Filipino Culture More Critical Than Ever

By SEN. EDGARDO J. ANGARA

MANILA, Philippines — This past Saturday, we held the 150th Anniversary Conference on Nation and Culture on the Initiative of National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose. I chaired this conference as I did our earlier collaboration, the Solidarity Conference on “A Filipino Agenda for the 21st Century” back in 1987.

I would like to talk about the proceedings and recommendations of the conference, but in my next column. I would, first, like to touch on the context in which it is taking place.

This conference brought together about 150 artists, cultural workers, philanthropists, government leaders, and NGO’s involved in cultural development. Our goal is to build consensus on how strengthening Philippine culture is integral in nation-building.

Perhaps it is not merely coincidental that the conferences, 24 years apart, happen when an Aquino holds the presidency. These are times marked by renewed hope and public trust in national leadership – and a great time for instropection.

The 1987 conference focused on the advent of the 21st century and our desire to help draft an agenda that will help the country meet that future better prepared. We tackled and made recommendations on 10 critical areas: agrarian reform, culture and values, the military’s role in development, government structure, the problems in Mindanao, bureacracy, foreign relations, environment and ecology, economic recovery and social progress, and the administration of justice.

One generation has come and passed, yet we are still beleaguered by many of these same problems. Underlying all these is our troubling lack of a sense of identity and nationalism.

Filipino-Americans account for the second largest group of Asian-Americans in the United States, yet scholars characterize them as the “invisible minority.” In North America, they cite the findings that Filipinos tend to hide their identity – they are not as proud of their ethnicity as the Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, and Indians are. Some are even embarrased and apologetic for being Filipino.

In 1987, the award-winning writer James Fallows wrote about “A Damaged Culture” describing ours. Many Filipinos at that time were appalled, disgusted, and offended by this article. Perhaps, there are those who feel the same to this day. But there is truth to it, whether we acknowledge it or not. Fallows called it the war of every man against every man – every Filipino against every Filipino. “And because of this fragmentation – this lack of nationalism – people treat each other worse in the Philippines than in any other Asian country I have seen,” wrote Fallows, an upsetting observation we ought to disprove if we can.

Our own national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, whose 150th birth anniversary we are observing this year, was also incensed over Filipinos’ apathy. When he was studying in Madrid, he was very critical of Filipino students who were easygoing, negligent of their studies, and indifferent to the interests of Filipinos. He wrote, “The studious were told that it was impossible to pass a course, the patriot that it was useless to attempt anything. The number of buttons on a coat were discussed, but not the rights of the Filipinos.”

Rizal was truly the pride of our race. He was the ultimate non-violent reformer. He pushed for enlightenment through education and freedom through peaceful means. Above all, Rizal was a genuine patriot – he transcended individualism and parochialism to become a Filipino.

Progress is anchored on one’s strong belief in his own capacity, and this, in turn, rests on a strong sense of identity. If we cannot take pride in our own rich heritage and cultural diversity, then how can we muster the faith and strength of conviction needed to move as one forward? Our social, economic, political, and moral ills are equally cultural. It is about time we recognize that and do something about it.