Maita Gomez--from Fashion to Passion for the Filipino People

Maita Gomez would probably be one of our top veteran models had she continued the expected fate of socialites like her. She was born rich, glamorous and educated. She was Pitoy Moreno's favorite model, with a face that lights up every, single, time, the cameraman clicks for a shot. 


She married and instead of just being a housewife, decided to pursue more studies at the University of the Philippines. It was there where Maita's consciousness changed---from just being a casual observer to a server of the Filipino masses. Behn Cervantes credited himself from changing Maita's perception of reality with his article. 


Yes, beneath the veneer of "prosperity" lies a rotting and decrepit strata of lost souls, victims of a vicious system where the rich becomes richer and the poor becomes poorer. Maita's soul must have cringed at the very thought that she, was part of those who take millions from the poor not because of hard work, but because they, happen to inherit lands that were passed on to her from the control of colonialists. 


What was fashionable, Maita must have thought back then, was not the high fashion of her era, but the fashion of the people. From fashion to passion for serving the masses. Maita did what was not fashionable to the elites of her time or even in this time. 


She went to the hills and fought for the establishment of a more equitable system for the country where she was born. She became Twiggy with an armalite rifle. 


Sonny Melencio, who, like Maita, went to the hills to fight for the Filipino People, remembered her as "Tangkad". People whom she met did not know her and simply called her "tangkad", says Melencio, when we interviewed him on our show, Ratsada sa Inquirer. She was statuesque, and quite comely, imagine Georgina Wilson going to the mountains and killing soldiers. That was Maita.


Yes, beneath that saintly beauty lies a chic rebel, the kind that would sacrifice life and limb for the principles which she hold dear. That was Maita Gomez, a shining example of her time and even in ours, a life devoted to the poor, the oppressed and the down-trodded. 


Several months before she passed away, I was fortunate to have shared several things with her, including new models of revolution. That ride from Congress to her house at the Scout area, was very memorable. In that so short a time, we were able to relive her past and we were able to discuss the eventual future of this country.


Yes, Maita, the struggle continues. And yes, Maita, it is still fashionable to fight for the Filipino People.