A Look Back on Week Two: Desiree

Pilipinos take pride in their culture and in being in Pilipino. I don’t doubt that. I grew up in the Fil-Am community in Seattle and most people I knew were eager claim Filipino parties as the best, Filipino food as the best, and Filipino people as the kindest and most hardworking. Coming to the Philippines, my family has been the same way. The moment I first met up with them before the program started, they were eager to show me everything that the country has to offer: the food, the landscape, the shopping, the music, the entertainment, and the people. Though I’d just arrived, they were quick to tell me to come back and to bring all of my family. They even suggested we buy land so we can live here whenever we like. They also often quoted the country’s famous tourism slogan: “It’s more fun in the Philippines!”

One particular person that I’ve heard Fil-Ams and natives talk about frequently with pride is José Rizal – the “National Hero” of the Philippines. In the second week of our Study Abroad program, we visited Intramuros in Manila. This “walled city” became of the capital of the region under Spanish colonialism. The fort at Intramuros has since been turned into a museum celebrating José Rizal. Through visiting Intramuros, we learned much more about Rizal.  Rizal came from a wealthy family and had tutors at a young age. He was proficient in many languages, discovered several new species, travelled, studied in prestigious schools, was an artist, a sculptor, a writer, and a political revolutionary. It is for all these reasons that he is celebrated. Looking at Rizal’s accomplishments, history, and even photos, one can tell he was a very privileged individual. We learned that it was American influences that lead to Rizal becoming a national hero. And no wonder – he was not only wealthy and privileged, but also a pacifist and a martyr.  He was chosen over other revolutionaries, such as Andres Bonifacio, who were too radical. Rizal even has a fancy park dedicated to him – Luneta Park, also known as Rizal Park. This park doesn’t have an open space for all Pilipinos to come enjoy – it is usually guarded with armed guards. When we visited, the other visitor was an American (a pilot going across the world) and the native Pilipinos there were press covering the pilot’s visit. Does this say something about Rizal?

Museum at Intramuros

Luneta Park

It is ironic that the national hero of the Philippines came to be under American influence. Rizal is celebrated for his resistance towards Spanish colonization, yet America colonized the Philippines. Rizal himself acted “Western” because of his privileges. But Pilipinos suffer a sort of cultural amnesia. While the end of Spanish colonialism is celebrated, American colonialism is forgotten.

            This is partly because of a “mock war” staged by Spain and America. Although it had appeared that Spain was defeated by America, instead both parties had signed an agreement to hand over the Philippines to the US, product of which was the “Treaty of Paris” and eventually the “Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation” which stated that:

“The future control, disposition, and government of the Philippine Islands are ceded to the United States… We come, not as invaders or conquerors, but as friends. It should be the aim of the military administration to win the confidence, respect, and affection of the inhabitants of the Philippines” (Zinn, 2008, pg. 63).

            It is this idea of “benevolent assimilation” that clouded the minds of Pilipinos. All focus on colonization is on Spain’s empire, and America’s more recent conquest of the islands is dismissed. Moreover, America began to control the education of the Pilipino people – therefore generations learned about American siege through an American, imperialist lens. They did not feel outraged. According to Ileto: “[T]he generations of Filipinos who learned their Philippine history in American colonial schools did not see the war as the U.S. suppression of their cherished revolutionary and nationalist dreams. Instead it was more of a misguided, even stupid, rejection of a gift of further enlightenment” (Ileto, 1998, pg. 4).

            Pilipinos views of colonization were influenced by American views of it, and believed Americans saved them and enlightened them.

            Markers of American influence are still here. Not just in the education, but in many aspects. Shopping malls are full of Western stores and movie theaters are full of American movies. Even the billboards here, whether they are for shoe stores or restaurants, feature white people. When they are non-white, they are likely mestizo, or mixed with white. Pilipinos in advertisements have long noses, light skin, straight hair, and other Anglo-traits, all of which are prized here in the islands. Western influence has made Pilipinos forget that they, too, are beautiful – and so are wide/flat noses, dark skin, and textured/dark hair.

            The Pilipino people look up to America. They see America not just as their savior, but the place in which their dreams will come true. Many Pilipinos immigrate to the States. That is how is how I became to be a Fil-Am – an experienced share by many in our Study Abroad group. I feel that much of modern Pilipino culture is influenced by the fact that so many have family living abroad – it is such a common thing.

            Oscar Campomanes gave to us a lecture on Filipino-American experience. The Pilipinos have such a large diaspora, with a large presence in the United States. While Pilipinos look up to America, we as Pilipinos are invisible in the States. Our identities are marginalized and we feel out of place and never feel truly “American.” Therefore, many of us go “home” to the Philippines – a phenomenon Campomanes recognizes. Our PWU professor, Angel Shaw, is a returning Pilipina herself. Many in our Study Abroad group also felt pulled to return to the islands. I feel that coming “home” and choosing to learn about Pilipino identity and culture, in the islands themselves, is a form of resistance against American imperialism.

            It’s not just Pilipinos and Fil-Ams who resisted American colonization in the Philippines. During the time of American occupation, some Americans, including well-known public figures, spoke out against American imperialism. One such figure is Mark Twain, who was openly anti-imperialist and who wrote a piece called, “To the Person Sitting in the Darkness,” which called for an end to American colonization of the Philippines. In reference to America’s constant to desire to “civilize” non-Western nations, Twain said: “Shall we? That is, shall we go on conferring our Civilization upon the peoples that sit in darkness, or shall we give those poor things a rest? Shall we bang right ahead in our old-time, loud, pious way, and commit the new century to the game; or shall we sober up and sit down and think it over first?”

            One problem with Twain’s analysis is that there are people “sitting in the darkness.” I believe that some still do have this mindset – including many Fil-Ams. As Fil-Ams, many of us are taught (both by society and our families) that we should be “grateful” that our parents left their home countries in order to create a better life for us. We see our Pilipino cousins who never left the islands as less “cultured” or less “smart” than us.  Just was Pilipinos are taught to revere America, so are Fil-Ams.

            For us Fil-Ams, this trip is a way for to deconstruct our identities as Fil-Ams and to see native Pilipinos ad the islands in a new light. One important question: Do you believe Pilipinos are “sitting in the dark” ? Why or why not? What do you think Twain means with that phrase?