The bloody, bludgeoned body was tossed mercilessly into the excavation, along with the remains of other innocent workers — uncertain if they’re dead or alive. Buried beneath layers of rocks, sand and concrete, the corpses hardened into their destiny: the foundation of a messily dysfunctional, aristocratic family’s ambitious construction project on which the matriarch would later on take the stage, crooning Pilita Corrales’ “Kapantay ay Langit,” while people whisper about their alleged hidden wealth.

This scene from the pilot episode of the Philippine drama television series “Dirty Linen” was an undeniable success, but moreover, it shed light on the enduring power of the Filipino matriarch. While Tessie Tomas’ Doña Cielo Fiero — a cane-wielding, thrillingly murderous, but also heavily religious head of the family — is a figment of the imagination, she represents a female figure that has long existed in Philippine society.

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