Arnold Clavio's remarks and the Askal Controversy: What it means to be Pinoys

Understanding the concept of Filipino is not as easy as it looks. Like what I wrote in previous entries, we must disabuse our minds and change our traditional perspective about who is, what is, which is Filipino or not.


For one, Filipino is an invented term by a group of intellectuals way back in the late 18th century. During those times, peoples of this archipelago were segmented into four distinct classes based on economic status and progeny. 


There were the pure-bloods--born in Spain and of Spanish parents. The next ones were those born here, of Spanish blood still. The others were those born here, of mixed descent, meaning mestizos and the others, which is believed to be the majority, those born of parents not of Spanish or foreign blood.


Now, if you really analyze what was the intended usage of the term Pinoy, you'll be surprised that this term simply was used a vehicle or medium to distinguish the vast majority of people from the small minority of rulers of Western origins, who were not born here, but act here in the Philippines, as rulers and petty barons.


So, the reference to Filipino is a way of distinguishing those born here and those who were not regardless if they had parents who were Spaniards or not. Why was this term used as such? In the minds of those intellectuals, they were just describing the kind of relationship that existed during those times. Westerners believe that every single one born outside of Europe are savages, much the same way as the Chinese regard Westerners. Several people during that era surmised that this same claustrophobic view of the individual was what motivated the Spaniards to punish physically Filipinos.


Rizal suffered that same treatment when he studied at the UST. Inspite of his intellectual prowess, Rizal was looked down upon because he was a Mestizo. Prayles or priests of that age were also mistreating others severely because they were born outside of Europe, therefore, considered of mixed blood and partially of barbaric or savage origins.


(by the way, why was there a perceived "low-life" treatment of people born outside of Spain? Those born outside the regime were sons and daughters of what people described as "journey men" or those whose luck has not been successful in their motherland and journeyed over the yonder seas to look for it. They are described as poor.)


Okey so the term Filipinos started as a way of distinction or putting into a particular genius two sets of people. Fact is, the term itself was initially a term to describe those born as Chinese mestizos. 


So there. When independence was established, the next colonialists found it extremely difficult to describe the genus of people they conquered. In frontier America, all peoples there were lumped into one--Indians, due to the color of their skin. Hence, as Indians, they were forever relegated to the backends of society and condemned for annihilation.


When the Americans arrived, they were probably astounded by the cosmopolitan and confusing character of society back then. To easily describe the genus of people they will now manage as colonies, they accepted the term used back then--to describe every body as Filipino.


However, in describing who is Filipino, the evidently Chinese looking and Chinese speaking crowd and those of obviously Arabian, Persian and Indian stock were systematically put into one distinct class, when in truth and in fact, these peoples were the very first Filipinos, not just those of Austronesian roots.


To sum, the term "Filipino" right is now is more of a state of mind than anything. When you subscribe to be "Filipino", you consciously accept the very simple things which define the Filipino character. 


When you call yourself Filipino, you obviously try to assimilate yourself with the culture. Or, let me extremely frank--assimilation is not the correct word to describe this but more of fusion--making oneself part of the collective thinking and part of the agreed cultural norms and the stuff. 


When you embrace being Filipino, it is not something as simple as uttering it before an immigration officer or signing a piece of paper saying that you are.


Being Filipino is beyond skin color. Being Filipino is acting, and living like one.

Pinoy

Is there hope for us, Filipino?

For as long as there are still some good men among us, hope still flutters.

Ako ay Pinoy--regalong tula para sa aking Kapwa Pilipino

Ako’y Pinoy



Ni Patricio Mangubat



Ako’y Pinoy
Pinanganak ako sa gitna ng Asya
Magulang ko’y Kastila’t timawa
isinilang ako sa gitna ng kawa
inihangong may lakas at
may angking ganda.


Ako’y Pinoy
Sanggol ng mga Intelligentsia
Anak sa labas ng mga taga Espana
Kinamuhian ng Masa noong una.

Ako’y Pinoy
Inuyayi ako ng mga palahaw ng Indipiendensya
Binuo ako mula sa dugo ng Indio
Tawag sa aki’y hilaw na Asyano
Tubong Kanluran, pinanganak sa Silangan.

Ako’y Pinoy
Lumaki sa yaman ng kalikasan
Ngunit alila sa sariling tahanan
Inalipusta ng mga Dayuhan
Ikinulong sa kahirapan
Isinumpa sa kagutuman
Iginapos sa kamangmangan.

Ako’y Pinoy
Dugong Tsino samahan pa ng Amerikano
Hapon, Ingles, Dutch, Pranses at Italyano
Ang dumadaloy sa ugat ko


Samahan pa ng dugong Negrito
Iyan ang Pilipino.


Ako’y Pinoy
Lahi ng mga Bayani
Mutya ng mga Binibini
Pinuno ng mga salinlahi
Anak na Pinili.

Ako’y Pinoy
Anak ako ng aking mga magulang
Ang ama ko’y si Kanluran.
Ang ina ko’y ang Silangan.
Binhi ako ng lahing Maharlika
Mula sa kawa ng Indiong Timawa.


Ako’y Pinoy
Muslim ako at Kristiyano.
Hindu at Katoliko.
Ang Iglesia Ko ay Sambayanang Ninuno
Pinili ng Dios mula sa kawang bato.


Ako’y Pinoy
Batan ang aking pinagmulan. Ilokano ang aking kamusmusan
Pangalatok ang aking kaisipan. Bulakenyo’t Davaoenyo ang
Aking kagandahan.
Panlasa ko’y hango sa Katagalugan
Kasipagan ko’y waring galing sa Cagayan.
Katapangan ko’y dili’t iba’y Bikolano
Walang dayuhang nakatalo
Sa Batangenyong may dalang bolo.


Hibla ng aking buhok, galing sa Mindoro
Balat ko’y angking Cebuano
Mata ko’y hango sa mga Zamboangenyo
Paniniwala ko’y tubong Suluano.


Salita ko’y malambing na Ilonggo
Ilong ko’y tiyak Pampango
Isip ko’y Leyteno
Mga kamay ko’y tubong Iloilo.

Ako’y Pinoy
Walang problemang hindi ko kayang lusutan
Walang balakid sa piniling kapalaran
Kaya kong wasakin ang kulungan ng kahirapan
Basta’t tangan ko ang ilaw ng tamang Kamalayan.


Ako’y Pinoy
Puri ako ng mga dayuhan
Sa boksing at kantahan
lakas ng kamay ko’y gumagawa ng mga
lipunan
dunong ko’y nagpapanday ng
kinabukasan.

Ako’y Pinoy
Bida ako sa mga umpukan
Serbesa ko’y ang aking karunungan
Pulutan ko’y ang aking kagandahan.


Ako’y Pinoy
Galit ako sa mga kawatan
Muhi ako sa kawalang katarungan
Suklam ako sa kahirapan
Sumpain ko ang kagutuman.


Ako’y Pinoy
Pinalaki akong may
Takot sa Dios
Ngunit kung may kasamaan
Handa akong makipaglaban.


Ako’y Pinoy
Sa salin Diwa papandayin ko ang Malayang Lipunan
Sa lakas ng aking tinig, papalahaw ako ng isang malakas na sigaw
Na yayanig sa mga taong ulila’t nangangatog sa ginaw
Papawiin ko ang kanilang mga gutom
Aalisin ko ang mga sapot ng kanilang kaluluwa
Palalayain ko ang Inang Bayan
At itatayo ang Bagong Bayan!

Ako'y Pinoy
hikahos, nakagapos, pero huhulagpos!
itatayo ang Pag-Asa mula sa pagkabusabos!
at papandayin ang kinabukasang
may laya, may katarungan, may kapayapaan!

Revolt Triggers, Questions

The average Filipino right now is a laborer, either working in the construction industry or in agriculture. He just finished elementary and has worked early to provide for his family. If he's living in the urban areas, he's probably engaged as a unskilled worker or sweating it out in some service company, either as a janitor, or waiter or hired hand.

The average Filipino is NOT a college graduate. Only a few, about 4 percent of the entire adult population, are college graduates. With that figure, only about 5 million work legally or illegally abroad either as domestics, laborers, construction workers or medical staff.

Now, why do I write these things here?

Two reasons: I'm currently studying the best tactics on how to trigger aggressive reaction from the masses and two, what's the best language to apply for them to realize that they need politics to change their current State of Affairs.

This urge to study this stemmed from one question---why is there no successful mass-based revolt in the Philippines? Apart from the first EDSA, nothing has come out of attempts to rouse the masses to revolt. What would frustrate people enough to justify aggressive action?

Reality bites like a rabid dog

Many years ago, I stumbled upon a case that would change my life forever. At that time, I was a journalist. After years of being an activist, I shed my revolutionary robe and donned on a new one. Despite the protestations of my deceased dad (who wanted me to become a lawyer), I pushed on as a journalist since writing remains a burning passion within me. Being a journalist though, I needed to shed every ism within my soul, hoping that I'll look at every scene, every spectacle and every presscon without my red-colored lenses.

Yet, the more I look at reality, the more I realized that those years I spent pouring over books written by economists, historiographers, sociologists and philosophers were spent wisely. I came face-to-face with the miseries of the people. Those who were victimized by crime. Those who were held hostage by a patronage-laden system. And those who were rendered orphan by the daily struggles against poverty--all of them--became my bedfellows.

The centuries-old struggle of our heroes came flashing back, as if we did not really progress as what government wants us to believe. That the very same problems which confronted our forefathers remain deeply rooted in Filipino society.

The more I observe, the more I became convinced that change should happen. Not for me. I'm a damned soul already. I need to act for the benefit of future generations.

Against the will of my family, I decided to help. And help I did. I gave my precious time, helping a woman who saw how brutal and corrupt the cops were. She went into high gear and became a prominent national figure while I stood behind the shadows, content that I accomplished what's supposed to be done.

Eight years past, and all those sacrifices which nearly cost me my life and the future of my family, all went to naught. We managed to install a more corrupt government. No one thought that this would happen although I remember my former desk editor cautioning me about this woman. She said that this woman would bring chaos back into our lives. Well, she said it right. But, she left out one important thing--it's not just chaos--its monumental which has caused thousands of lives and more than 4 million families hungry.

What is to be done?

I'm 37 years old right now, with a 6 month old baby. I also have two kindergarten kids with me and a lovely wife. I have bills to pay, including a car amortization. I have credit card bills piling up. I just have a few thousands in my bank account and I fear that I'll lose them altogether within a month.

I need to weigh my options, and I have a very limited one. Will I respond to the challenge put forth by those junior officers yesterday, calling for a general uprising against this evil, corrupt and decrepit administration?

Is their method the surest way for me to secure the future of my baby, my kids and my wife? A chap like me just needs a more equal, more stable and more graft-less government. Will their call benefit me and my family? Is a revolution the solution for those who have less to have at least a fair chance for a better life? Or will it further worsen the already bad situation me and my family are in?

For some, revolution is just a fancy concept invented by those men who struggled against tyrants and oppressors many centuries back. It's good to write. It's easy to pronounce. It's even fancy to wear.

Yet, in this very moment, revolution is not just an armchair revolutionary's idea. No. It is as real and as needed by us, especially.

We need a revolution. We need something to pull us out of this rut. We need an event that would re-install our "hiya". We need a life-altering change that would rouse us from apathy, disillusionment and hopelessness so that we unite for the advancement of our nation.

We had that before. EDSA Uno was one event that made us smile and made us proud. We can still do the same in our generation now. We can make Filipinos smile again. We can make them proud again, but on a different level.

Weighing between personal and the nation's, I chose the nation's. I was born in this country. The very soil that I stand on needs me. I owe the Motherland whatever I possess now. And the Motherland is grieving because she sees her sons and daughters scrapping the very bottom of the barrel all because of the ineptitude of the usurper in power.

For those Patriots of the New Generation, the Filipino People need you to restore order and make all those who robbed us, stole our monies and corrupted us pay for their sins. We are accepting your challenge. It is time for us to stand against immorality, graft, corruption and utter mismanagement.

Now, our generation needs to shine once more in its duty for the Motherland. Let those who want a cleaner and more effective government rise from their seats and unite behind those who struggle for freedom.

The Truth: Filipino Version

Truth--its everybody's buzz word today. From the halls of the Senate to the backwaters of Sulu, everybody wants everybody to seek and know the truth. And what is the truth?

Truth, as they say, is relative. One's truth maybe different from another's. For example, Neri's truth maybe coached in the simpliest terms--I heard my president say this, but I don't know if I'm at liberty of telling you about it. In JLo's case, I heard Neri lambasting the president for being an evil person but the truth is, he just wants me to moderate it. For Neri, he knows what the truth is, but he does not want to jeopardize the entire government since he probably believes that when Filipinos know the truth, will they be able to handle it properly? For Neri, the proper handling of the truth is filing charges in court. For JLo, its for the people to decide what to do next.

So, the truth depends on the perspective of people. For example, in the case of the on-going rice crisis. Government claims they're enough stocks. The problem is price, which, they say, is being influenced by global rice prices. Upon closer scrutiny, however, the people found out that the real reason why prices of rice continues to go up is that the rice cartel is manipulating it. Market prices are not dictating the price. No. It's the greediness of rice traders that is forcing rice prices to shoot up. So, its not global. Its purely local. And the fact is, government is helpless in combatting these big-time rice traders simply because they are transacting with them. Just like in Erap's time when the former president got what's due him for conniving and going to bed with jueteng lords, this government could fall under the weight of its prostitution with rice traders.

Therefore, for the Filipino, truth is what the Pinoy wants to believe. He wants to believe that he can feed himself without importing rice since he sees thousands of thousands of acres of prime, pristine and nutrient-rich lands all around. He does'nt see the fact that his government's priorities are elsewhere. Yes, there is land to cultivate. But government de-prioritized agriculture since government operators or the mafia does not see any profit from it. It prioritizes BPOs and the banks because everytime that a new foreign company sets up shop here, there's obviously protection money involved. Unlike agriculture.

There's plenty of land but you see thousands of them being turned into subdivisions. There's plenty of land but you don't see any tractors, any processing plants nor even rice mills dotting the landscape. There's no fertilizers because the monies were diverted elsewhere. There's no processing plants nor rice mills because the monies devoted to the development of agriculture have been diverted somewhere else. So rice varieties are being re-processed, NFA stocks diverted and big-time rice traders cum operators are happy. And when they are happy, the mayors, congressmen, governors and the palace are happy.

The palace announced that we will be spending 1.5 billion pesos for importation. Great. The palace just gave this 1.5 billion as free money to those traders.

The Dark Night of Our Souls

Martyrs, they say, undergo a phase of doubt in their lives. Before they become holymen, they first suffer a phase of the severest temptation. This phase is called the dark night of their souls.

Our soldiers right now are faced with the same dilemma. Should they continue to serve an illegitimate president or serve the People, the rightful Power of the Nation? Should they blindly follow the "chain of command" though it continues and proves to be immoral, corrupt and bereft of moral authority to govern? Should they stain their hands with blood of their brothers just to satiate the lust of a few hawks in the corridors of power?

Such a dilemma exists. For one, soldiers are common people. They feel what the people feel. They suffer what the people are continually suffering. Day to day, soldiers worry about their poor, impoverished families. They sacrifice their lives, but for what? To support an illegitimate president and an immoral war? Is their sacrifice worthy enough?

Now is the time for soldiers to ponder their present state of affairs. Now's the moment for them to pray hard and decide. They must choose between being blind followers of evil men. Or, be martyrs and fight these evil men that lurks in the corridors of power.

O enlightened soldiers of the Filipino People! Seize your destinies! Now is the time to make history.