On Being a "True" Filipino...are we all, really?
Posted on Monday, 9 May 2016
On
Being a “True” Filipino
…are
we all, really?
By Apolinario Villalobos
First, there is a question on our culture
which many “proudly” declare to be influenced by many others – Hispanic,
American, Japanese, Chinese, Malay, etc. But if we go deeper into the
Philippine history, the “Filipinos” referred to during the Spanish regime were
the full-blood Spaniards who were settled in Manila as part of their
colonization process. The natives whom the Spaniards found living on the
islands were either called “Moros” or “Indios”. These natives lived in
scattered communities under clannish system throughout the archipelago,
including settlements along Pasig River. What Spanish name many Filipinos use today
were “dictated” as required for conversion into Christianity of our pagan
ancestors who had only one name, some of which are, “Habagat”, “Maliksi”,
“Malakas”, Mahinhin”, “Alindog”, etc.
Along with the Spaniards, natives from
their other colonized nations were also brought in, such as Mexicans and
mercenary Sepoys from India. These natives were also generally referred to as
“Indios”. In Pampanga, there is a town called “New Mexico” because the Mexicans
settled in that area when the Spaniards left to give way to the Americans,
while the Sepoys chose to settle in Rizal province, reason why many families in that area have
strong Indian features. On the other
hand, Chinese were called by the Spaniards, as “Sangley”. It was only during
the later part of the colonization that “mestizos” and “mestizas” were called
Filipinos, and much later on, the “cultured natives” were included in the
reference. But those living in the mountains and forested villages were still
called as “Indios”.
When finally, “Filipino” as a racial
reference has been given to all citizens of the archipelago by virtue of
legislation, instead of taking the opportunity in flaunting to the whole world
our distinct culture, early Filipinos tried their best to act, speak, and eat
like Spaniards or Americans. Instead of taking pride in our “barong Tagalog” and
“kimona”, they preferred European and American garbs. That is how the
“amerikana” which is referred to the coat has been developed, as well as, the
“mestiza dress” a gown with butterfly sleeves which is common in other
countries colonized by the Spaniards. In full contrast, peoples of other Asian
countries have become easily distinguishable because of their national costumes
that they proudly wear during special occasions at home or abroad.
The colonial mentality has practically
seeped into the system of Filipinos, so that there is now a prevailing general preference
of foods assimilated from other cultures. Among these are the “pansit”,
spaghetti, menudo, adobo, kare-kare, kaldereta, arroz a la valenciana, fruit
salad, sandwich, etc. It is no wonder then, that while foods of other Asian
countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, China and Japan became popular
in other countries, those of the Philippines are not. As an example, right in
Manila, one can savor in trendy restaurants, the Thai rice which is actually
flavored with “bagoong”, the Japanese rice which is sprinkled with vinegar,
“kiampong” a Chinese fried rice flavored with whatever broth is boiling, the
“Java rice” flavored with the “luyang dilaw”…..all expensive fares. But,
nothing is being done to introduce our own fried rice, because, obviously, we
are ashamed to let other people know that we eat “recycled” cold rice or
leftover rice or overnight rice! The obnoxious pride among some of us dictates
that whatever food left on the table after dinner should go to the cats and the
dogs or worse, the garbage. As a consolation, the lowly “sinangag”, Filipino
fried rice which many families abhor, can be partaken at carinderias whose one
way of surviving stiff competition is by recycling leftover foods.
Filipinos just love sandwiches such as
those bought at American and Italian joints. Parents take pride in how their
children easily recognize even from a distance, the golden arc of a popular
brand of American sandwich and spaghetti. What is funny is that, we do not even
have a local name for the sandwich. Many so-called “cultured” Filipinos laugh
at the idea of the pansit as filling of two slices of bread or inserted in the
pan de sal. But they delight in eating American sandwiches filled with pasta or
spaghetti. These same “cultured” Filipinos are laughing at the idea of a
sandwich filled with “paksiw dilis” or “tortang talong”, but they spend enormous amount of money for a
sandwich in expensive restaurants with a filling of pickled herring (relative
of “tamban” and “tunsoy”).
They also laugh at the idea of pan de sal
eaten with grated fresh coconut, but they eat with gusto a sandwich filled with
mayonnaise and spinach! They smirk at the idea of bread eaten with ripe mango
or papaya, but they proudly eat open half-sandwiches or crackers topped with
thinly sliced radish, strawberry, kiwi, celery stalk, sweet onion, etc. served
at cocktail parties in high-end restaurants and homes in exclusive subdivisions.
They are also ashamed of our own “bagoong” and “patis”, but the fact is that
Thailand is proud of her own, which practically made their dishes very
distinctly “Thai” and world class. On the other hand, “cultured” Filipinos
would rather let their friends know that they partake only of Western, as well
as, “exotic” Asian foods….from any Asian country for that matter, but
Philippines!
The problem with some of us, especially, the
“cultured”, is that they are ashamed of their own. They even try to sound
American in pronouncing the letter “R”, as they speak in dialect, which
unfortunately, even teachers do…so how can we expect rectifications when those
who are supposed to be “molders” – the teachers, themselves are guilty of doing
what are wrong? It is no wonder, therefore that the young generation,
especially, those who are in their learning stage of development are not
“molded” properly. It is a shame that many years from now, our country which is
already known in the world, as one with
the most corrupt government system (just check the internet), shall also be
known as one whose people are with diluted culture, hopelessly murky with
repugnant pride of some….the so-called
“cultured”.
I love my country and proud as a
Filipino…unfortunately, blogging is the only way I can do to open the eyes of
ALL who claim to be Filipino!
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