The Philippines can be seen as an abboration in relation to other Asian countries. Early on in its history it was subject to colonial rule by the Spanish. The Spanish introduced Spanish culture and Roman Catholicism to the Philippines. The period of long colonial rule also produced a culture that was neither directly Spanish nor directly Filipino. Filipino society and culture today can be best described as a synthesis of the two cultures that has been tempered over time. However for some Filipinos this is not enough. Some long for a more solid notion of identity. They ask, “What is Filipino?” Two novels from the Philippines, When The Rainbow Goddess Wept, by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, and Dusk by F. Sionil Jose, suggest that Filipino identity can be seen in the struggles and oral traditions of their past. The Philippines were originally Asian in culture and race, but lost this identity through the Spanish, and American colonial experience. But we see that through the colonial experience a new Filipino Identity developed. In the novel, Recuerdo, by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, one learns that prior to colonialism the Philippines traded and had contact with China.
When we hear the word “ colonization” the first thing/idea comes to our mind is about how spanish colonization rule our country. For three hundred years of ruling our country we have so many lessons, religious beliefs, supertitituos beliefs, traits, traditions and other spanish way of life. The coming of the spaniards brought the Filipinos in contact with them when the Filipinos were conquered the spanish way of life was introduced their clothing, their eating habits, their cooking and etc. All of these resulted in the mixing of Spanish and Filipino cultural elements. Our land is peaceful when there is no Spaniards ruling on us. But when the spaniards or the spanish colonization rule our country we have no freedom to say what we want to say. The first one hundred and fifty years of Spanish rule was characterized by a slow economic development. Population decreased and uprising and revolts became problems to the colonial government.
There were no formal schools before the coming of the Spaniards. The children of school age were taught in their own homes by their mothers who in the Filipino homes even today, were the first teachers. The children were taught reading and writing in their native alphabet or alibata. Perhaps music and religious were also taught to the children for it was unthinkable that a religious people like the Filipinos would neglect the teaching of their religion to the children. The Spanish organized in the Philippines a highly centralized form of government was so powerful that almost everything had to be done, with it’s knowledge. Filipino culture is very influenced by the Spanish conquest which began mid-millenium. Many of the traditions of the Phillipines are actually Spanish traditions. The food is a combination of Asian and Spanish cuisine, and the language is made up of Spanish, English, and a touch of Japanese. The colonization experience erased what was Filipino culture and replaced it with a synthesis of Spanish, Catholic, and Filipino elements.
:) GIA ABIGAIL....
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