of Exile togehtehr with the beatas like the Hebrews being carried off into their Babylonian Captivity. They choose to abandon their house rather than place the beata under the Archbishops jurisdiction and put the prison bars, as if they are slaves, his grace recommends. They believe their beata disproves all the hoary theories about women and their house is where women refuse to live in cages because they would prove to the world that they can be as responsible as any man, and as capable of a free life. Carriages are sent to take Mother Francisca and the other beatas to Santa Potenciana. Orders are given by the governor to close the curtains on all carriages for he wants to spare this community all embarrassment as they turn out of the house and seek refuge with another. While spending their years at Santa Potenciana, several of the beatas lose hope and return to their homes. But a hardcore stays and keeps on hoping. Finally the time of triumph comes in 1706, when after some agreement Archbishop Camacho changes heart and begins to show sympathy to the Beatas. Mother Francisca and sixteen others return to their original home, doing once more their Dominican habits, there to live under the rule set for them as beatas. To humor the Archbishop, they put up a few bars and screens. The community reorganizes and the Beaterio is alive and well, and lives in Manila. B. Synopsis by the Scenes ACT 1 The play started in a carnival where Dona Antonia and Lorenza are chatting with each other. A mystery man suddenly comes and starts a conversation with Dona Antonia. While sharing thoughts, she notices that the mystery guy is quite strange. She discovers that he is a spy and he will soon expose everything he knows about them. She asks the man to get her some drinks so she can warn the other beatas about him. Sebastiana suggests that it is already time to expose themselves

and face the world. Both the beatas and the mystery man play fortune-telling but the latter seems to know a lot about each of the Hermanas. The mystery man, at this time, brings the policemen with him so he can save Mariana, his love interest, from the beatas. Fr. Domingo immediately comes and asks the beatas about the scandal happening. He argues with them for they are forming a secret community and organizing secret meetings. He alleges that they are breaking the law of society which states that every woman, unless she has renounced the world for the cloister, must be under the dominion of a male. He suggests that they just enter a nunnery but Juana, another beata, interrupts and speaks of the discrimination on the part of the Indios. Despite the opposition, the beatas appear to have firm plans for the establishment of their beaterio. Overwhelmed by their conviction, Fr. Domingo leaves and allows them finally to do as they wish. Mariana moves to elect Mother Francisca as their leader. The group approves, performs a rite, and blesses their superior. ACT 2 Eight years later, the house that Antonia Ezguerra left became the beaterio of the community now led by Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo. The house is in the mood of celebration for it is their third year anniversary. Francisca, Juana, and Lorenza tells the story about the history of their community to their fellow beatas when they suddenly feel the shaking of the floor. A man then appears at the door, it is Captain Prieto, father of Hermana Rosa. Captain Prieto ruins the happy mood of the house and accuses them for robbing his daughter. Not so later, Hermana Rosa arrives and talks with his father. After Captain Prieto leaves, the governor arrives and questions the construction going on in the house. Francisca and he gets into a heated conversation, resulting to the Governor leaving them a warning. The day ends with all of them singing together, along with noise of the construction going on. ACT 3

Hermana Barbara engages in an argument with Hermana Cruz, Zita, Belen and Pilar about her plans of abandoning the beaterio even without their superior around. Mother Francisca soon arrives and confronts her about her decision. Mother Francisca then announces that she is not their superior anymore and that their license has been withdrawn. The rest of the beatas, though not in their habits anymore, still decides to go with their superior. With this, they are heading to Santa Potenciana for their so-called exile. While everybody is preparing, the Archbishop enters and converses with Mother Francisca about the issues of excommunication, patriarchal society, resentments, and the claims of hysteria of womanhood. He offers the continuity of their congregation provided that they will be behind bars, screens and locks. Mother Francisca denies the offer and points out the strength of women even without the jurisdiction of men. Captain Prieto interrupts their conversation and informs them about the carriages sent by the Governor to take the beatas to Santa Potenciana and spare them of the embarrassment. Before leaving, Fr. Domingo takes the opportunity to talk with Mo. Francisca, remind her of their communitys mission, empower her, and give her advices to live by. After two years of exile, the Archbishop concedes and allows them to go back to the beaterio and reorganize their congregation which for 300 years still strongly stands. III. Plot Description Exposition: It is in the late 17th century when some pious women namely: Sebastiana, Antonia, Francisa Ezguerra, Lorenza and Juana secretly communicate their desire to live together, assemble, recruit and establish their own community called Beaterio. This forbidden association of women happens inside the Ezguerra house in the city of Manila. It is also the time of the Carnival/Masquerade wherein widow, Antonia reopens her house to the public and uses it to conceal their private assembly.

Development/Complication:

As these women live and work together to establish a Beaterio, the Dominican authorities, in contrary, forbid them to claim such right for they propose to break a basic law of society: that every woman, unless she has renounced the world for the cloister, must be under the dominion of either her father, husband brother or her son. Such female independence is unnatural and impertinent that they consider it a form of sexual rebellion. Climax: After years of fighting for their claim and independence, Mother Franciscas community dissolves. They suffer from excommunication and their house is placed under interdict. Now, their license is being withdrawn and they even lose a sister, Hermana Barbara. As sympathy the governor offers Mother Francisca a refuge at the school of Santa Potenciana, her house of exile. And together with the other beatas they choose to abandon their house rather than place the Beata under the Archbishops jurisdiction and put up the prison bars his grace recommends. Resolution: Hermana Francisca lives to see her community restored to their beloved house. After spending two years at Santa Potenciana, several of the beatas lose hope and return to their homes. But, finally the time of triumph comes in 1706, when after some agreement Archbishop Camacho changes heart and begins to show sympathy to the Beatas. Mother Francisca and sixteen others return to their original home, doing once more their Dominican habits, there to live under the rule set for them as beatas. The beaterio is alive and well, and lives in Manila. IV. Character Analysis A. Description/ Introduction of Dramatist Personae 1. Hermana Sebastiana She played a big part in the play because she was one among the Hermanas who defend the rights of the women with regards in participating to the society. 2. Hermana Antonia Ezguerra

This woman, even though she was not there when the beaterio has been established, she exerted an effort by means of sharing her wealth for them to able to start the beaterio. 3. Hermana Francisca Fuentes del Espiritu Santo She is the main character because from the start of the play until the end, she showed a lot of virtues that can be said as woman empowerment. She is very understanding, know how to protect her people, she has the qualities of a leader. She showed dignity for every decision she made for the beatas and for the beaterio. She was strong enough to face the reality and the people who were questioning the capabilities and aims of the beatas. 4. Father de Santo Domingo A white-haired Dominican who, at first, argues with the Beatas for their proposal to establish a beaterio, but was enlightened later on and became of their powerful supporters,

B.

The Empowerment of Francisca Fuentes del Espiritu Santo You propose to break a basic law of society, which is: every woman, unless

she has renounced the world for the cloister, must be under the dominion of her father, her husband, her brother, or her son. Female independence is unnatural; it is sheer sexual rebellion and can only bring confusion to society. If a woman will not stay at home under masculine authority, then let her go into nunnery, where she shall be under canonical authority, Fray Domingo told Francisca during their one of few arguments. Women are fragile, women are weak, women are frail. They are hysterical. They should be either in the keeping of a man or within the walls of a cloister. These are not false, but not entirely true either. And this was proven by the beatas, led by Francisca Fuentes del Espiritu Santo when they founded the Beaterio de Santa Catalina de Manila, the first religious community of Filipino women.

It was not Francisca who initiated it all, it was Sebastiana de Santa Maria. But it was her who lived all the way through to turn their dreams into reality along with Hermana Lorenza and Hermana Juana by her side. They started small, hiding in the shadows for they know it was forbidden. Women, after all, should not show any kind of independence. Reason? Simple. Because it is illegal, immoral, if not, just some nonsense. But these all, were disproved by Francisca as she showed that women can be as responsible as any man, and as capable of free life. Despite being younger among others, she was chosen as the leader of the new community and was left with just Hermana Lorenza and Hermana Juana to fulfill their goal. Five years, long it may seem, they were finally able to establish the community with the use of the house, left by Antonia Ezguerra, as the beaterio. It didnt end there though. Despite the long process of establishing the community while making sure that they were not breaking any law, the government and the Church continued to question their community. With intelligence, she answered every questions being thrown to them and shut the governor. But they received a warning before they were left. Things didnt look good, even from the start, but it was worse now that they had to go against the governor. Addition to the weight Francisca was carrying, was the death of one of the beatas, Hermana Jacinta de la Encarnacion. Another five years, Francisca had grown older, indeed. By then, she faced the greatest challenged for the community. Their house was closed. After winning the war against the governor, they next had trouble with the Church. The Archbishop excommunicated with them and the place was placed under interdict. Then lastly, she had to face the Dominican and lost it, resulting to the shutting down of the house. With this, her mind became clear and her strength grew stronger. Losing once, twice, or thrice is not yet the end. She didnt lose hope. She stood up and after two years of spending her time with the other beatas in Santa Potenciana, she returned and once again opened the house, proving that every woman must not be under the dominion of either her father, her husband, her brother, or her son. She also proved that female independence is natural; it is not a sheer sexual rebellion

and it does not bring confusion to society. Women, after all, can be independent, unbreakable, and strong, too. C. The Animus and the Anima According to Carl Jung, every individual has both the masculine and feminine components of the psyche. Part and parcel of human biological and psychological development is this mixture of the animus and the anima. In the play, Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo, the central androgynous character, demonstrated traits that were identifiable to both sexes. With the aim of establishing a beaterio for the city and for the world, Mother Francisca resembled a captain of a sinking ship. But as a woman, it is in her nature to develop the capacity for growing relationships and must get involved with emotions, vulnerability, tenderness and spirituality and the like. Mother Francisca was fully aware of the troubles faced by the societyby women in particular. She wanted equal treatment of both sexes and races as well. She was so charitable and compassionate that, even before the formation of their community, she visits the sick and brings food to the unfortunate and marginalized. This service was actually the calling of the other beatas too. This was how their community started. She also had this fervent love for prayer and a great devotion to the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin. These traits were common to females for they tend to desire for spirituality. Since they were restricted from doing a lot of acts before, this was the one of the few things granted of them provided they were under the governance of men. Throughout their journey, Beata Antonia and Beata Sebastiana played a great role in pursuing the beaterio despite their premonition that they wont be able to witness its establishment because they will need to leave and join the Creator. This was indeed a tragic event that made an emotional and expressive woman of Mother Francisca. She had great love for their community and a woman is tendered to shed tears for the loss of her co-beatas.

But being the captain of a sinking ship, Mother Francisca possessed traits that made her cut above the rest of the beatas. She may be emotional and spiritual, as presented earlier but that doesnt mean that she is frail and weak. She tends to become more decisive and action-oriented and along the process, claim her independence, courage, power and thoughtful rationality. In the second act of the play was the establishment of the most-awaited beaterio. Captain Prieto, Hermana Rosas father went there angrily and criticized them for manipulating his daughter. Mother Francisca, though a woman, firmly defended the community. It was an act that only a man could perform as dictated by the societal laws. The Governor came next, he complained about the construction that was going on in the house of the beatas. Mother Francisca knew that his complaints were more to the construction; it was really about their community as a whole and their defiance of the imposed law. Nevertheless, she faced him head-on and showed exemplar wits during their dispute. She gave out intellectual and valid arguments that seemed to astonish the authority and bring about his real intentions, as well. The Governor, knowing that hes losing against a woman, resorted to threaten their community to stop everything or else they will be thrown in jail. In the third act of the play, the congregation was dissolved due to the great opposition of the Archbishop. Despite this happening, Mother Francisca remained determined, strong and vocal of her beliefs when conversing with the Archbishop himself. She boldly expressed her thoughts about how the Archbishop mistreated them and the rest of the people who favored their congregation, namely, the Dominicans, the Governor, and the envoy of the Pope. She also showed real bravery in facing the womb of the matter as to why the Archbishop opposes themhysteria as a character of womanhood. However, throughout their talk Mother Francisca once again showed her intelligence when she emphasized that the beaterio disproves the hysterical nature of women and it was just always the efforts of men who meddle in their affairs that causes all the trouble. Their intrusion proves not the beatas incapacity as women but rather the resentment on the part of men for seeing that women can now courageously stand alone.

V. Theme Women's Defiance of the Patriarchal System Determination, Persistence and Decisiveness The Beatas, most especially Francisca never lose hope on fighting for their independence and right. Persistently they brought up the topic of establishing a convent with no avail. This led her to courageously tell the Prior that "The Beaterio will be constructed and Your Reverence will see it." Piety - Love of Prayer Throughout the story, Mother Francisca together with the other Beatas showed great religious devotion and reverence to God. Religion Leadership

BIBLIOGRAPHY "Biography of Nick Joaqun (1917-2004)." n.d. Filipino Scribbles. 28 September 2011. <http://filipinoscribbles.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/biography-ofnick-joaquin-1917-2004/>. Joaquin, Nick. Tropical Baroque : Four Manileo Theatricals . Manila: National Book Store, 1979. Nick Joaquin. n.d. A Philippine Literature Page. 28 September 2011. <http://pinoylit.webmanila.com/filipinowriters/njoaquin.htm>. Ph.D., Dan Johnston. "Anima and Animus." Lessons For Living. N.p., n.d. Web 29 September 2011. <http://www.lessons4living.com/anima_and_animus.htm.>