HERstory: Southeast Asia

In this episode, we tell the story of the Rani of the Jhansi Regiment, the first all-female combat unit in modern Indian history, formed in Singapore during World War II and led by Dr Lakshmi Sahgal, known as Captain Lakshmi. Most of its members were teenage Tamil girls from plantation communities in Malaya and Burma, many with little formal education, who left estate life to train as soldiers in the Indian National Army. We trace how they were recruited, trained, deployed to the Burma front, and forced into retreat as the war turned against Japan and the INA. Although the regiment never fought a major battle, its legacy reshaped ideas about women’s roles in anti-colonial struggle and military service. Drawing on historical research and oral histories, this episode explores how nationalism, class, gender, and war collided in Southeast Asia, and how ordinary young women briefly became part of a global conflict and a revolutionary movement. Hosted by Agas Ramirez.Full script and bonus episodes available on Patreon. All links available here. Audio Clips WildFilmsIndia - Laxmi Sehgal of the INA on The Forgotten Army Expedition Doordarshan National - Speech of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Interkast - शुभ सुख चैन की/Subh Sukh Chain Ki - With Auspicious Happiness | Anthem of Free India YouTube Free Audio Clips Theme Music - Goddess of War - Unicorn Heads Journey Home - Chris Haugen

Josefina “Joey” Veluya Guerrero—later Joey Guerrero Leaumax—was one of the most daring and effective spies in the Pacific War. Armed not with weapons, but with a disease long treated as a curse, this Filipina turned stigma into strategy, saving hundreds, possibly thousands, of lives. Thank you to Feedspot for naming HERstory Southeast Asia among the Top 4 Asian History Podcasts, alongside History of Southeast Asia, Echoes of War, and Brown History Podcast. If you’re joining the Akdang Pinoy Readathon, check out At Last She Stood by Erin Entrada Kelly—a nonfiction read for ages 8–12 about Joey Guerrero’s extraordinary story. Special thanks to our patrons: Nur’ain, Shereen, Geraineon, Xiaomei by Milish, Jennifer, Christina, Raymond, Matt, Ashley, Chanda, Yati, and Christopher. 🎧 Bonus episodes, full scripts, and references on Patreon.📲 Follow us on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram @herstoryseapod. Music: The National WWII Museum. Wainwright Surrenders the Philippines - Radio Broadcast. irateradio. World War II Pacific Radio Broadcasts. Hello 6am - Mylar Melodies Goddess of War - Unicorn Heads TRAVELATOR - Density & Time MEMORIAL DAY by Alex Productions

New season, new stories — this time, we’re diving into the herstory of Southeast Asia in World War 2. Their resistance and resilience helped shape independence movements, political landscapes, and ongoing fights for justice. Celebrate International Women's Day by centering their stories and pushing to #AccelerateAction for gender equality. Special thanks to @PinkTrashProject for their powerful song Babae, featured in this episode! Check out their links below: BABAE (Solo Version) by Pink Trash Project ⁠Spotify⁠ Facebook Instagram YouTube TikTok As always, thank you to our patrons: Christopher, Shereen, Geraineon, Xiaomei by Milish, Jennifer, Christina, Raymond, Matt, Ashley, Chanda, and Yati. Check out the Patreon and follow the show here. Audio Clips: Theme Music - Goddess of War - Unicorn Heads Lord Of The Dawn - Jesse Gallagher Al Jazeera English. Former Filipino comfort women demand apology from Japanese emperor

What was it like to grow up behind convent walls? In this bonus episode, we follow Margarita, a young girl whose world is shaped by the rhythms of Santa Ysabel Convent. Through the words of Antonia E. Lopez, we uncover a lost chapter of Filipina girlhood from 1915. 🔗 Listen now on Patreon

History often forgets the women who fought for freedom—but we don’t. In the last episode of Season 2, we sit down with Salud Algabre's granddaughter,Ana Algabre Hernandez, to understand her leadership in a male-dominated movement, her resilience in the face of defeat, and the powerful legacy she left behind. Listen now and discover why Salud Algabre believed thatno uprising ever fails—each one is a step toward victory. Thank you to Ana Algabre Hernandez for gracing us with this interview and thank you to our patrons: Christopher, Shereen, Geraineon, Xiaomei by Milish, Jennifer, Christina, Raymond, Matt, Ashley, Chanda, and Yati. Head on over to Patreon right now for access to this interview’s summary and transcript, and to listen other bonus episodes. Season 3, on the second world war, is right around the corner but until then I’ll be posting a new image series called The Archives, where I will be sharing interesting tidbits from books and newspapers. So don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram @herstoryseapod.

In this two-part episode, we discuss Henerala Salud Algabre, a prominent member of Sakdal, a Filipino peasant organization founded in 1930 to oppose American colonialism and the ruling elites in the Philippines. She led an uprising in May 1935 in Cabuyao, Laguna to disrupt a plebiscite tied to the Tydings-McDuffie Act, which offered delayed independence. Always brave, sometimes controversial, here's her story. Thank you to our patrons: Christopher, Shereen, Geraineon, Xiaomei by Milish, Jennifer, Christina, Raymond, Matt, Ashley, Chanda, and Yati Tracks: Theme Music - Goddess of War - Unicorn Heads Magtanim Ay Di Biro (Planting Rice) by Bayanihan Phillipine Dance Company - Topic Divine Life Society - Jesse Gallagher Planting Rice is No Fun (2 versions) uploaded by ohroonoko Traversing - Godmode GROWTH_DECAY - Density & Time

This episode is about the overlooked history of female immigrants in colonial Malaya, spanning from the late 19th to mid-20th century. These women, primarily from Indian and Chinese communities, played vital roles in tin mining, rubber plantations, urban domestic work, and more. Despite their contributions, their narratives have been sidelined, reduced to footnotes in male-dominated accounts of migration. Tracks: Theme Music - Goddess of War - Unicorn Heads B1 "The Royal Changeling" (Geliong) Gamelan – Royal Gamelan Of Trengganu B5 "Song Of Jembar" (Sedayong Jembar) And "Sweet Support" (Chagak Manis) Rabab [Rebab] – Raja Hassan Bin Raja Ibrahim Of Kelantan Shoutout to our patrons: Shereen, Geraineon, Xiaomei by Milish, Jennifer, Christina, Raymond, Matt, Ashley, Chanda, Yati, and our newest member, Christopher.  Head on over to Patreon right now to listen to nine bonus episodes including  Ma Ying Taphan and the Krom Klone; The Rise and Fall of the Acehnese Queens, 1641 to 1699; and Editors at Large: Ludu Daw Amar and Ma Ma Lay Along with the bonus episodes, you get access to full scripts and reference materials and you can also send me a message if you have comments or questions. The last episode of Season 2 is coming out shortly so please stay tuned. It’s going to be about Salud Algabre, a prominent member of the Sakdalista movement, a Filipino peasant organization founded in 1930 to oppose American colonialism and the ruling elites in the Philippines. I’m really looking forward to this one and I know you’re going to enjoy it. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram @herstoryseapod. That’s herstory S-E-A pod. This podcast was hosted and edited by Agas Ramirez.

In this episode of HERstory Southeast Asia, we delve into the stories of the women of the Philippine Revolution. These "Katipuneras" (though we specify who among them were actually in the Katipunan and who were involved elsewhere) played critical roles in the fight for independence against Spanish colonization. The episode highlights their bravery, from leading troops and smuggling information to nursing wounded soldiers and running revolutionary organizations. By centering their achievements, we challenge narratives that overshadow these women by linking their stories to their male relatives. The episode is a tribute to their courage, resilience, and revolutionary spirit. Tracks: Theme Music - Goddess of War - Unicorn Heads⁠ Sa Dalampasigan - Filipino Revolutionary Song (1896) ⁠East West - John Patitucci Tratak - Jesse Gallagher Lightning Bugs - Geographer Cover Image: Hilaria Aguinaldo on horseback photographed by Edwin Wildman, 1901

As early as the mid-1870s, Chinese pirates were trafficking Vietnamese women and children into China to be sold as slaves. However, with the arrival of the French in 1885, this trade significantly increased. Find out why in this episode. ICYMI: last September 30 we celebrated International Podcast Day and HERstory Southeast Asia was included in Tatler Asia’s Front & Female editor's picks: The best podcasts by women and for women by Rachel Duffell. Thank you Tatler Asia! Shoutout to our patrons: Shereen, Geraineon, Xiaomei by Milish, Jennifer, Christina, Raymond, Matt, Ashley, Shereen, Chanda, and Yati. And thank you to everyone who subscribed to the Spotify and YouTube channels recently. Join the Patreon here.

This is part of two of us revisiting the Minangkabau matrilineal society. In the previous episode, we talked about Ruhana Kuddus, Indonesia’s First Female Journalist. In this episode, we’re going to talk about Soenting Melajoe, the pioneering indigenous women's newspaper published from 1912-1921 in the Minangkabau community in West Sumatra. Research and writing for this episode was in collaboration with Joanna Que, with additional research from AJ Miras-Guevarra. If you haven’t listened to episode 25 yet, go check that out first as we’ll be referencing that here. Thank you to our patrons: Geraineon, Lawrence, Beverly, Xiaomei by Milish, Jennifer, Christina, Raymond, Matt, Ashley, Asha, Chanda, and Yati. For more HERstory Southeast Asia, head on over to Patreon for the bonus episodes: An interview with Haldi Patra on the Minangkabau matriarchal society; Ma Ying Taphan and the Krom Klone; Nyai Gede Pinateh, the Harbour Master of Gresik; Queen Suriyothai and the War Elephants; Paz Marquez Benitez and Dead Stars; The Rise and Fall of the Acehnese Queens, 1641 to 1699;  The Portrait of Dara Rasami; The Women of No. 14 Lebuh Leith; and Burmese journalists Ludu Daw Amar and Ma Ma Lay (Upcoming) Along with the bonus episodes, you get access to full scripts and reference materials. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @herstoryseapod. That’s herstory S-E-A pod. This podcast was hosted and edited by Agas Ramirez. Tracks: Goddess of War - Unicorn Heads Song of Sadhana - Jesse Gallagher Hello 6am - Mylar Melodies Shameless Life Wisdom Sendoff - pATCHES

In the next couple of episodes, we’re revisiting the Minangkabau matrilineal society, specifically through Ruhana Kuddus, Indonesia’s First Female Journalist, and Soenting Melajoe, the pioneering indigenous women's newspaper published from 1912-1921 in the Minangkabau community in West Sumatra. Research and writing for this episode was in collaboration with Joanna Que, with additional research by AJ Miras-Guevarra. Listen to the full episodes for free with the link in bio and get access to more episodes through ⁠PATREON.⁠ An interview with Haldi Patra on the Minangkabau matriarchal society; Ma Ying Taphan and the Krom Klone; Nyai Gede Pinateh, the Harbour Master of Gresik; Queen Suriyothai and the War Elephants; Paz Marquez Benitez and Dead Stars; The Rise and Fall of the Acehnese Queens, 1641 to 1699; The Portrait of Dara Rasami; The Women of No. 14 Lebuh Leith; and Ludu Daw Amar and Ma Ma Lay (upcoming) Tracks: Theme Music: Goddess of War - Unicorn Heads Dolphin-esque - Godmode Spring Thaw - Asher Fulero

In this episode, we’ll examine the Burmese Women of the Khit Kala, the women of the times, the “It girls” of colonial Burma. Beginning in the 1920s, they were seen in magazines, advertisements, and newspapers, a clear and controversial symbol of change that mirrors what other women went through in the Southeast Asian colonial period. Thank you to our patrons: Yati, Charlie, Shereen, Matt, Raymond, Christina, Jennifer, Xiaomei by Milish, Beverly, Lawrence, and Airene. Airene joined the Patreon just last month so welcome and I hope you’re enjoying the additional content especially the bonus episodes! We have: An interview with Haldi Patra on the Minangkabau matriarchal society; Ma Ying Taphan and the Krom Klone; Nyai Gede Pinateh, the Harbour Master of Gresik; Queen Suriyothai and the War Elephants; Paz Marquez Benitez and Dead Stars; The Rise and Fall of the Acehnese Queens, 1641 to 1699; The Portrait of Dara Rasami; and The Women of No. 14 Lebuh Leith If you want to join the Patreon, you can give as little as $1 to get a copy of the show notes with all the references, a shout out at the end of the next episode, and of course access to the bonus Cover Photo: Two girls in new fashions at the Shwe Dagon Pagoda, 1947. Henri Cartier-Bresson. Tracks: Goddess of War - Unicorn Heads 1940's Slow Dance - Doug Maxwell_Media Right Productions Soothsayer - John Patitucci

Thank you to our patrons: Yati, Charlie, Shereen, Matt, Raymond, Christina, Jennifer, Xiaomeiby Milish, Beverly, Alyssa, and Lawrence. This is Part 3 of the series on Meet Me at the Manila Carnival. For 31 years, young women from across the country vied for the title of Miss Manila Carnival, then Miss Philippines, navigating racial prejudice and standards of beauty, and becoming an integral part of the nation-building process. Now, we’ll talk about the End of an Era, 1927-1939, the final years of the pageant before the outbreak of the Second World War. If you want to join the Patreon, you can give as little as $1 to get a copy of the show notes with all the references, a shout out at the end of the next episode, and access to bonus episodes. We have:  An interview with Haldi Patra on the Minangkabau matriarchal society; Ma Ying Taphan and the Krom Klone; Nyai Gede Pinateh, the Harbour Master of Gresik; Queen Suriyothai and the War Elephants; Paz Marquez Benitez and Dead Stars; The Rise and Fall of the Acehnese Queens, 1641 to 1699;  The Portrait of Dara Rasami; and The Women of No. 14 Lebuh Leith Tracks (Theme Music) Goddess of War by Unicorn Heads Buhat - Rudy Concepción and Rosario Moreno - Tunay na Ina (1939) Invisible Beauty by Aakash Gandhi Miss Universe Theme Main Title

We’re continuing our deep dive into the Manila Carnival, a two-week festival held during the early American colonial period which culminated in the crowning of the queen and her court at an elaborate formal ball. For 31 years, young women from across the country vied for the title, navigating racial prejudice and standards of beauty, and becoming an integral part of the nation-building process. Last time, we talked about the origins of the Manila Carnival and how we found our first queen, in so many senses of the word, in Pura Garcia Villanueva Kalaw. Listen to that episode first if you haven’t. Now, in part 2 we’ll follow the Carnival as it comes into its own. This is Part Two: Becoming Miss Philippines, 1909 to 1926. If you want to join the PATREON, you can give as little as $1 to get a copy of the show notes with all the references, a shout out at the end of the next episode, and access to bonus episodes. We have: An interview with Haldi Patra on the Minangkabau matriarchal society; Ma Ying Taphan and the Krom Klone; Nyai Gede Pinateh, the Harbour Master of Gresik; Queen Suriyothai and the War Elephants; Paz Marquez Benitez and Dead Stars; The Rise and Fall of the Acehnese Queens, 1641 to 1699; The Portrait of Dara Rasami; and The Women of No. 14 Lebuh Leith Thank you to our patrons: Aqilah, Karen, Kheiro, Xiaomei BY Milish, Jennifer, Christina, Raul, Raymond, Matt, Shereen, Charli, and Yati. Next time, in the third installment of Meet Me at the Manila Carnival, we’ll talk about the End of an Era, 1927-1939, the final years of the pageant before the outbreak of the Second World War.

In the next few episodes, we’re taking a deep dive into the Manila Carnival, a two-week festival held during the early American colonial period which culminated in the crowning of the queen and her court at an elaborate formal ball. For 31 years, young women from across the country vied for the title, navigating racial prejudice and standards of beauty, and becoming an integral part of the nation-building process. This is Part One: The Queen of the Orient, 1908, which talks about the origins of the festival and the the first queen, Pura Villanueva Kalaw. Join the Patreon for as little as $1 to get a copy of the show notes with all the references, a shout out at the end of the next episode, and access to bonus episodes: Nyai Gede Pinateh, the Harbour Master of Gresik; An interview with Haldi Patra on the Minangkabau matriarchal society; Ma Ying Taphan and the Krom Klone; Queen Suriyothai and the War Elephants; Paz Marquez Benitez and Dead Stars; The Rise and Fall of the Acehnese Queens, 1641 to 1699; and The Women of No. 14 Lebuh Leith. The song in this episode is Bodabil by Andre Lagoy. Bodabil is an indigenized form of vaudeville, introduced in the Philippines around the time of the Manila Carnival. Hope you enjoyed his song inspired by it. Check out Andre Lagoy’s music on Facebook and Spotify. Thank you to our patrons: Alyssa, Beverly, Karen, Kheiro, Xiaomei BY Milish, Jennifer, Christina, Raul, Raymond, Matt, Shereen, Charli, and Yati. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @herstoryseapod. There are so many more stories to tell and we’re just getting started. This podcast was hosted and edited by Agas Ramirez. Tracks: Theme Music: Goddess of War by Unicorn Heads Jesse's Carnival Waltz - The Great North Sound Society Dios te salve Maria - Christian David On Foot - Underbelly & Ty Mayer

In this episode, we’re going to talk about the many lives of Emiria Sunassa, a pioneer of Indonesian modern art, who was also a nurse, singer, pianist, and traveler, who claimed to be a princess of the Tidore sultanate. Emiria was one of only three female artists in Persatuan Ahli Gambar Indonesia (PERSAGI). The other two were Saptarita Latif and Tridjoto Abdullah. However, in contrast to the two other women artists, Emiria started painting individually. She was not linked to any nationalist movements before she became involved with art. PERSAGI's nationalistic vigour came from an unmistakably masculine perspective; most of the paintings represented common subject matter: self-portraitures, still-lifes and, most importantly, the portrayal of the Indonesian people during and after the revolutionary period - and yet they were limited to the island of Java. Emiria’s choice of subject matter offered a different perspective of the new nation. - Dr Wulan Dirgantoro in Feminisms and Contemporary Art in Indonesia If you want to join the Patreon, you can give as little as $1 to get a copy of the show notes with all the references, a shout out at the end of the next episode, and access to bonus episodes. We have: Nyai Gede Pinateh, the Harbour Master of Gresik; An interview with Haldi Patra on the Minangkabau matriarchal society; Ma Ying Taphan and the Krom Klone; Queen Suriyothai and the War Elephants; Paz Marquez Benitez and Dead Stars; The Rise and Fall of the Acehnese Queens, 1641 to 1699; and The Women of No. 14 Lebuh Leith Thank you to our patrons: Aqilah, Karen, Kheiro, Xiaomei BY Milish, Jennifer, Christina, Raul, Raymond, Matt, Shereen, Charli, and Yati. Aqilah joined the Patreon just last month so, welcome! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @herstoryseapod.  There are so many more stories to tell and we’re just getting started. This podcast was hosted and edited by Agas Ramirez. Tracks: Theme Music: Goddess of War by Unicorn Heads Violet Spirit by Dan Henig Tanah Papua: A Paradise for Birds by Cornell Lab of Ornithology No.1 A Minor Waltz by Esther Abrami Papua New Guinea - Enga Traditional Music (197?) - Vinyl Reincarnation  Greater Bird-of-Paradise by Cornell Lab of Ornithology Dolphin-esque by Godmode

PATREON EXCLUSIVE | A couple of months ago, I took a very memorable trip to George Town, the  capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang. It was founded as an  entrepôt in 1786 and was the first British settlement in Southeast Asia.  Currently, it’s the second largest city in Malaysia and possibly number  one in my heart. So, digressing from our usual format, this bonus episode will take you through some parts of this trip, and by the end perhaps I can convince you to visit too. No. 14 Lebuh Leith is the address of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, also known as the Blue Mansion, the most prominent Chinese garden-style architectural example in Malaysia and sometimes called the most photographed building in Penang. EXCERPT: Once they let us inside, they took us to the open courtyard, where two pillars and two trees stood, said to be the center of energy according to Feng Shui. The mansion in general is in the Chinese siheyuan architectural style but reflects the eclectic background of the trader Cheong Fatt Tze, with Gothic windows, stained glass, and Glasgow cast iron works by MacFarlane's for example. The mansion has 38 rooms, 7 staircases, 5 courtyards, and 220 windows. I would not want to be the person cleaning this house. Up the polished wooden staircase, on the second floor, is a series of rooms displaying the house’s history as well as artifacts left behind by the original occupants. One room, which of course sparked my interest, had a collection of women’s clothing, and some information about the women who lived on no. 14, Lebuh Leith.

In this episode, we’re going to talk about the Black and White Amahs — Chinese women from the southern provinces of China who emigrated to the Straits Settlements and the Malay States in the 1930s and established themselves as domestic servants par excellence. The beautiful song in this episode is Penang Hill by Malaysian singer songwriter RJ Kevin. HERstory Southeast Asia was a finalist at the Asia Podcast Festival Awards held in Singapore on December 4. Our category was best arts, society, and culture podcast and it was ultimately won by Miss Conduct: An Indian True Crime Podcast with Ragavi and Nisha. Please do check them out as they are doing excellent work in spotlighting women’s stories in their unique and often humorous way. Also check out Fidellithy Tan's The History of Colonisation for chronological introduction to the history of European imperialism and colonialism from a history student's perspective. The theme music is Goddess of War by Unicorn Heads. If you want more HERstory, go over to the Patreon and join Karen, Keiro, Xiaomei, Jennifer, Christina, Raul, Raymond, Matt, Ashley, Charlie, and Yati who have been supporting the show. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @herstoryseapod. That’s herstory S-E-A pod.

In this episode, we are going to meet Erb Bunnag, a woman whose photographs give us a rare and important glimpse into the early 20th-century Siamese royal court. Chao Chom (royal consort) Erb Bunnag is a rather unique historical figure. I’m happy to report that there ARE sources of information about her, although they’re mostly academic. "Erb's insightful photos of Bangkok women suggest the ease of an aristocrat long acknowledged in Siamese society and politics. At a time when European colonizers considered annexing Siam, Thais accepted and imitated the culture and tastes of the outside world, especially command of the English language, writing, dance-drama, and other avocations.” (Snodgrass, 2019: 30)  Also check out Fidellithy Tan's The History of Colonisation for chronological introduction to the history of European imperialism and colonialism from a history student's perspective. The theme music is Goddess of War by Unicorn Heads. This episode includes clips from The King and I's Shall We Dance, André Rieu Live in Bangkok, Float by Geographer, and Animaux Obscenes by Dan Bodan. As always, thank you to our Patrons – Kheiro, Xiaomeiby by Milish, Jennifer, Christina, Raul, Raymond, Chito, Matt, Ashley, Shereen, Charlie, Chanda, Yati, Kara, and Mando. If you want to join the Patreon, you can give as little as $1 to get a copy of the show notes with all the references, a shout out at the end of the next episode, and access to bonus episodes. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @herstoryseapod.

PATREON EXCLUSIVE. This is an interview with Haldi Patra, a history Master's student, writer, podcaster, and Orang Minang. This is supplementary to episode 07, the Minangkabau Matrilineal Society. I would recommend listening to the episode first as we reference many of the terms I explained there like suku and pai merantau. This bonus episode is gonna be a lot more candid than the usual upload. You'll get to hear what Haldi thinks of the myth about Alexander the Great and rendang, a classic Minang dish. Hope you like it!