By reading more on the
lives and works of our heroes, I am able to formulate a
set of values to live by that are uniquely Filipino.
My sense of romance is
inspired by the exploits of our heroes. From our
indigenous ancestors, I am able to rejuvenate my belief in
a Creator (Bathala). The Creator fulfills the
vacuum in my soul more profoundly than the Catholic Church
has been able to. This belief is combined with the
learning from Jose Rizal's own religious faith as
contained in his writings, a faith that is anchored on
God's presence manifested through the mysteries of life
and nature and not through the rituals of the church.
In the intellectual
sense, I try to learn more from Filipino studies, analyses
of phenomena, inventions and discoveries. The Filipino has
been the First in so many things, and many of our ideas
have been stolen and appropriated by the west. In trying
to understand the dynamic of culture vis-a-vis progress, I
look towards Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino
Psychology) as a scientific body of thought that explains
the socio-psychological dimension of the Filipino. The use
of western psychology methods not only gives erroneous
results but it perpetuates the misunderstanding and
miseducation of the Filipino.
In terms of my writing, I
am currently trying to write more in Tagalog, starting
with translating my works from English, a language I have
been more comfortable with as a result of my neo-colonial
education. Later, mastery of the language became useful
for international writing. Nevertheless, it is important
for Filipino writers in English to raise our level of
comfort and expertise in writing in Tagalog and perhaps
the other Filipino languages.
As a student of language
who has currently ventured into German, I came to
appreciate fully the importance of language as the
embodiment of our identity, as a people, and in a personal
way. In my own personal experience, Tagalog is the cradle
of my childhood memories, the identity of my parents and
families, the joys and pains of life's struggles. How can
I remember my childhood in German. I will have to undergo
an intense and tedious process of translation to be able
to express my childhood in another language and still fail
to capture the soul of memories.
In literature, theater,
and the arts, while I have always enjoyed works from
around the globe, I have come to discover more and more
the excitement and innovation of Filipino works. I believe
that we are one of the best pioneers of experimental
theater. Our literary works are of world caliber. Our
visual arts are competitive worldwide. Could there be one
more global than the Filipino? In the Filipino is infused
the following unique and unparalleled mix: western-tainted
experiences resulting from colonialism, revolutionary
experiences that gave rise to a very Filipino meaning of
liberation, and in modern times, the diaspora of Filipino
immigrants and workers to all parts of the earth.
If we can only break free
from the bonds of feudal values and thoughts, and a feudal
sense of morality that chain our intellect, then we can
give full play to the Filipino's ability to be an
excellent participant in the global stage.
It is sad to note,
particularly in surveys by the Social Weather Station in
Manila, that many Filipinos are still at a loss about how
to regard their nationality. While most Filipinos would
say that they are proud to be Filipino, this can still be
a shaky pronouncement.
Being Filipino is not
just in the mind, hindi lamang sa diwa o puso. It
is also manifested in action, in putting the values and
examples of our heroes at work. For example, pakikipagkapwa
(the unity of the self with others) - how do we practice
this value? Do we throw our garbage in the empty lot
next door in order to keep our own yard clean? Do we
care for the children on the streets, do we participate
in programs that assist the struggling majority of our
people? Do we rise up in indignation whenever another
Filipina worker is killed abroad? When we travel, do we
talk to other Filipinos especially those who are in
trouble, or do we isolate ourselves from their company?
Perhaps what we lack is a
constant dose of reminders of how great the Filipino was,
is and can be. More Filipinos need to discover our
greatness by tracing and embracing our collective roots.
>>>ANOTHER FEATURE<<<
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