This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women. On October 25, 1986, Amihan was formed to give voice to the marginalized sector of peasant and rural women. The organization fights for and promotes the rights of peasant and rural women to land, food, and genuine agrarian reform. It advances women’s resistance to human rights violations and their empowerment as part of the broader movement for social change.
To celebrate this milestone, Amihan and Gantala Press published Pagyabong: Linangin ang Pakikibaka, Anihin ang mga Tagumpay, a collection of 62 creative pieces contributed by members of the organization, peasant women, and advocates. The book also contains a short history of Amihan presented through photos, from its brochure in 1986 to anti-charter change rallies and calling to oust Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2008, to banners and protests against Duterte and Marcos and their anti-farmer policies in the present.
From anniversary messages to poems, songs, essays, artworks, illustrations, and photographs, the book shows the continuing discrimination, injustice, and violence committed upon rural women workers and farmers; the constant struggle to change and fight these. But there is also celebration. There is pride, spread far in the pages, in being a woman, a farmer, and in pushing forward and enduring with others.
On October 31, 2026, the book was launched at Amihan’s 40th anniversary celebration at the UP Film Institute. A program was held where members, partners, and founders of the organization all came together for speeches and statements, performances and solidarity. From 2 pm to 6 pm, more words, more lyrics, more art, were shared from person to people and back again to both celebrate and affirm this continuing fight.
The fight of peasant women “ay parang alon” (“is like a wave”), Zenaida Soriano, Chairperson of Amihan National, said. She expressed that there are moments when everything crashes down on us, when our drive and resilience are tested and our unity and solidarity may feel like it is weakened. And yet, when the sea foam clears, we find a way to rise up again.
Aside from the constant struggle, the unfortunate persistence of issues and oppression, there is also hope to strive and to continue the fight until genuine agrarian reform and freedom for rural women are achieved.
All proceeds from the sale of the book will be turned over to Amihan to support their campaigns.
Mabuhay ang AMIHAN!
By Yol Pasimio – Purugganan
The Raya School
Leave a Reply