EMPOWERING WOMEN FROM across the globe, Assoc. Prof. Rowena Javier-Rivero, PhD, showcased her research titled, “Approaches to a Semiotics of Visual Language: Reconstructing Images of the Filipino Superheroines” at the European Conference on Arts and Humanities (ECAH) held in London last July 11 to 15. 

The ECAH is an international conference conducted by the International Academic Forum (IAFOR) that serves as a platform for academics and scholars to discuss their ideas with universities from around the world. 

Dr. Rivero, an associate professor from the faculty of Languages & Literature Department of San Beda University (SBU), was initially granted the opportunity to present her research upon receiving a “Call for Papers for ECAH 2024” for the conference, which she later sent to the IAFOR last February. A month later, her paper in semiotics was qualified and accepted for oral presentation. Her work was chosen out of 310 submissions from 51 countries. 

To set out, her research, titled “Approaches to a Semiotics of Visual Language: Reconstructing Images of the Filipino Superheroines” aimed at reconstructing Filipina superheroines—in the likes of Darna, Volta, and Krystala—while determining semiotic approaches and theories of reconstructing their images. Ultimately it was Morris’ semiotic model that was used to reconstruct the images of the three Filipino superheroines.  

While working on the theory of Morris on the aspects of linguistics, her findings pointed to one thing: “the images of the Filipino superheroines were indeed a reconstruction of the post-colonial image such that of Maria Clara. The semiotics of Darna, Volta, Krystala affirmed the traits, values, and characteristics of 21st century Filipino women.” 

“21st Filipino women are strong-willed, determined, goal-driven, achievers, educated, capable, competitive, independent-minded, and freethinkers,” not to mention how women continue to perform their other important roles of raising a family, nurturing her children, and keeping herself respected and dignified.” Hence, as Dr. Rivero emphasized, “there is no limit to what they can achieve.” 

According to Dr. Rivero, while the prospect of coming up with the research was born out of her class lectures and discussions in literature on the idealization of women, it was her class in semiotics that fascinated and ultimately motivated her in exploring the theories of signs while using Filipina superheroines as the subject for her analysis and interpretation. 

When asked about her overall experience, from submitting to presenting her paper in ECAH, Dr. Rivero told The Bedan that “Adhering to the standards of quality research paper created self-doubts. I was nervous that it may not qualify for the standards of the review committee. However, when I received the Letter of Acceptance, I felt proud for producing a study that has met international standards,” said Dr. Rivero. 

Following her paper’s success, Dr. Rivero cited how her mother has always been her great inspiration of defining what a great woman truly is. Therefore, in creating her piece of work, she dedicated it her mother who essentially “exemplified what it is to be an educated, empowered, and strong-willed woman.” 

And finally, in recognition to the struggles women faced up until date, Dr. Rivero implored women “to step up and show that equality is not something that we ask for but something that we need to do or achieve. It’s a choice that we must make, a decision that we make each day that requires conscious effort for this change to happen.”  

  “Women have struggled for thousands of years in every part of the globe, but Filipino women just have to restore that image, to reconstruct her image during the pre-colonial time—a warrior, a fighter, independent, and invincible! A Filipina is a superhero in her own right!” she highlighted.