Ending “Tiis Ganda”: Why We Should Stop Normalizing Period Pain
For so long, “tiis ganda” has been treated like a mark of strength. It is the unspoken rule that women must stay poised, keep working, and push through discomfort as if it comes with the territory. Whether juggling school deadlines, work shifts, or endless daily tasks, the quiet expectation is always kaya pa—even when the body is begging to stop. Nowhere does this weigh heavier than during menstruation. Period pain turns reviewing for exams, finishing presentations, or simply getting out of bed into a struggle. Yet even when it stops us in our tracks, we are often told to just bear it. Somehow we learned to believe that enduring pain in silence is what makes us capable. But when did suffering become a measure of how well we keep up? The “Tiis Ganda” Mindset Around Period Pain “Tiis ganda” is more than a saying. It has become a standard for what it means to be a strong woman. It is often praised as resilience, but it can also mean accepting unnecessary pain as normal. One of the most co...