Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Activity 5
“I SPEAK FOR TRUTH”
“Y Speak”
Mechanics:
The class is divided into five groups to have a debate on the current issue (e.g.,
Does decriminalizing drugs minimize crimes?).
Objective:
To let the students be socially and politically aware of what is happening now
in our country so that they also have their voice to participate in how to resolve
such issues.
The Filipino culture is a mix of both eastern and western cultures. The beliefs
and traditions of pre-colonial Philippines were mainly an indigenous Malay heritage
(Baringer, 2006). The Malays made a large contribution to Philippine history. The Malay
temperament is a basic factor of a Filipino personality. It can best be described as “being
nice and pleasant to others.” Additionally, the important role of family in Filipino culture
stemmed from the strength of the Malay family clan that served as a strong security
unit.
When the Spaniards colonized the islands, the Hispanic culture influenced the
natives. Christianity became the dominant religion, and a western-based social and
political organization was established in the Philippines.
The Americans shaped the modern Filipino culture, and this is primarily manifested
by the widespread use of the English language in the Philippines today. It was from
these influences that formed the Filipino character. The brief occupation of the British
(1762–1764) and the Japanese (1942-1945), however, had no cultural influence in the
Philippines at all.
Licuanan said that in the home environment, Filipino children are taught to value
family and give it primary importance. The Filipino social environment is characterized
by depending on one another to survive. This dependence on relationships and the
struggle for survival make Filipinos group-oriented (1994).
Meanwhile, Filipino culture and language depict openness to foreign elements with
no basic consciousness of our cultural core (Licuanan, 1994). The Filipino colonial
mentality, such as the importance of the English language in our educational system, the
wider following of Hollywood movies, foreign soap operas/TV shows, and foreign songs/
singers over Filipino movies, shows, and music, is a manifestation of our attachment to
foreign elements.
Licuanan added that our colonial history is regarded as the culprit behind our colonial
mentality. Unfortunately, most Filipino elites are of no help in setting an example of
overcoming colonial mentality because they are even more westernized in their ways.
Present-day media, on the other hand, reinforced these colonial influences (1994).
The Philippine educational system is also instrumental in molding the strengths and
weaknesses of the Filipino character. Schools are highly authoritarian. Early on, children
learn that well-behaved and obedient students are praised and rewarded. This teaches
passivity and conformity. The Filipino is also religious. Religion taught us optimism and
resilience; however, it also instilled in us a fatalistic attitude. Since religious communities
are also highly authoritarian, this further reinforced our being passive and a conformist
(Licuanan, 1994).
Several Filipino traits are rooted in our economic environment. The hard life drove
Filipinos to work hard and take risks, such as leaving our families to work abroad. This
further developed our ability to survive. Unfortunately, our political environment and
government structures and systems are fraught with problems. For instance, the fact
that political power is mainly in the hands of the elite, and the absence of a strong
government presence enhances the Filipino’s already extreme family centeredness
(Licuanan, 1994). The economic and political environments are among the elements
that have developed the culture of corruption in the Philippines.