My aunt goes nowhere without her husband. She breathes his air and speaks his words. His opinion is hers. Every time I see her, she is either next to or behind him, and she has been like this for the last 30 years. Gender roles in the Philippines have been deeply ingrained since colonization, and they still shape how women are expected to behave, influencing their relationships at home, in society, and beyond. My aunt, the sweetest and most joyous person I know, was conditioned from childhood to equate obedience with respect, silence with peace, and sacrifice with love. Sadly, her story is not unique; it reflects a much larger problem many Filipino women face today. Filipina girls are raised to be nurturing, polite, and quiet, while boys are encouraged to be “macho,” meaning assertive, independent, and strong. As adults, this imbalance leads women to prioritize marriage and family over education and career simply because that is what they have been taught to do. But for those who dare to pursue their dreams, advocate for others, or simply be different, these expectations can be harmful. Filipinas who step outside these norms risk being labeled dishonorable, disrespectful, or rebellious. Beyond cultural expectations, many Filipinas face economic barriers and stereotypes. In rural areas, access to higher education, reproductive health services, and financial literacy is limited and often unaffordable. This leaves countless women trapped in cycles of poverty with little choice but to accept their circumstances. Those who do receive higher education frequently migrate to pursue nursing and healthcare careers abroad. Filipina nurses, for example, comprise 4% of the nursing workforce in the United States despite Filipinos being only 1% of the U.S. population. This disproportionate representation is no coincidence—it is a legacy of American colonization when the U.S. military trained Filipinos as nurses during World War II. Nursing became one of the few “acceptable” professions promoted to Filipinas, embedding a stereotype that Filipina women belong in caregiving and healthcare roles. While many Filipina nurses are highly skilled and successful, this narrow path often overshadows other career opportunities and reinforces limited societal expectations for women. The problem is not a lack of capability; it is feeling boxed in. Where are the headlining Filipinas in leadership roles, in politics, or in cutting-edge fields like technology and engineering? Although we have trailblazers like Corazon Aquino and Leni Robredo, their achievements are often seen as exceptions rather than signs of progress. Despite laws protecting women’s rights in the workplace and at home, men still dominate leadership positions in both politics and STEM fields in the Philippines and mistreat women. Despite these challenges, Filipinas persist and empower one another. Filipina-American women are mothers, entrepreneurs, advocates, and storytellers. We raise families, support those back home, and teach younger generations to stand up and create change. As a Filipina-Nigerian student raised by strong, independent Ilocano women, I am dedicating my education in Statistics and Data Science to show other girls that they can succeed, too. I will advocate for inclusive education, use data to highlight what women can achieve, and spread awareness about how we can support each other across the Pacific. Girls need space to speak, lead, and follow their dreams regardless of what they are told they can or cannot do. Filipinas deserve to take up space. My aunt deserves to have her own thoughts, her own dreams, and her own path, and so does every woman whose light has been dimmed. We are capable of more. When one Filipina finds her voice, she lights the way for others to do the same.