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.