Explored the participation of Filipino women in the political arena during the democratization wave in Southeast Asian countries in the 1980s. Taking the 19th Congress in 2022 as an example, 7 out of 24 senators are women, mostly members of political families such as Nancy Binay, Amy Marcos, and Cynthia Villar. The success of these female senators reflects the important role of family politics in women's political participation in the Philippines. Scholars' research shows that family politics, money politics, and patronage politics are the three core elements that affect women's political participation in the Philippines. Although family politics provides opportunities for women to participate in politics, it also limits the political participation of the general female population. Existing research has focused more on women at the top of political power, with less attention paid to women in politics in the legislative field. This study aims to analyze the phenomenon of female senators in the 19th Philippine Congress and explore the impact of family politics and patriarchy on women's political participation.

1、 Ways in which Filipino women participate in politics

The political participation of Filipino women is mainly divided into two ways: mass participation and power participation. Public participation is reflected in the establishment of women's organizations and the promotion of women's enthusiasm for political participation, such as the Women's Health Alliance and the Legislative Advisory Network, which have played an important role in promoting women's rights and status. Power participation is reflected in women's entry into national, local, and social affairs management levels, participating in legislation, decision-making, and public administration. The democratic transition has provided a broader stage for women's political participation, such as the election of Corazon Aquino and Macapagal Arroyo as presidents, as well as the progress of women in the legislative field, such as the recognition of women's status in the 1987 Constitution and the enactment of Republic Act 7941 in 1995. In addition, the participation of women in the administrative and judicial fields has also increased, such as women serving as Supreme Court judges and local court judges. The achievements of women's political participation in the Philippines are particularly significant in the legislative field, but the reasons for women entering the Senate under patriarchal society are still worth exploring.

2、 Political Participation of Filipino Female Senators

In the 19th Philippine Congress, female senators accounted for 29.2%, of whom 6 were political substitutes who entered politics based on their family backgrounds. They utilize their family's political resources and popularity, making it easier for them to gain public support. Family politics has a significant impact on the political participation of Filipino women, as women from political families are more likely to enter politics, while ordinary women face more obstacles. Female senators also receive public support for their pursuit of freedom, democracy, and protection of vulnerable groups. Most of them have received higher education, rich political experience, and personal abilities, which is also an important reason why they can stand out among numerous candidates.

3、 The Influence of Political Participation of Filipino Female Senators

The political participation of Filipino female senators in the 19th Congress has had a positive impact on democratic development and gender mainstreaming trends. The wave of democratization and the feminist movement have mutually promoted the increase of women's political participation. The increase in women's enthusiasm for participating in politics and the awakening of their awareness have made political participation more diverse, inclusive, and open, reducing prejudice and discrimination. The participation of women in politics is positively correlated with the degree of democratization, which helps to improve democratic mechanisms. The trend of gender mainstreaming incorporates a gender analysis perspective into policy-making, evaluates the impact of policies on both men and women, and takes action. The level of political participation among Filipino women is relatively high, with women entering the legislative, executive, and judicial fields. Women's organizations have promoted the increase of mass political participation. During the period of democratic transition, there was an increase in proposals for women's rights, and there was a trend towards gender mainstreaming in legislation, such as the Anti Rape Law and the Anti Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, which protected women's rights. The government has also begun to incorporate a gender perspective in policy-making, and women's organizations have played an important role in promoting gender mainstreaming.

4、 Conclusion

The progress of Filipino female senators in the 19th Congress does not necessarily mean a weakening of patriarchy. The emergence of female senators is closely related to their family's political influence, as they emphasize their family background and feminine traits in their campaigns to gain support. Although female senators may be more concerned about women's rights, their efforts in defending these rights are limited because they rely on patriarchy to come to power. The phenomenon of female senators has stimulated women's enthusiasm for political participation, but has not truly improved their status, and they may face more challenges in political development.