A month or so ago, I found this true-blue Filipino blog called The Pinoy Warrior. I went around the website and found content that’s really informative and credible. Author does research really well. But, among all his articles about Filipino culture, traditions and celebrations, I noticed he doesn’t have any entries about the definition of Filipinos.
It was around the same time that I came across Nick Joaquin’s statement:
“The identity of the Filipino today is of a person asking what is his identity.”
So I went ahead and wrote an email, asking if he can make an article about it. And he didn’t disappoint.
A Take on Filipino Identity covers Filipino history, the author’s experience and what he sees at the moment. It’s a very reflective work and very consistent with what Joaquin had to say.
“So who is the Filipino? No one can really say… Today it is a state of mind and a choice, for each and everyone who proudly says I am Filipino.” – Russell Lorenzo
There are distinct Filipino traits, then there’s our environment and the legacy of our past, and the influences that’s shaping our society at present. In all of these, we can see fragments of what it’s like to be Filipino. If we zoom out and attempt to make sense of it all, our interpretations will be varied and irregular.
This isn’t at all bad, because we can have great opportunities for growth and development as a nation. But it’s also our main drawback. Are these traits and traditions enough to bind us in one thought? Does our history make us closer and help us identify with each other?
But we’re a young nation. And maybe we’re at experimental (confused) stage. We’re slowly discovering who we are. And with all these things that we’re doing and exposed to right now, we’ll find that certain and absolute identity that we’re searching for.
Thank you, Russell for such great work!
Photo Credit: Cebu Bluewaters
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