WELL worRLD CULTURES, TO MAO T TONS, AND BELIEFS a 1 , URES, LESSON 1 - IN RODUCTION TO PHILIPPINE HISTORY, CULT D BELIEFS : " P ae a Republic of the Philippines is an island i ithin tl republic in,the: western Pacific Ocean, within the i hain of islands that extends Malay Archipelago, a chal ” 4 towards the south to include Indonesia and Malaysia. The Philippines encompasses more than 7,100 islands, but the 11 biggest islands form most of the country’s land ‘area. Three of which include Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The location of the Philippines just north of the equator gives the country a moderate tropical climate suited to the cultivation of export crops such as bananas, coconuts and pineapples. The people of the Philippines are called Filipinos. Most Filipinos are of Malay descent. Filipinos of mixed descent are the result of various intermarriages or comnetons ofintermarriages with Malays, the Chinesé, and Spaniards. About 83 million people live in the Philippines. The country has one of the highest population- growth fates in the world, Today, approximately 40 Gy live in poverty while a wealthy minorit y y MS Percent of Filipinos People 'y minority assumes most Political power. The official i "48 @ result of the Colonizati ! wee Muslims, also called Moros. ite picdovinsae *M a significant Teligious minority Southern islandsUNIT l= INTRODUCTION TO WORLD CULTURES, TRADITIONS, AND BELIEFS 25 FAMOUS PEOPLE An advocate of civil equality for Filipinos, political activist José Rizal published a book critical of Spanish colonial . rule in the Philippines in 1886, while he was studying in Europe. When he returned to the Philippines, Rizal was exiled to Mindanao. In 1896 Rizal was accused of sedition and executed. He has become a national martyr of the Philippines. Ferdinand Marcos was elected president of the Philippines in 1965. In 1972 he declared martial law and seized dictatorial powers. A massive four-day protest known as the People Power Movement forced him from office in 1986 and restored democracy in the Philippines. -_ Corazon Aquino became the first woman president of the Philippines in 1986 when she defeated Ferdinand E. Marcos. After she became president, she abolished the National Assembly and replaced the constitution with anew one that was adopted by popular vote in 1987. She had been married to Benigno Aquino, who was assassinated in 1983, Filipino film actor and director Joseph Estrada was the 13° President of the republic of the Philippines. He used his Popularity as an actor to get into politics, serving as mayor of San Juan for seventeen years, Senator for one term, then as Vice President of the Philippines in 1992. He was elected President in 1998 but, was ousted from office in January 2001 because of a corruption scandal t Benigno Simeon Coji is 15th and current Presidi the only'son and was third of former President Coraz who was assassinated dur | Marcos. juangco Aquino Ill or Pnoy, lent of the Philippines. He was child among the four daughters on Aquino and Benigno Aquino, ring the dictatorship of FerdinandHISTORICAL PLACES Corregidor Located in Bataan, major historic a national shri also called “The Rock’, This historical. site was the. last bastion to succumb to the Japanese invasion in 1942. Corregidor attained huge significance as a symbol of the firm resistance of the Filipino and k The a aa country's capital city, Manji, locos was builtas tribute toits national her, Luneta rae Previously known as Bagumbaya, Dr. Jose ‘eta Park isone of the leading historicay Field, ree Philippines. This was the site wher, places of uted by a Spanish military firing i xeCl fe a3 December, 1896 because of Spreadin fhaleese of the revolution against Spanish rule. Corregidor is one of the al places of the Philippines. This is ine and an island fortress which was American defenders. Pastor House Situated on Tirona St. in Batangas City, Pastor House is one of the historical places of the Philippines, which is an illustration of the turn-of- ‘the-century style residence. The Pastor House was originally under the ownership of Mr. Alejo Acosta, who was the barrio. Captain of Batangas in 1883. It is said that during the visit of the Governor F General, William Howard Taft to the house, an attempt to assassinate him was made. Taal Cathedral de San Sebastian The const had commence to achieve its altitude of.95 meters and 45, meters wide, | the Taal Cathedral de San Sebastian : stands on.g t onl Of the leadin, Philinnines faal. The cathedral’s tabernacle is the ly one of its kind j faal Cathedral 2 San county, The ruction of this historical site ed in 1756 took a century Present form. Rising to an Plateau in the center of. i de San Sebastian is one 19 historical: Places of the27 UNIT INTRODUCTION TO WORLD CULTURES, TRADITION Sixto Lopez Ancestral House, Museo The Rizal Monument, llagan Ancestral Memorial Library and The other noted historical sites are ng Batangas at Aklatang Panialawigan, House, General Malvar Museum and Library, Jose P. Laurel Mabini Shrine (National Shriné) among many others. | Ferdinad Marcos, citing the necessity of national security, dectared martial law on September 21, 1972. Congress was dissolved, opposition leaders arrested, and strict censorship imposed. A new constitution was announced ;) formally in. January 1973, but transitional provisions attached to it gave’ Marcos continued #22) apsolute power, and elections were put off indefinitely. Marcos ruled by decree. The People — Power Revolution’ ‘(also known as the. EDSA Revolution or the Philippine Revolution of 1986) was a series: of popular demonstrations — in the Philippines that started in 1983 and culminated in 1986. These demonstrations fought a sustained campaign of civil resistance against violence and electoral fraud. This nonviolent revolution led to President Ferdinand Marcos fleeing the country and the restoration ~ of the democracy in the Philippines. Corea 1998 marks the 100th anniversary of the Philippine independence. On June 12, 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippine republic, declared the independence of the country from the Spanish control at his residence in Kawit, Cavite. Aguinaldo's action, however, was just the beginning of a Series of events in what is now known as the “Philippine Revolution of 1896.”1A Task-based Pop srest Unestandng PCPS cues Tons ifferent cultural influences tact with, traders who put into reations were first introduced tg ‘rath century. Many modem ule of Spain and later CULTURE The arts ines show lippi of the Philipp! los ha Malayan Pé r and trations: TH ajan infuences: "siamo use Chinese and ne hilippine ‘of the southern Philippir te ne a eof cull life in the Philippines evolved the United States. Inthe 16th century t! of the Catholic Church. reign culture based on the beliefs ves took on this imposed foreign ir ome upland tribal groups culture through religious conversion, the Muslims one ser Si aioe kept their cultural independence. ‘Among those who | 9 easion educated elite who began to establish a modern Filipinc ’ Pee th tury, the American i . During the first half of the 20th century, Ne Tacks The cat tions in Southeas ural iippines one of the most Westernized nai z ats of Europe afd the United States strongly influenced Fi ne artists, ‘even after independence in 1946. Although they use Western forms, the works of Filipino painters, writers, and musicians, however, were infused with distinctly Philippine themes. By showing the cultural richness of the country | in all its multiplicity, Filipino artists have helped to mold a sense of national identity. Despite centuries of foreign rule, many Malay cultural traditions have continued to exist. Muslims and upland tribal groups maintain distinct traditions in music, dance, and sculpture. in addition, many Filipino artists incorporate indigenous folk motifs into modern forms. he Spanish imposed fo! While the lowland peop! MUSIC Filipino classical musical compositions in several ways embody the fusion of multicultural influences. The compositions often incorporate indigenous themes and rhythms in Western forms such as symphonies, sonatas, and Ha ios, cae ores and conductors in classical mee el een recognized internationally, One of is José Maceda, the first Filipino avant-garde i ' composer, who ipino music from the traditional constructs of Western anne Philippine. classical es types of music, are Played on’ wit Sto gr nd we nk ae tubular bambo the git-git, a wood no fesonators; wo t ; ; Wood ‘ these and other tne bowed instrument, 7 si “ eee an Passed by memory f s to play complex rieieal » The Muslim Peoples use Most Fping soo Generation to generation, Postons that have been No communiti i : 98. Tagalogs, for eeribg puneber the tunes and | i have more than a abe Hed Of traditional folk Songs for various Mm string, and percussion le the kulibit, a zither with Son,UNIT II- INTRODUCTION TO WORLD CULTURES, TRADITIONS, AND BELIEFS 29 occasions, including the uyayi or hele, a lullaby; the talindaw, a seafaring song; the kumintang, a warrior song; the kundiman, a love song; and the panambitan, a courtship song. Some songs are accompanied by a specific folk dance. PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH a The transfer of the Philippines to United States sovereignty in 1898 occasioned an upsurge in literacy and, consequently, literary production. Filipino novels, short stories, and poems written in English were first published in book form in the 1920s. In general, the writing of many Filipino authors deals with the cultural identity of the Filipino in the, context of social and political issues. Many Filipino writers often write in different literary forms and in different languages. Major Filipino works in English include Winds of April (1940) and’ The Bamboo Dancers (1959) by N. V. M. Gonzalez; Many Voices (1939) and Have Come, Am Here (1942) by José Garcia Villa; You Lovely People (1955) and Scent of Apples and Other Stories (1980) by Bienvenido N. Santos; The Laughter of My Father (1944) and America Is in the Heart (1946) by Carids Bulosan; Bitter Country and Other Stories (1970) by Rosca Ninotchka; The Woman Who Had Two Navels (1972) and A Question of Heroes (1977) by Nick Joaquin; The God Stealer and Other Stories (1968) and Tree (1978) by Francisco Sionil José; A Question of Identity (1973) by Carmen Guerrero Nakpil; and His * Coast (1979) by Edith L. Tiempo. TRADITIONS 2 ciage and Family Most Filipinos marry before they reach the age of 30. The bridegroom and his family pay for the wedding ceremony and’ reception. The bride often does not see her bridal gown until the day she is married. Grooms often wear a barong, an embroidered shirt that hangs over. the trousers. At the reception, during the first. dance of the newlyweds, relatives. may take turns clipping money to the groom's shirt or the bride’s gown. Some couples live together instead of or before having a formal wedding. Eating Rice is the most basic food found in the. Filipino kitchen. It is prepared in a variety of ways and included in desserts as well.as main meals. Fish, and pork and poultry are the most common meats. Among others, garlic is used most generously. A typical meal might includei d fish, boiled rice, fried 1S” fruit for dessert. Fruit |S also are two 0} ji ilipinos ishes many Filling snack is halo-halo, 2 1 ik jeg ge, On special oo7asions, chon, served in a P the most famous prepare. A favorite drink made from sweel , and fruits served in colorful layers Wt al fie a stufed pig, is often roasted over 2 d a ak boten ea ipir t three heals a n Se at areas @ Fs Ly ak all meals together, while fomlies ihe CS 2 Ota dinner together on woskdent A a awed Se Nataly’ ro sent, ‘they are more 0! ten g ae wil afer the oat has had a bite or. two. Auroral Se = welcomed, the best way for a guest to show appreciation 0! enthusiastically. Socializing Many Filipinos enjoy visiting as often as possible, especially in the * barrios, which are small villages or suburbs. Some visits in rural areas are often unannounced due to the lack of phones. Among urban residents, visits are less frequent -and more planned. Guests do not typically take gifts, since the visit itself is considered a gift: However, a guest who has been away for a long time is expected to bri i i aan te cane pi bringa small, inexpensive Although socializing in the home is most t 1 Popular, people also enjoy gatherin: aa ae Urban neighborhoods often have a central area sh ph bar uae Neatly always have a plaza where political events, dances, 19S, and socializing occur and basketball can be Played nearby. : Recreation In the Philippi ializi pain ede ata, arene With relatives, friends, and neighbours and * Philippines is the world's tor einen ue a Fllphies Srey ding. The a strong reli i ono ich ideo oes theme. Films from foreign countri Saori e also shown. inthe et Uuntries such as the United States. S, Vi Video cassette recorder (VCR) ownership hasUNIT Ir INTRODUCTION TO WORLD CULTURES, TRADITIONS, AND BELIEFS 34 grown considerably among the middle class, and video rental stores are common. Sundays aré big days for sports; basketball, baseball, and soccer are all played. Filipinos are keen gamblers; this explains the popularity of horse races and cockfights, and playing mah-jongg, a Chinese table game played with tiles. BELIEFS The Philippines is predominantly Christian. Approximately 84% of its people are Roman Catholics, 10% Protestants, and 5% Muslims. The remainder are Buddhists, animists, or nonbelievers. The predominance of Christianity in the Philippines reflects Spain's colonization of the islands in the. 16" century. Spanish colonial authority hinged on locally-based Catholic religious groups to help exercise political control. This interdependence made the church a powerful institution in the country. Despite the official separation of church and state in the country, the Roman Catholic Church continues to have enormous influence on Philippine politics. The Muslims in the Philippines live mainly in the southem islands of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Islam existed before Christianity in the region, spreading to the Sulu archipelago in the 14" century and Mindanao in the 15" century. Islam had a few supporters as far north as Manila by the time the Spanish arrived. After 1571, when thé Muslim ruler of Manila was beaten by the Spanish forces, the Muslims were almost completely confined to the south.UNITIL-INTRODUCTION.TO WORLD CULTURES, TRADITIONS, AND seuers 33 LITERARY JOURNEY A Reconstructed Portrait of Juan dela Cruz By: Roger Don SJ. Cerda How do we describe today’s Filipino? What are the qualities or physical I the races in the world? What attributes that make us stand out among al distinguishing marks do we have? Is it our nose that is as:big and wide as the gorila's? Is it our fair skin? Is it our round brown eyes? Is it our moderate height? is it our unique black hair? Is it our proficiency in the Filipino language? Is it our conservative way of dressing or the barely naked one? Is it because we live in the 7,107 islands of the Philippines whether i's low tide or high tide? Is it because we eat street foods like fish ball, squid ball, and chicken feet? Or none of the above? Even before the intrusion of the’Spariiards, the Americans, and the Japanese, we, Filipinos already have atypical and unexplainable personalities that ‘set us apart from other races.Aside from our physical attributes, we unveil an individuality that depicts a Filipino today. But honestly, we show a lot of ironies and paradoxes in our lifestyles that at times, we, ourselves, are confused about our true identity, as if we do not know who we truly are. 7 Because of the rapid technological advancement and the unstable conditions of our lives, we have evolved making ourselves famous in one way or-another ~ good or bad..At this juncture, | may say that we typify the following traits: First, WE FILIPINOS HAVE A REMARKABLE SENSE OF HUMOR. Where in this world, (aside from the mental hospital), do you see people laughing for no reason at all? Where do you see people smiling even in the most disheartening situation? Where do you see people making fun of their own mistakes? Where do you see people discussing trivia at the height of a clear and present danger? When | saw the television footage of typhoon Reming in Bicol, | felt sad for the people who lost their houses and other important properties. However, | felt slightly appeased when those typhoon victims smiled and waved as if nothing cataclysmic happened when they saw the lights of roving cameras. Well, it's only in the Philippines where people do not take serious matters seriously. | remember the President of Philippine Normal University when he narrated his childhood experience with his English teacher during my week-long seminar ‘on English Language Teaching and Testing last April of 2007. His teacher brought apples, oranges, and mangoes to make their lessons on nouns understandable ae mee and so the teacher started teaching..." This is an apple and this nan Nae dit aa orange and this is a noun, this is a mango and this is a aie ie hand 3 eee in a sentence?” His classmate seated at the back Cantonese iie decir r, 2 He called him and said, “Ok, use nouns ina cr Asa ieee ne food straight and confidently said, “! want to eat those est Meanie 5 rybody burst into laughter. ' realized that laughter is indeed the icine because you feel good every time someone makes you titter.eadingsiom Wortd Literatres atndng Peles Cues, ations nd Bees Tbr eopls Cuts Tacos and Beles Takata Apa ain a ere AE as gs fo cement, are contented ical“ advan ft id of mine sent the following of technol 2 fia xting. A frien ill others, becat ea hilarity through te express their whimsical messages: Message 1 BF: Tellme the truth. How many men have you slept with? GF. Babe, | swear. | only slept with you. Yung iba kase... Hindi talaga ko pinatulog! Message 2 Pinasokng Killer ang bahay ng mag-asawa ess Killer: bago ko patayin lahat ng biktima ko, kinikilala ko muna, ikaw misis, ano pangalan mo? Misis: Inday po. \ Killer; Napakagandang pangalan, ka pangalan mo ang nanay ko, hindi na kta papatayin. Ikaw mister, ano pangalan mo? Mister; Pedro po, but my prends call me Inday! Message 3 In Divisoria Mall Aman was looking for a bra for his wife when a saleslady approached him. Saleslady: Yes sir, are you looking for a bra for your wife? Man: Yes Saleslady: What's the size sir? Man: Umh...I'm sorry but I can’t remember the size: Salesiady: Okay sir, help me make an estimate...Is it as big i as a melon? Man: Oh no! that’s too big! Saleslady: Perhaps it’s as big as an apple. Man:’Oh, it's smaller than that. Saleslady: How about an egg? Man: Oh, yesl...yesi... but it’s scrambled! Message 4 Mrs. Ano secret : nyo at sexy pa kau despit. ing ki Mrs: Sa umaga, ice tea and honey Ee ea Sa tanghali, green tea and honey At siyempre sa Gabi, tea ~tea ni honey!UNIT —INTRODUCTION TO WORLD CULTURES, TRADITIONS. AND BELIHS 99 Message § Kpagmay kudeta sa Pilipinas... © ‘American: We fully support the administration. ‘Australian: We will send troops in the Philippines. Chinese: We're ready to end political crisis. Japanese: We condemn any constitutional grab of power. Pinoy: May pasok ba? We Filipinos never run out of jokes. We are very resourceful in creating shaggy dog stories despite the burden we carry on our shoulders and the preoccupations that we have. We always find time to make other people chuckle, as the saying goes: “The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer other people up.” It's ironic because we appreciate. and desire funny and sometimes ribald text messages than the inspirational and religious ones. Well, it's only in the Philippines. Second, WE FILIPINOS HAVE INCOMPARABLE SENSE OF HOSPITALITY. We always offer the best we have, to our visitors without any reservation. Even with foreigners, when they visit the Philippines for a vacation, we still speak their language, to accommodate them because we regard them so much; on the contrary, when we go to a foreign land as tourists, they do not speak our language, so, we do not have a choice but to speak their language to facilitate effective communication. We do not always find this incredible trait from other people except here in the Philippines. : : Third, WE FILIPINOS ARE VERY CREATIVE AND INVENTIVE most especially during the most unthinkable situation. Nobody can deny that we are:ingénious especially when the situation calls for it. We are able to make or create something out of nothing. Whenever Metro Manila s flooded, people make small wooden bridges for the stranded pedestrians to cross the flooded part of the street so as not to get wet. In exchange, the “owners” of the wooden bridges ask for “voluntary contribution. ” Instant money isr't i? It's only in the Philippines. : In the provinces, when there is a big flood, the| i i A on a roofs of their houses to fish tilapia for tra aie Oke aae ea oats filled with the thir i ‘ the Philppines things they would like to sell to other flood victims. It's only in These do not imply, however, th ence : havi the knack for tunity something Bad tie as Teh u®: it only shows that we there is light in total darkness. mething good for we believe that Our creativity is revealed wher seemingly useless things. Some Filipinos site to-generate something from able to make an artwork, a bag, or an apparel fon popular because they were for thousands of pesos. It prove st is rel from the disposables and sold them have the right mental attitude, *re IS money in garbage for people who-atusres: Understanding Peoples CUTTY — gg fevdags tom 2220800 Sas : RS. In Metro Mania, Ts ‘Ypicay es kamamatay.” But stil, w, WE FILIPINOS Ar Walang Tawiran, Naka 2 g signs saying: ooh there is an overpass Or underpas. ity ordinance ‘aye we are either tired of going HE and. down Te eu rather take the risk of, and SOMeLIMES enjoy, lazy that GREAT VIOLATO! Fourth, to see big warnint don't follow the cl nearby for safe st or we are just too crossing the highway: ‘our garbage in places where, nero, Sr° Stans, In the same way ira Dito” The same is true with Bawa ah Dito for “Bawal bicssett taae anywhere we please. We are pepulve.s te es for we He et anyahere, We even abuse ourselves By eating pega thot te extn by the 5 imbibe the idea: “Life is short, som f for we imbibe the idea: ‘Life is s : Mi ie ponies pirated cassette aiscs in Quiapo and Greenhills for practical is it fe do uncivilized things for we are civilized people. As Manel SN eto greatest fear is not that of doing eae ee of being caught doing wrong.” That's why, we always get in trouble. Walang 'anyan sa States. It’s only in the Philippines. “ : ey WE FILIPINOS ARE PROFESSIONAL “CRAMMERS.” In the antediluvian story of Juan Tamad, he waited for the guava fruit to fall down from the tree to his mouth. Theré was also an instance when he bought crabs and asked them to go home on their own. Since then, Juan has been used to name an idle Filipino. Based on my personal experience as both high school and college literature teacher, | notice that when I give a requirement a month or so before the deadline, students do not mind at all. They procrastinate. They do it a day or two before the deadline. Well, that's the type of students: that we have today, whether we admit it or not. a They would explicate that they could come up with a better output when they are very, too, extremely, supremely under pressure. But they would usually ask first for extension stating that they have many requirements in their MAJOR SUBJECTS. In effect, they become professional “crammers.” The Id do it i one or two sleepless nights, ee tay gvaulddo It in an ae WE FILIPINOS ARE SO SUPERFICIAL. When a person is confronted question: “How do you define beauty?”\Common answer is “beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ or “beauty i y h uty is not seen by the eyes, it i heart’ for the most important things in life are the things that Me ee ae I'm impressed! jot see. Bravo! We always underscore th; v t the true b i og that eauty of a person 's insi pth seater es sb lasts. Am | right Seicn So. ne mun 3 til so superfcia? When we ask: “Wr, ‘ oie ren re k © would you choose: a i we believe ta te ek ugly. girl?” We will Certainly take the atone ae it? Although the hi "ellectual inferiority of Person ¢; beet we Physical look of a Person can be ieee enhanced Nowadays through lodern technolo, wi Sy and with the help of Dr. Vicky Bello and Dr. Manny Cal: . Manny Calayan,AND BELIEFS 37 |LTURES, TRADITIONS, LUNIT I~ INTRODUCTION TO WORLD Cl onestly want to be with someone | beauty..Do you h We Oe KEKANG: . i life? Who could endure to be with wo ook ke BAKEKANG fo he rest of our no looks like a living monster? i aoe ee tan ibe to the idea of Andrew E's There are very few Te Id not be left by thelr cong "Humanap Ka ng Pangef to.be certain that they would not be left by he partners. We really want someone whom we can display in public, someone wl . aariee an angelic face witha flawless body. On the contrary most wornen wou aaa pe to DY AWvaro's song: “Ang Tipo Kong Lalake ay Magtno Pero Medyo arts. someone decent, bt passionate and sexually aggressive, scventh, WE FILIPINOS ARE SO JUDGMENTAL. We consianlly So the awe on ther people whether we accept itor not. t becomes automa that tao others without examining ourselves fst. When we see 2 good-ookng re Sgner wth not so good-looking Pinay, we always conclude that foreigne’s or arpinaywholooks ike kasembahay’ (housemai)..thatthey are continuously errting for Pinay with exotic beauty not present with other Asians. No wonder because Pinay is an “endangered species!” Well i's only in the Philippines. Eighth, WE FILIPINOS DO NOT PROVIDE EXACT ANSWER. We may not be sensitive about it, but when someone inquires, we do not give precise answer. Example, if someone asks: : “kimmain ka na ba?” we usually say “busog pa ako’ instead of saying 00 or hindi “anong oras na?” we often say “maaga pal” instead of giving exact time; “San ka na?" we commonly say ‘malapit na” instead of saying our exact location; or “maganda ba GF nya or Guwapo ba BF nya?” we generally say “mabai rs 4 ly say ‘mabait or a naman’ instead of teling the truth (because we do not want to offend anyone). ; This manner has become . Philippines, part of our consciousness. Well, it's only in the Ninth, WE FILIPIN Have you celebrated an Att Pah detec ne WOLUNTEERISM that you are not personally acquainted wit Forusaicrendoes, Orvis tors uaintec fl elated ie sding ola ERs ete ere feats You suspicion wondering eal atts Is this my birthday?” Have you formed any if fe those people are coming from? |f your answer is yes, then you should not Filipinos have a strong sense of “ lid not wonder why. It's because we town fi of “Volunteerism.” We attend birth i estas, baptisms, anniversaries, viet inthdays, weddings, we are not the one creel Ivica 00 partes, and the likes even though COURAGE! So when someone congraulaios you nn your wedge RIN embrace even to the groom ieteut ot iucte pach, Your wedding wth matching ‘volunteers," which make your budget a mee hands, you know that they are However, even thou eee lowever, jn prevails to accommodate thon, pete Unexpected visitors, it is our hospitality that |, Just think that you are helping our less fortunatea Bal Tk secatucess Unesandog rnp cutues, Yost: SUTTS TS Sth ‘world Literatures: WOT —— i 2 ae : rate an im 1 (Just kidding!) So the next ye orl bratners and sit rat the Bay Scouts 52 ana. | just noticed that - a . erik WE FILIPINOS ARE oe aulbeie is expected of us; and we arg become so cranky. We have not sta fin and meet halfway. We are disinclined ty already dissenting, We often try to bard Hing spic and span. We Seldom carry on an arduous task because We viors or elders. Ipersonally: experience this appreciate the good intention of our SUPERS Ts tudents. Even in governmeny, achtol when |Ovoe eA ee dog ait Presidents through mass rallies o, joridwide for over ( z you complain.” We say, “Complain first before you i eee hate th Eleventh, WE FILIPINOS ARE SO PRETENTIOUS. hel ing Our nelghbrve is a conflagration, we show our sense of “bayanihan” by Seem We - aay halt the fire, but in reality, we take this as an opportunity to ro dca é ek appear that that we are saving their properties, but we are actually sI ee We become so insensitive that we don't bother what our neighbors have been through after that depressing incident. So sad... Walang ganyan sa States. Its only in the Philippines. Twelfth, WE FILIPINOS ARE SO RESILIENT. We have endured all the intricacies in life from Herculean typhoons such as Milenyo, Ondoy, and Pepeng to civil war, crimes, hunger, scarcity of rice, mounting prices of ‘commodities, Corruption, climate change, global warming, name it, we all have it, but we have ‘surpassed them all. We are true SURVIVORS, wherever we go, whatever the situation is, impulsive or unforeseen, is never excessively alarming or disorienting. ie oe always adapt to the fast-changing environment to make the difference. y! This is the moment where we need to acknowléd and insecurities. The challenge now is to cre: emulating - portrait that is truly inspiring, ige our own imperfections ate a portrait that is worth Praising and UTERARY REFLECTION 1 What might the Feconstructed portrait of Juan Dela Cruz symbolize? 2. Whe i ir : ne Sort of Filipino image does the writer consider truly inspiring? What is the writer's Purpose? Explaii it : achieving Bien plain why the writer might be successful in What is the writer's scribe the author’ ic H De 'or's choice of w ames ords. How does his dict ction help achieve his ject of the essay?LITERARY REFLECTION 1. _Whatis a witch? heat ce i des of the main charac t characteristics and attitu ; ; A eta his eyes twenty yards from the hut of the witch and ran up the a. hill; : b. hig thought of bringing home shrimps to his mother, and so he went to a : creek a hundred yards from-Tio Sabelo’s house; He mumbled his thanks and waded to the bend she had oe and d. He thought that a helpless-looking little old woman ot te tinagay, couldn't be the witch. He remembered her kind voice wood fragrance. She could be his own SranUMoHne 3 ce Who is Minggay? Cite proofs to their belief that she's “The Witch. Why did he throw the shrimip back into the creek? i Do you really believe that Minggay is “The Witch”? Why of why not? What Filipino belief is reflected in the story? How does it affect our way of living? Faw LITERARY INSPIRATION “Cowards die many times before their deaths.” — Shakespeare LITERARY JOURNEY YOU CANNOT EAT NATIONALISM By: Leandro V, Coronel This country is going to the dogs. The misery index of many Filipinos must be unconscionably high. The quality of life is abominably low. By this, we mean that the average Filipino must contend daily with a pitiful lack ‘of necessities pertaining to hygiene, nutrition, clean air and water, housing, etc, aoe hae f ore and our politicians are either shrewd manipulators or Ur politicians are slick snake. oil ir -0il sales i Sold us elixirs, Promising to cure all our maladies, aT eteUNIT II INTRODUCTION TO WORLD CULTURES, TRADITIONS, AND BELIEFS 45, We Filipinos are too child - like and immature. Many of us bristled with anger when James Fallows, the American journalist and presidential speechwriter, called ours a “flawed culture” because of, among other faults, our lack of sense of public responsibility. But he was right. Look around you and witness, for example, our careless disregard for our surroundings. I've been to many countries but ours is the only one | know where people throw away their litter freely wherever they please. And let's not even get into what men do when they nonchalantly walk up to a wall or the side of a vehicle and unzip themselves. The Philippines’ slide to ruin wasn’t greased only by our lecherous leaders, the ones who've sold us out of greed, cowardice or treason. We're not at the edge of the precipice only because our politicians have been corrupt. We're not in the abyss only because the rich have pigged out the nation’s wealth. We're not in a morass because of the scheming foreigners who've come and gone carrying away the nation’s treasures. We're a nation close to despair and destruction because we've allowed all the greed and lechery and manipulation to happen. We've been apathetic and uncaring about the welfare and future of our country. The sightless but insightful Helen Keller said: “Science may have found a.cure for'most evils but it has found ‘no remedy for the worst of them all, the apathy of human beings.” We Filipinos don't have enough love of country and the collective foresight and resolve to put our shoulders to the nation’s buttresses and keep it safe and * sound. By our collective actions we've succeeded only in bringing our country:and Ourselves down. And let's gst it right: i's not only our politicians, police and petty Public servants who are corrupt. All of society is corrupt. : 'fwe don't do something soon, we will be plunging our country in civil conflicts large and small. Anarchy and chaos wil.reign and economic ruin will prevail. As itis, economic and moral deprivation have driven many of our fellow citizens to crime, various forms of prostitution and worse, overseas where they often have the status of chattel. As itis, only the timid stil obey the law. The government has lost its moral authority to lead the people and the might to fight the enemies of public order. The citizenry feels the government has been of novuse or aid to them. No wonder th {hat we Filipinos have no sense of loyalty tothe nation. Why else would mani fia be abandoning itn droves and adopt, without any pangs of guilt, another ie 35 Our own? Hows else explain the tepid attitude among most of us t aie centennial celebration of our independence? ee There is no sense of gratitude amon ‘lip is nationalism if the, symbol of the nation, teioene ae nes 1 fook after its citizens? A hungry populace cannot eat nationcog on uses extract gratitude from a neglected ward, 2 eidlod cannotnfs (A Task-ased Aggro cuts, Tatons and let that happen. But twill take a new thinking, indeed a new "and it will take courage to do it is want of yeople to ‘re too intelligent 4 P' 't think so belie approach, I don't i ‘a new mentality: 2 new as Baas anew attitude, ‘a create 4 ar culture to reverse what is right am ce Eo tain relief in change,” to do it for, as Cont t ” ‘ ire. "There is ce! i a en inge, therefore, iswhat the times require. a stagecoach” Irving continued, vashin it .d in a new place.” wrote Washington Irving L “itis often a comfort to shift one 'S SS esos meny We may end up scarred. But the ing the way ‘As we go about changing , places, We willbe black and pve many spots. We iy efor the better. The ratsos and the scars wil be worth the efor if we beginning of the year is a good time (0 S11 ‘ IN ie piel a ism? Who do you consider a nationalist? 1. What is your concept of national Why? ’ 2 Ase do you show your sense of nationalism? Do you personally believe that the Philippines is worth dying for? Prove your answer. Deseribe Philippine politics. What is the typical motivation of people who run for public office? Comment on the following statements: a. Our country is going to the dogs. b. Too much of the nation’s wealth is in the hands of too few people. cc. _Ourpolitics is immature and our politicians are either: ‘shrewd manipulators or clueless buffoons. d. We Filipinos are too child-like and immature. te Filipinos don’t have enough love of country and the collective foresight and resolve to put our shoulders to the nation’s buttres safe and sound. where f It’s not only our politicians, polic public ;, police, and petty pul corrupt. All of society is corrupt. pared cereypervants jie)are g. The government has lost its moral it i authori might to fight the enemies of public order. Piety pee ane the h : ' . ed #8no sense of gratitude among us for being a Filipii 2 f “hange, therefore, is what the times require. ae Explain the message of the following: a. “Science ma : y have found a aaa cure for most it ly for the worst of them all, the asain hi ne a iman beings.” ~ Helen Keller urage.” - Confucius- bd. “Tos, ee whi lat is right and Not to do it is want pf Of coINTRODUCTION TO WORLD CULTURES, TRADITIONS, AND BELIEFS 47 “There is certain relief in change. As | found myself travelling in position and be a stage coach, it is often a comfort to shift one’s bruised in a new place.” ©. = Washington Irving What does the title “You cannot Eat Nationalism” imply? Does it affirm or negate “The Filipinos are Worth Living for’ advocated by the late Sen, Benigno Aquino? Justify your answer. 7. Do you agree with the author when he said: “The beginning of the year is a good time to start?" Why or Why not? 8. What is the challenge of the author to all the Filipinos? Can we still change for the better? How? 9. ‘State the Filipino culture manifested in the text. LITERARY INSPIRATION “The only way for the evil to triumph is when good men do nothing.” ~ Edmund Burke LITERARY JOURNEY What You Don't Know About An OFW By: Melody M. Al-Amrey | was 24 when | left the Philippines. | remember it like i | wher t ike it was yesterday. oe ne silk renaissance-looking blouse with oversized on flowing ee collar that can be tied up with extra long satiny it strings that reach ie i a me same strings are echoed onto the long sleeves ieee y slim wrists. This | paired with a below-the-knes i i i r -knee black sill it ; ee slits that reached my thigh, and a pair of black elastic a a ine ee ee This, however, is not about mid-90's fashion but merely a Bi ie on where, why, and what happened after | left the Philippines. Sattel in West Virginia, ang Hot wer petitioned by Poe Late Cae I'm sure they ie decent jobs ang i imp nd experiences ee see educational backgrounds a! ‘ok. Iwas sick of working a Cane left the country becaus 3:00pm. | was sick of the paper tb Sal ae fo Fridays, rom 7:00 47" 6 check and score: I left daily routine, Mon | teacher town that simply choked my wert ted m rights such as the right ' nl eedol eaatiiee ied for indepe! ibe the .d. | took @ chance because es i an in Tai | simply had k, to worship, rk in Taiwan SO to express, oer and my other half found o goes out of the county Lac ner That shows that not al ; pea to be where my heart was, 1 be other uncommon reasons for leaving needed to work for a living. There re with poverty. economic depression, or the Philippines that are not equally. . ba rating maybe political instability, health lack of opportunites, al ates a Ta marriage, education opportunities, risks, severed family ties; lust for explo ae gh funds (0 migrate or simply because the migrant is bored enoug! in more sophisticated countries. , : : about the Filipino plight abroad, but the There are a lot of scholarly talk: > y Filipino diaspora did not take place because of some big exile and threatened ch as the Jewish diaspora. History shows us that it started racial annihilation su ; some time around 1587, when some Filipino sailors with the great world navigator, Magellan landed ‘somewhere in California. But the earliest recorded Filipinos to settle in the new world was in 1763, who said to have escaped the harsh labors aboard Spanish galleons.-In the 1900's, Filipinos started to move in waves to other countries in search for greener pastures. But it was during the 1960's when a large professional work force.was called to fill in skill gaps in the United States, on and other European countries. In the 70’s, the Overseas Contract Worker becar is fi \ f a ue ae a phenomenon. This time, they are leaving for more countries in pita le East, such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, etc., and the Asia. Pacific, like ingapore, Hong Kong, Taiwe i ay A : jobs that they sald Daan te paca ee ecules nolders took workers, domestic helpers, bnerane! llippines, like nannies, construction fer brothers worke’ ere pretty much my other kin w aa Yno money 10 9° my two oldi My bachelor's de ‘gree nor my master's units in Linguisti ene ene Hi laster’s units in Linguistics and Language compute for Tah hes a quality assurance tester in a notebook afin b ater ee , We Were all workers. | reali i . [reali K ated aie sien tee became my best, if not hard tenner ne F eal nneto 4 hours gfe ronic work-related fatigue, pains F swag rom nical turning and tapping, testing and Ree ioe ; ng, robing of 1SO91 Arales nu Ading tthe man ir black case down i 28 “ka ten which mest ae ne Taiwanese bosses eet iad "Faster work results to More production,UNIT I! ~ INTRODUCTION TO WORLD CULTURES, TRADITIONS, AND BELIEFS 49 that is, if your speedy work will be accompanied with accuracy and undamaged tiny electronic parts. And | broke one or two computer chips...ok, | broke a handful of them. They constantly breathed down on our brown necks subduing our litlest sources of joy such as looking at ourselves in a tiny desk mirror, which | think every female Filipino does. Going to the W.C. (water closet) is a luxury, and if it happened that a Taiwanese supervisor caught your shadow inside glancing at yourself in the mirror or even combing your hair, you would.be reprimanded and disparaged, or would even be dumped in a different department where rules are stricter and bosses harsher. | had been moved five times during my one-and-a half year stay there, Yes, it was only a measly year and a half period but that was enough for me to witness what OFW's do away from their family’s protective custody and away from their friends’ prying eyes. | have seen how Filipinos change...or should | say, how Filipinos reveal their true skin: | suppose it's a survival instinct for them to do such things. The two most horrid things | witnessed Filipinos turn to when away from the Philippines are immorality and thievery. To cite an instance, a dorm mate of mine who used to be a nurse in the Philippines built a shrine of photos of her husband and child on top of her collapsible cabinet. She made that to remember them every day. That's why, | couldn't understand why she had to get involved with another man and even write a letter to that man’s wife confessing about their affair. And the same woman who did this also did a series of stealing and shoplifting. When caught and confronted by fellow Filipinos, she justified her misdemeanor by saying “Di bale, babalik din naman sa inyo yan e.” (Never mind, everything will come back to you). And of course, being naturally forgiving, she was let off the hook just like that without even made to. Pay for her crime. There are other unspoken sins of OFW's that's why | cringe whenever | hear the term given to them by the Gloria Administration Ang Bagong Bayani (The New Heroes). This, | think only applies to some, and | salute them for really doing their. job well and at the same time, remaining faithful to their families here. But for the Filipino maid, who fed her infant charge with milk mixed with Clorox, for the caregiver who slaps, hits, and punches his senile patient, for the plumber who after imploding the underground Pipes of the city even asks for Payment from his employer when he was sent home, and for the other unnamed. people who claim to deserve better pay but not really delivering the goods - they are not really walking on the narrow road but on the wide road that leads to death. So that's what happened after | left for Taiwan as a computer factory worker. The Filipino diaspora is indeed a phenomenon because it promises a brighter future and a better life. But the reality is, after all the hype about the balikbayan bringing home the bounty from other lands has died down, the poor Filipino who migrated in a foreign land just chose to become poor somewhere else.50 __ Readings irom World Literatures: Understanding Peoples Cultures, Tatton an Ble Tests Anne ra ae Filipinos work abroad? What are their motivation? 2. Where did the narrator work? State her sad experiences there? 3. What were the two disgusting things she witnessed from some OFW's? Why did she consider them ironic? : 4. What was thé narrator’s age when she decided to return to the Philippines What was her realization? 5. If you would be given the chance to work abroad for a ore Pasture, woulg you grab it even if your country needs you? Why or why not? 6. What Filipino culture'is revealed in the text? LITERARY APPRECIATION 1. Which among the selections in the chapter do you think is most ins; * ‘moving, insightful, challenging, or critical? 2. Which of the selection's expressed beliefs ‘in life are familiar to you? What are these beliefs? Which of these ‘do you find most relevant in your life? In what way, do these selections help readers bridge any gaps of time and culture? What suggestions would you make to readers who would like to learn about the literature and culture of the Philippines? Piring LITERARY INSPIRATION “Don't a . cunt sk what your country can-do for you, but what you can do for your ~ John F. Kennedy