Philippine Studies

Mga Salawikain

Sa matagal na panahon na nasa.

A Reaction to Patrick Flores’ Teaching/Learning the Humanities in Other Words/Worlds

This particular essay on art is not looking at an artwork. Rather, it problematizes the way we think of art as an element of culture. The epigraphs by Octavio Paz and Robert Barry challenge the way we commonsensically think of… Read the rest

Rebyu ng Sakit ng Kalingkingan: 100 Dagli sa Edad ng Krisis ni Rolando Tolentino

Sa aklat niyang The Significance of Theory, inilarawan ni Terry Eagleton ang teorya: “Like small lumps in the neck, it is a symptom that all is not well (1990:26)”.

Ang mga bukol sa katawan ay hindi pirming bahagi nito. Samakatuwid,… Read the rest

Why Is the Philippines A Poor Country?

(Part 13 of the “In Defense of the Filipino” series)

THE usual answers to this question are because allegedly we Filipinos are indolent, thieves, corrupt, undisciplined, crab-minded, divided, and more. Let us have the real answers.

Nation’s Debts. The main… Read the rest

Defend the Filipino

(Part 17 — last part — of the “In Defense of the Filipino” series)

NATIONS become great because their peoples aspire to be so. Greatness makes them wealthy, powerful, respected, and feared. But seeking and winning greatness is difficult, for… Read the rest

Wrong Perceptions of Americans

(Part 14 of the “In Defense of the Filipino” series)

ANTI-FILIPINOS love to imagine, fabricate, and propagate stories that would make the United States of America a flawless paradise on earth, and the Americans flawless (and almost angelic) beings.

When… Read the rest

Gossips are everywhere

(Part 12 of the “In Defense of the Filipino” series)

THERE was a local entertainer who said on television that she and her family would already immigrate to the United States—after making much money in the Philippines.

Why did she… Read the rest

Copycats?

(Part 11 of the “In Defense of the Filipino” series)

WHEN one resident opens a sari-sari (variety) store and then days later a neighbor also puts up a similar enterprise, anti-Filipinos claim that Filipinos are copycats—gaya-gaya, puto-maya—and that they are… Read the rest

Colonial Mentality

(Part 10 of the “In Defense of the Filipino” series)

ANTI-FILIPINOS say that Filipinos, because of their colonial mentality, always prefer foreign talents and products to local ones. This mentality does exist, but it is wrong to accuse us Filipinos… Read the rest

The Real ‘Filipino Time’

(Part 9 of the “In Defense of the Filipino” series)

FOR anti-Filipinos, the meaning of Filipino time is “always late.” It is said that the Filipino is and will always be late in his appointments. He does not value time.… Read the rest