Post-Colonial Philippines

Post-colonialism

We can say that Post-colonial Philippines started when the Japanese occupation in the country has ended. The Philippines has been under colonial control of three countries since fifteen hundreds. First, Spaniards colonized us. Then there came the Americans and was followed by the Japanese. Three hundred to four hundred years of being a colony of other country is never been that easy. Yes of course they brought advantages along them but they also caused serious problems in the country. The Spaniard’s abusive power and pseudo Catholicism, the over shadowing of American’s to us Filipinos and the brutal acts committed by the Japanese to our people. Truly, we are subjected into deep colonialism.

Since there were a number of nations that colonized us, Philippine culture has been affected very much by these. Many have been influenced. The way we live our lives, from the clothes we wear, food we eat, language we speak, the government that we have and even the very name of our country. Our colonizers influence all of these. Then you will ask, “What is originally ours?” It is time you will then seek for what is true Filipino.

It is hard to find who are the original Filipinos in this country. It is because everything around us seems to be from foreign cultures. We refer to the igorots from the mountain to as the original Filipinos. And yet they are not recognized as one by the NHI (National Historical Institution). So who are Filipinos? A speculation has been made that a true Filipino is someone who have a mixed cultural origin. Meaning, true Filipinos are product of cultures that is embedded in our society.

In this context, it is then hard to claim that I am a true Filipino. If being a Filipino is inculcating each cultural product we have in our society, many will not qualify as one. So, do we regard them as half or quarter Filipinos? No. This is wrong. We should not confine our being Filipino with this qualification.

For me, being a Filipino is living and being like one. Be nationalistic and love thy country and its people. Be patriotic and sacrifice our lives for our countries pride. Then, we can be regarded as Filipinos. A person who loves and is willing to die for his/her own country.

Filipino Theory

Filipino Theory 

(Pilipinohiya at Sikolohiyang Pilipino)

What is Filipino Theory? There were no studies in the present that define exactly what this particular theory means. But why does it exist? Perhaps this theory subjects the collective thinking, attitude and behaviors of every Filipinos. Accommodating, generous, respectful, loving, caring, jolly etc., these were regarded as the characteristics we Filipinos are known for. The list goes on and on when we talk about features and qualities of Filipinos. But one of these cannot stand-alone and define what Filipino theory is. It has to be a collective idea or summation of our basic characteristics.

I would like to discuss the positive characteristics of Filipinos and the irony it faces in reality. First, Filipinos as being accommodating and generous. Philippine culture is highly based on that of Spain. We got the culture, which is very fond of having festivals in commemorating religious icons. We celebrate and prepare foods for everyone who will be visiting our place, our town. Our houses. Truly, we are a very festive people. But on the other hand, and the downside of this festive culture we have, people, sometimes do things just to please others. Most Filipinos, especially those who belong to the lower and middle classes, commit debts in order to bring something on the table during feasts. It is to signify and show to their visitors how prepared they are for them and to show they are capable of being accommodating and generous. This can be viewed positively but there is a negative perspective as well. We are generous people that sometimes put ourselves in situations wherein we are the one who will suffer.

Next, we value respect in our society. In a Filipino family, being respectful is one essential characteristic that one should learn and have. We, then, use it when we are in school, work and elsewhere. But the essence of being respectful is being tampered by wrong doings, especially in our Philippine Government. Client-patron relationship has been eminent in any government, even ours. It is when government officials have certain patrons, constituents and “padrinos” that they develop conditional relationships with because they are benefitting from each other. They have respect for each other in the sense that they would cover up something that they are both benefitting for, even if it is not legal. In here, being respectful does not mean having a high appreciation of someone’s status or rights.

In regards to loving someone and being caring for others, we Filipinos are the best of it. We are in a society that deeply appreciates the meaning of love. But sometimes, people take for granted their partners. Filipinos are then regarded as martyrs of love. In a relationship, one should always put both feet forward so that an ideal relationship can be obtained.

Last but not the least is Filipinos as happy people. It is very noticeable that even when the country is hit by calamities and disaster, we have the capability of surpassing any challenges in our lives through laughter. But then, in reality, laughter cannot cure everything.

The Culture of Filipinos is a very colorful and also is a complicated one. One may say that we display our good characteristics for other in exchange for self-burden. In the end, obtaining what really is the meaning of Filipino theory is still unexplainable. It is then we can conclude that we are complicated individual, that makes it hard for scholars to define who and what we are. That’s what makes a Filipino special. We are unique in our own special ways.

When do we feel power?

People vary on thing they are good at. It could be anything under the sun. Most of the time, people consider these as their assets or their strengths. This is the time they feel they have the power over something.

For me, I consider the things I usually do and I am most comfortable at as strengths as a person. Whenever I do these things, I feel like I can do something that others cannot. Although these things I am telling are not as rare as it is, it is very common, yet it still gives me the feeling of superiority.

There are two things I do that I consider I am good at. First is being a man of music. As a child, I got my interest into musical instruments. I started playing guitar when I was in grade 4. Unlike other people who needed to enroll themselves to guitar lesson classes, I learned how to play it through the guidance of my dad and the rest were self-taught. My mom always told me that I developed a skill really well n a short period of time, which is quite unusual. I remember my friends at that time that started learning how to play the guitar. They are really having trouble learning how to play the instruments. Due to its difficulty, some gave up. Others learned quite longer than I did. At that time, they envy me. I feel so good because they look up to me. Years went by and I developed my skill further. Access to the Internet gave me the privilege to learn new things in my craft. Then I noticed that most of the people who can play the guitar could also play piano. Again, I had this urge inside of me to learn how to play this new musical instrument. My mom got me a piano. Same as with the guitar, I learned how to play it by my self and it did not took long for me to do it. Since then, I started joining performances in my school and I received many accolades. From then, I realized that I am really a musically inclined person. For a time I wished I could learn how to play saxophone and drums. But due to time restriction brought by entering college, I was not able to find time to make it. Recently, my brothers, whom also have a very high interest with musical instrument and are also guitar and piano players, got themselves a ukulele.  And since it is quite similar to guitar playing, I was able to learn to play it as well.  Now, being able to play three musical instruments make me proud of myself. Knowing that others mat only have just learned one to two musical instruments, I am capable of playing three of a kind. This musical interest in me will never fade and I will continue to learn more instruments as much as I could.

This is my actual guitar. Ibanez aw40ece RDV.

Dream piano. White Yamaha Grand Piano

Ukelele

The second thing I wanted to point out is relative to my physicality. My height has a big disparity that of the usual average Filipinos. I stand at five foot and 10 inches tall, which made me taller than many people around me. Back when I was in high school, I started playing for the school. And since I am one of the biggest players in my team, they appointed me as the captain. I would say that my height has been an asset for me, especially in playing my sport, basketball. Since I am already given this gift, I decided to do my best to excel. But when I entered college, I decided to focus on my studies than play for the school. Still, I still play during free time and whenever I am in my province with my friends. 

The greatest basketball player in the world. MJ23

These two things I do are considered as part of my life wherein I can say I engage power and superiority over others. I have also realized that one consider himself powerful to the things he has excelled through years of dedication and commitment. Being confident of who you are and being proud of your talents and strengths is when he is at his best.

May Bukas nga ba? Analysis of the song May Bukas Pa by Rico Jay Puno

May Bukas Pa

By Rico Jay Puno

The song was sung and popularized by Rico Jay Puno in 1980. It became a hit single back then and was regarded as Rico’s most unforgettable song contribution in the Philippine music industry. Rico, whom is still a television personality and a singer, occasionally sings the song in some of his performances. There were also artists from the 80s and 90s who did their rendition of the song. Some of them are Bimbo Cerrudo, Wency Cornejo and Aegis. Current singers like Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano and Erik Santos also revived the song.

The message of the song is conveyed vividly in each line. It implies how life can be so hard and difficult that hurdles and challenges will always be part of it. But despite these set backs, one can always depend on God for help and guidance. Having faith is very important for a person. Through faith, he can overcome the obstacles in his life.

Since the song was sung in the 1980s, it is also the time when former and late President Ferdinand E. Marcos took Martial Law into effect in the Philippines. This paper’s analysis suggests that the song has political and social relevance during the time it was made.

Contextualizing the message of the song, it denotes the situation of Filipinos during the Martial Law period in the country. According to literatures related to the matter, these years were the darkest period in Philippine history. There is a clear defiance of people to its government, resulting to demonstrations and rallies that resulted into brutal acts between the people and soldiers. Many were abused, jailed and many lost their lives fighting for democracy and freedom from the dictatorship. Media was blocked out; political education is being deprived to students and right to one’s privacy was severely violated. Hence, the song served as an inspirational reminder that there is God who will put an end to their misery.

Assuming that Rico and the composers are seeing the cruelness being experienced by Filipinos during the Martial Law period, they talk to the Filipino people through their song.  The lyrics are very light and understandable. It speaks of hope and faith to God. The composers of the song, Ernie de la Pena and Charo Unite, have chosen profound but subtle words that carry vibrant feelings that all the people’s hardships will fade away and there is a good life ahead of them.

 It is noticeable that some parts of the song are repetitive. There were two stanzas that are repeated twice. It is a way to give emphasis and stress to its meaning and for the listeners to absorb fully the message of the emphasized part. Secondly, it is observable that the composers of the song are a believer of Christ, for he used several names such as “Diyos” and “MayKapal” to refer to him. They would also want to establish an idea that there will be light in their darkest hours. It is exemplified in the lines: “Sisikat din ang iyong araw” and “Ang landas mo ay mag-iilaw”. In the bible, Jesus was referred to as the light that will guide our path to a better life. But the thing that seems bothering is that there is an assumable indication that the bringer of message is not of the same level as the one being subjected in the song.  The use of words such as “iyong”, ”mo” and “ka”, instead of “ating”, “natin” and “tayo” respectively. These words depicts a distancing idea of the bringer of the message to his recipients. A speculation can be made that the bringer of the message may not be experiencing the same situation as to his recipients. Another assumption that we can infer is that the bringer may be of the side of the Marcoses during that time that sees the unfaithful scenario but is scared to act out to help them. Instead, he made a song that will tell the oppressed people to never lose hope for God will be there to help.

Whether the song is made out of sheer sympathy or empathy, it served its purpose as an inspirational message to those people who experienced hardship during the Martial Law Era. Up until today, the message of the song lingers upon us and in our nation. 

Lyrics of the song:

May Bukas Pa

By Rico Jay Puno

Huwag damdamin ang kasawian

May bukas pa sa iyong buhay

Sisikat din ang iyong araw

Ang landas mo ay mag-iilaw

Sa daigdig ang buhay ay ganyan

Mayroong ligaya at lumbay

Maghintay at may nakalaang bukas

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/r/rico_j_puno/may_bukas_pa.html ]

May bukas pa sa iyong buhay

Tutulungan ka ng Diyos na may lalang

Ang iyong pagdaramdam

Idalangin mo sa Maykapal

Na sa puso mo ay mawala nang lubusan

Sa daigdig ang buhay ay ganyan

Mayroong ligaya at lumbay

Maghintay at may nakalaang bukas

May bukas pa sa iyong buhay

Tutulungan ka ng Diyos na may lalang

Ang iyong pagdaramdam

Idalangin mo sa Maykapal

Na sa puso mo ay mawala nang lubusan

Ang iyong pagdaramdam

Idalangin mo sa Maykapal

Na sa puso mo ay mawala nang lubusan

Composed by: Ernie de la Pena and Charo Unite

Lyrics by: Ernie de la Pena and Charo Unite

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/r/rico_j_puno/#share