There is no doubt in our minds that women are bad-ass. Even in a world where women are still maligned, scorned, stereotyped, abused or attacked, ladies continue to rise up and they slay. Here are just some recent bad-ass examples, big or small:

1. “Hindi ka kawalan, Mildred!” That was former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon’s zinger to a keyboard warrior who said she would not vote for the former Comelec official should she run for the Senate one day. The outspoken lawyer has been a target of trolls for her stance against Marcos and martial law. But Guanzon is not one to let these challenges slide. Her comebacks and sick burns on Facebook and Twitter are always viral. But Guanzon’s courage to speak to truth—and power—predates social media. She was a a young lawyer who had the guts to accept the appointment as mayor of Cadiz City when people before her were afraid to take on the job. Her public service spans decades and departments, from the Commission on Audit to the Comelec, but even retirement does not stop this woman. “The fight against what is wrong and bad should continue,” she told Inquirer in an interview days before her retirement from the poll body.
2. When the Russian invasion began in February, the Ukrainian government banned men aged 18 to 60 from fleeing the war-torn country. The men were to be conscripted to defend Ukraine from advancing Russian forces. But many Ukrainian women also decided to stand their ground to claim what is rightfully theirs. They’ve taken up arms, they’re mixing Molotov cocktails and they’re learning how to fight.
3. Maria Ressa is not just the first Filipino woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, she’s also the first FIlipino to ever receive the prestigious award. The award-giving body said Ressa and Novaya Gazeta editor Dmitry Muratov were awarded “for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”
4. When Rihanna announced her pregnancy, she did it in the most glamorous fashion: in a photo shoot with her boyfriend A$AP Rocky with her bump exposed and bejeweled. Then, the 34-year-old artist proceeded to redefine maternity clothes by showing off her glammed-up bump at Paris Fashion Week and at the Fenty Beauty launch.
5. The 2020 Olympics may have been over for several months now, but we’re still not over—and will never get over—Hidilyn Diaz’s incredible strength. She lifted the hopes of a nation that has been suffering from a pandemic, and snatched the first gold for the Philippines. She told Inquirer over Zoom, “I won’t stop . . . I saw how good I am and I know that I have more to give for the Philippines.”

To quote Beyoncé: “Who run the world? Girls!”