Born: 1927 (Pasay City, Philippines)
Biography:
María Rosa Luna Henson, also known as Lola Rosa or Grandma Rosa, was a pioneering figure in Filipino history as the first Filipina to publicly share her story as a comfort woman during World War II. Born on December 5, 1927, in Pasay City, Henson grew up in poverty with her single mother, Julia, in Pampanga in the Central Luzon region.
As the illegitimate child of Don Pepe, a wealthy landowner, Henson experienced an intermittent presence of her father throughout her childhood. Despite the difficult circumstances, she harbored a dream of becoming a doctor. However, her life took an unexpected turn with the outbreak of World War II.
In response to the Japanese invasion, Henson joined the Hukbalahap, a Communist guerrilla movement that resisted the occupying forces. In 1942, Henson fell victim to a horrific act of violence when she was raped by three Japanese soldiers while collecting firewood for her family. Two weeks later, she was subjected to this brutality again.
The year 1943 marked a major turning point in Henson’s life. While in the company of her comrades, she was captured by Japanese soldiers and brought to the local Japanese headquarters. There, she was forced into becoming a comfort woman, a military sex slave. In August that same year, Henson and the other girls were transferred to a larger building in Angeles, Pampanga, where the vicious cycle of rape continued. In her memoir, Comfort Woman: Slave of Destiny, Henson recounts the unimaginable pain and suffering she endured: Twelve soldiers raped me in quick succession, after which I was given half an hour to rest. Then twelve more soldiers followed. I could not eat. I felt much pain and my vagina was swollen. I cried and cried, calling my mother. I could not resist the soldiers because they might kill me. So what else could I do
In January 1944, Henson’s liberation came when Hukbalahap guerrillas stormed the building, freeing her from her nightmarish captivity. However, the effects of her traumatic experiences lingered, both physically and psychologically. Despite the tremendous challenges she faced, Henson managed to build a life for herself. She married a young soldier named Domingo and they had three children: Rosario (August 1947), Rosalinda (September 1949), and Jesus (December 1951). Sadly, Domingo passed away in November 1953.
For the next thirty-four years, Henson worked in a cigarette factory to support her family. However, her ultimate destiny unfolded in 1992 when she decided it was time to share her story with the world. At the age of 65, Henson held a press conference in September 1992, where she publicly disclosed her experience as a comfort woman. Inspired by her bravery, Henson decided to write a book, Comfort Woman: Slave of Destiny, in which she shed light on the silent suffering endured by Filipino comfort women. Her courageous act resonated with fifty Filipino women who followed her example, revealing their personal stories for the first time, not only to the world but also to their own families.
Through her bravery and determination, María Rosa Luna Henson became an emblematic figure in the history of Filipino women. Her willingness to share her painful past not only brought awareness to the international community but also helped others find a voice and heal from their own experiences. Lola Rosa’s story stands as a testament to the resilience and strength of women in the face of unimaginable adversity.