By Tara Yap ILOILO CITY – This National Women’s Month an exhibit will highlight Iloilo’s old and new heroines at Casa Gamboa, a museum that was once the house of revolutionary heroine Patrocinio Gamboa. DOLLS WITH NARRATIVES—Each of these hand-crafted “Inday Dolls” tell a snippet in the life of a female inmate. The dolls are on display at Casa Gamboa in Iloilo City until March 31 as part of the 2019 National Women’s Month. (Tara Yap/ MANILA BULLETIN) Dubbed “Brave Women of Iloilo”, the exhibit was organized by a subsidiary of women’s micro-financing group Taytay Sa Kauswagan Inc. and mainly features dolls made by female inmates that are called “Inday Dolls”. Cherry Ganancial, executive director of Tinukib Foundation Inc., told The Manila Bulletin the “Inday Dolls” was part of the Hilway Art Products and initiated by Prof. Rosalie Zerrudo, a Fine Arts teacher at University of San Agustin. The female inmates of Iloilo City District Jail may be tightly cramped in their cells, but each of the Inday Dolls they hand-crafted tells a story—their daily struggles, hopes in reconnecting with their children or rebuilding back their lives. Running until March 31, the exhibit also showcases the contributions of five renowned Ilonggas: Pura Villanueva Kalaw, Teresa Magbanua, Magdalena Jalandoni, Nazaria Lagos, and Gamboa. Iloilo Provincial Board Member Demy Sonza called on Ilonggos to familiarize themselves with the role of heroines as many are only familiar with men. “Let’s give Iloilo’s heroic women equal importance,” added Sonza, who is also a historian.