Lecture Notes: Filipino and Filipino-American Identities

Introduction

• Instructor: Eric Pito
• Course: Asian American Studies 353
• Topic: The history and identity of the Philippines and Filipino-Americans

Name Change Debate

• Proposed Name: Maharlika
  • Meaning: Serenity and peace (Malay word)
• Historical Context:
  • Past Presidents: Rodrigo Duterte and Ferdinand Marcos both proposed the name change.
  • Motivations:
    • Duterte: Concept of serenity and peace.
    • Marcos: Connection to pre-colonial past.
• Importance: Reflects the complexity in Filipino identity due to colonial history.

Colonial Legacy and Identity

• Colonial Influence:
  • Spanish colonization has left a significant impact on the Philippines, affecting language, culture, and identity.
  • The country's name, Philippines, derives from King Philip II of Spain.
• Cultural Debate:
  • Ongoing debate on whether Filipino should be spelled with an 'F' or 'P'.
  • The Philippines is often viewed as lacking an authentic culture due to its colonial history.

Constructing Filipino Identity

• Anthropological View:
  • Keith Bosso's theory: Social traditions and identities are constructed based on the imagined past.
  • Arnold J. Toynbee’s perspective: The Philippines as a Latin American country culturally displaced into Asia.
• Westernization vs. Authentic Culture:
  • Renato Rosaldo’s experience at Harvard. His advisor believed the Philippines was too westernized to have its own culture.
  • The notion that colonized countries adopt a 'high culture' considered superior by colonizers.

High Culture vs. Indigenous Culture

• Renato Constantino's View:
  • Spanish colonialism imposed Christianity, leading to the rejection of native cultural values.
  • Indigenous communities had their own sophisticated societies before Spanish rule.
• Tabula Rasa Theory:
  • The idea that indigenous communities were blank slates (tabula rasa) and received culture from colonizers.

Pre-Hispanic Philippines

• Importance of Understanding Pre-Colonial Societies:
  • Examining the cultures and societies of the Philippines before Spanish colonization highlights the rich and organized nature of these communities.
• Next Discussion: Spanish colonial policies and impact on Filipino culture.

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Conclusion

• Identity formation and cultural legacy in the Philippines are deeply interlinked with its colonial past.
• Understanding pre-colonial and colonial history is crucial to understanding Filipino and Filipino-American identities today.