RSS - Posts
I stumbled upon this post by FIl-American Jon Torres over the popular site Associated Content. I would like to share my response to all my reader to some of his well intentioned subjects regarding his reaction as a Filipino to ‘being referred to as Hispanic’, something that is a common experience for those Filipinos who lives close to big Latino communities in the US. (All the italics are mine)
Filipinos Are Not Hispanic
A Few FAQ’s I Keep Having to Answer
By Jon Torres, published Mar 21, 2007
Yesterday I was making a remark to my friend about my Asian heritage and he replied, “Asian? But I thought you were Filipino!” I could only laugh (politely, of course) at his statement, not only because it sounded wrong, but also because I had heard it once too often. This cannot be dismissed away with some flippant remark I’m tempted to make, like “Don’t you ever wonder why there’s no Filipino food at Taco Bell? “
—
*This is quite common in the States, Filipinos – are being recognized as Hispanics, mainly because of the last name, facial feature & religion but Filipinos historically are Hispanics. Our Hispano culture makes us Hispanics. Mistake is made when hispanization is equated with blood relation and geography.
—
There seems to be an all-too prevalent belief among the many westerners I meet, which is the notion that Filipinos are Hispanic. While I can see (more or less) how this could be reasoned in a roundabout way, and make its own odd sense, it is nonetheless wrong. To someone who has grown up in the Philippines, it does sound plausible from a certain point of view, yet still very strange for a number of reasons. I will address some questions I frequently get asked on this apparently novel piece of information.
Where is the Philippines? According to Wikipedia ( as well as every single one of my social studies teachers) the Philippines is in Southeast Asia. At this point, I rather think this should end any further explanation. We are much, much closer to Taiwan, China, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore than any country in Europe or Latin America. The geographical neighborhood alone should clue you in to the probable ethnicity of the Filipinos. Perhaps it is simply this lack of awareness as to where the Philippines actually is, that causes many people to guess and consequently, make mistaken assumptions based on that.
___
Our location makes us Asian, but this does not undue our Hispanic roots for the simple reason that hispanization refers to history, language and culture. So if I were to answer the question “if Equatorial Guinea (an African nation) is a Hispanic nation?” my answer would be yes, not only because they speak Castilian but also because hispanization has taken root in their culture and society. Their geography, being a small state in the middle of the African wouldn’t nullify their identity. Same with ours and some of the pacific islands that were under Spain then.
If one is to travel to China, Japan or Thailand – a Filipino would almost immediately feel like in a different world, an alien, “Asia was never at home with us”, Nick Joaquin said and this is true, Manila is a city with little similarity with cities like Bangkok, Beijing and Tokyo etc etc – theirs is an oriental culture, ours is of Hispano origin. On the other hand, if you were to visit Mexico and all the other Latino countries – you would be awed how strikingly similar our culture is with them. So don’t be surprised if American’s see them in you.
___
How do you explain the 80% Catholicism, which is obviously from Spanish colonization of the Philippines? This is true. We were converted from mostly earth-based, ancestral worshipping spiritual beliefs, and baptized as Catholics in the 16th century. This was instrumental in Spain’s control over the Philippines for over three centuries as colonial property, by using organized religion along with political manipulation (without separation of Church and State). This had the effect of having Filipinos subservient to Spanish rule, without enjoying the benefits of being citizens. In short, we were the property of Spain, but we were not Spanish citizens.
___
Part of the reason why Americans looks at Filipinos as Hispanic is because of our religion. Most Asians are seen as Orientals in the US, Orientals for them practices Buddhism, Hindu or religions they see as unfamiliar and mystical. Since Filipinos are Asians in their mind, they would be surprised to see Filipinos practicing the religion of the immigrant Latinos.
Since hispanization is the process by which a place or a person absorbs characteristics of Hispanic society and culture. We are Hispanos more than asianos. Unfortunately, most are not aware of this fact.
“Property of Spain?” – I think this author never heard about the Cadiz constitution – anyway we were all subjects, under a monarchy that translates to citizenship. This is the reason why Filipinos with means then were able to study, live and travel abroad, they were Spanish by right. Could you imagine the Ilustrados, founding a liberal paper called La Solidaridad in the heart of Spain? If they were not protected by their right as Spanish citizens they could’ve been easily executed. In the days of the Yankees, anyone who stood up here and oppose them was blasted into oblivion, they only ceded leadership after they’ve been able to guarantee that they would still be in control, in terms of economic policies and the nations resources.
In the American years, it would be good to review that we never became citizens under their commonwealth, they never wanted us even with the noisy clamor of the federalistas. I’m sure all Filipino immigrants know that it is not an easy process to go there and work – this is how we were repaid. Our glorious stand with the Americans during WWII and all the service we render under their flag is all but forgotten now. While The Japanese and Germans, on the other hand, who fought against them, today, can freely travel in the US without being bothered by the process we usually face. Talk about history and how it is easily forgotten by this western power.
___
But don’t Filipinos speak Spanish? I get this question several times a year, almost on a monthly basis, and every time I want to say a resounding “No!”, they point out my own particular situation, because I happen to speak it passably well. In my case, as I believe is the same with many Filipinos living in the United States, I learned it here: both from Mexican friends and the local community college. The truth is, most Filipinos do not speak Spanish at all. Almost none of us do. From the 19th century American occupation, English has long replaced Spanish as the western lingua franca of the country, and has been for a hundred years.
___
We used to speak Castillan as a nation, but when the American’s came it slowly eroded but it is, as it was pointed out the ‘lingua franca’ back in the days. The American system then recognized literacy based on the use of the English language. Regardless whether you speak or write in Tagala or Castilian you would still be tagged as illiterate if you would neglect the use and study of this foreign language and since there is no way for someone to progress in the new American standard of education if one would not take up English, everyone had no choice but to learn it.
___
It certainly doesn’t help that Filipinos are generally adaptable, and being from a country with over a thousand local dialects, will be averse (or too polite!) to saying they do not understand, or are unable to learn a certain language. We eventually pick up enough of the local language to get by. True, our main dialect, like many others, is in fact peppered with Spanish words, making it fairly easy for us to learn Spanish if we tried. But what few Spanish words that we use in our daily colloquial speech are mostly pidginized and remarkably different from their original meanings (Get this: “leche” is a mild curse word in Tagalog!). Also, we have much more of the neighboring language groups in our vernacular: mostly Malaysian, Chinese, Arabic, and more recently, plenty of English.
___
It seems that the author of this failed to research on how many Spanish words there are in what most scholar’s claims as ‘pure’ tagala. Aside from thousands of Castilian words in the recognized national language, a study of the Spanish language would also highlight that some of the common words we use that we thought were ours were from the Castilian language. Adapted to suit local pronunciation.
I don’t even want to describe what “leche” means as a curse. 
___
Why do you have a Spanish last name? Doesn’t that mean you have at least one Spanish bloodline? A Spanish surname is very common among Filipinos, and this understandably can lead to confusion. It’s like meeting a Japanese person named Park, or more commonly, a Caucasian person named Lee. It however, does not reveal a person’s ancestry automatically. In the case of most Filipinos, the mass-conversion also led to our being relabeled with ‘Christian’ surnames. Genuine intermarrying was probably quite rare back then. I can confidently say that I am no more Hispanic than your roll of “Scotch” tape has been anywhere near Glasgow.
___
Your last name has nothing to do with your identity. You could be Chinese and possess a name like Juan de la Cruz but you would still be Chinese when you wake up in the morning not unless you got that name from the history and culture of your people – only then that it would mean something. Ancestry and places of origin does not define an identity. Again, there is confusion in the definition of nationality, location, ancestry and identity.
It was not just “relabeling” – it was in effect, creating identity for the natives the aside from of course the benefits it would provide the Government then.
They say, your name says a lot of things about you, this is true, a Hispanized name tells the history of adapting to the Spanish ideals of society then, as it was enforced by Claveria, the fact that it was accepted (voluntarily or involuntarily) means our ancestors assimilated into a Hispanic society.
These are ‘Christian’ names as he pointed out goes back to the process of hispanization. The one thing that the author failed to study is the process of becoming a “Filipino” . The review of this would bring one closer to our real identity. The author already mentioned the Catholic religion earlier, that’s Filipino identity along with the culture and heritage.
Some backward thinking folks would elect to go back to the old tribes for which I’d rather not, what we have, we should keep and respect.
___
So I hope it no longer seems to you a bold statement to say that Filipinos are not Hispanic, not from Latin America, do not speak Spanish nor are even of mostly Spanish ancestry. I encourage you to look up even more information on sites such as Wikipedia, and if possible, find some Filipino friends and raise a discussion, which I have no doubt will be a lively one. And have share some Filipino food while you’re talking. We like to think it’s better than Taco Bell, anyway.
___
I think everyone would be in agreement that our dish is the best in the world!
By the way, thanks to Jon for improving my calligraphy. I happen to take interest in this old art, his on line videos were awesome.
Not enough time to finish reading. But, i have a complete researched ….Who are Filipinos? Looking back where the Indian came from….in Asia..Where in Asia….i have the book & history about it.
If you are interested to talk to me …i will be in San Pedro, Laguna on the 2nd week of October.
Please email me. & thanks
I would like to comment on FILIPINO ARE NOT HISPANIC. The writer was so confused with his litany of facts that went wayward. He admits of Hispanic influence but refuse to admit the influence of spaniards and the drops of bloods that dominate most part if not all of the philippine island. We had been colonized by spain for more than 400 hundred years and sold to the americans for $35M. Maybe the writer doesnt know how to speak tagalog or any of its dialects or maybe he dont even have the droplets of blood in his veins. I envy him he survived the mixes of race. I understand him to be aeta, mangyan, ibatans, and other ethnic race of this country. I do not deny that i am a FILIPINO but to say completely that I have no roots from HISPANIC influence is hypocricy and BASURA (the word we borrowed from spanish language). Maybe he doesnt know how to say KUMUSTA (Como esta?). Being a Filipino serves our flag of identity but to say we are not hispanic, chinese, american, etc. of origin is a pride concealed in waters a half-inch deep. – let us stop glorifying ourselves with reasons that runs out of logic.
Ah, a tagalista. You do know that we’re experiencing colonization as we speak: Tagalog colonization. The mere use of the word “dialects” smacks of racist condescension.
Let me ask you? What is a Filipino, then? Does it refer to our pre-Hispanic heritage? Does it include all ethnolinguistic groups (Tagalos, Ilonggos, Ivatans, Tausuga)? Is it inclusive of all native languages or just Tagalog? And does everybody have to be animist or Muslim?
@ Gundam – Those are the right questions that needs to be answered. Agoncillo in his book already said its imposible but I say, if we base our historical definition of what “Filipino” truly is, only then would we begin to understand how we became “Filipinos”. Problem is that some people feel that the more “aboriginal” they get, the more “Filipino” they become.
The dude who wrote that article “Filipinos are not hispanic” was born and raised “in” the Philippines. That says volumes and certainly explains his ignorance.
He’s probably one of those Fresh-Boaters who probably only associates with Filipinos and only eats Filipino-food and laughs and has something to say about any other thing “outside” his Filipino paradigm. You know the kind!
I hate filipino wanna-bes that say that they are “half spanish” or shit. Why don’t they say that they are American or Indonesians when they also colonized the Philippines not just the Spaniards. People like these are not proud to be Filipino. They say that they are spanish when their last name is spaniards. FYI, last names were given by the Spaniards to filipinos since they mostly had common names. That girl is more a slut than a singer or an artist. SLUT SLUT SLUT! Viva Espana! Every country is mixed with different races in theire history and got much influence!!!! But only philippines cant accept them selves as asian and searching a culture how dumb and poore. sorry but thats the thruth u guys didnt make a own a culture ur talking others. Lot of Latinos dislike filipinos bout that!
#
Fil-Black-Rican, on December 18th, 2008 at 5:27 pm Said: Edit Comment
People from the Philippines, upon migrating or visiting the U.S., are not used to cultural diversity as is experienced by Americans of Filipino descent. When living in California, you just see the cultural and religious similarities practiced with your Mexican or Hispanic neighbors, friends or co-workers.
In Mr. Torres’ case regarding his article, you detect his FOBBINESS when referring to Hispanics with Taco Bell. South Americans (Argentines, Chileans, Uruguayans), Cubans, Dominicans and Puerto Ricans do not eat tacos.
It’s like saying all Asians eat dogs, when in fact that “stereotype” is usually directed to Filipinos, and to an extent Vietnamese and not Japanese, Koreans, Thai, Indians, or Pakistanis. You know what I mean?
That tells you that Mr. Torres is very, very, very new to the United States and probably does not have a diverse group of friends. Most Filipino nationals are inept to socialize outside thier own circle, and then criticize everyone else with passionate put-downs.
They fail to realize that they are the fools.
#
Fil-Black-Rican, on December 18th, 2008 at 5:31 pm Said: Edit Comment
In Mr. Torres’ case regarding his article – Filipinos are not Hispanics, you detect his FOBBINESS (for lack of better words and with all due respect) when referring to Hispanics with Taco Bell. South Americans (Argentines, Chileans, Uruguayans), Cubans, Dominicans and Puerto Ricans do not eat tacos.
It’s like saying all Asians eat dogs, when in fact that “stereotype” is usually directed to Filipinos, and to an extent Vietnamese and not Japanese, Koreans, Thai, Indians, or Pakistanis. The truth of the matter is the vast majority of Filipinos don’t even eat dogs. You know what I mean?
That tells you that Mr. Torres is very, very, very new to the United States and probably does not have a diverse group of friends with different ethnicities. Filipino nationals are known inept to socialize outside thier own circle, and then criticize everyone else with passionate put-downs. It’s because they are not used to living with white-brown-yellow and black people. It really isn’t Mr. Torres’ fault!
They fail to realize that they are the fools.
#
Fil-Black-Rican, on December 18th, 2008 at 5:34 pm Said: Edit Comment
You see how ignorant comments like Taco Bell can go both ways?
#
Fil-Black-Rican, on December 18th, 2008 at 5:39 pm Said: Edit Comment
You could detect Jon Torres’ FOBBINESS commenting on Taco Bell and Hispanics. Mexico is only one of 20 “Hispanic” nationalities.
It’s like Asians eating dogs. We know of only one nation within the continent of Asia who is stereotypically known for eating poodles as a delicacy. Even though a vast majority of Filipinos have never eaten dogs.
#
Fil-Black-Rican, on December 18th, 2008 at 5:45 pm Said: Edit Comment
P.S.,
In defense of Jon Torres, he probably never has extensively visited any Latin American country for a long period of time. Forgive his ignorance. He’s definitely newly fresh off the boat.
You could be right but majority of Filipinos either do not know that they’re hispanic or they’re in denial that they are hispanic. Hispanism has nothing to do with geography – we could be Asians geographically speaking but a glimpse at our culture and history would show a hispano soul.
Hispanism has nothing to do with Spain today but it has everything to do with who we are, and as someone who had the opportunity to travel abroad, I found out that I could never be oriental [in character at least] because my culture and history would not permit me to do so, not that there is something wrong with embracing the oriental culture but its just not Filipino. We should know how to answer the question, define a Filipino? – and in order to define you MUST identify its characteristics… so far, for me, it all leads back to that ‘hispano’ culture that most of us has been taught not to recognize.
Fil Black Rican – I consolidated your comments into one message.
abrazo
A
Thanks. I seem to have had problems submitting my original comment. It kept saying “duplicated comment” upon my submitting them. I would modify the comment only to being denied again. If you can delete “some” or part (at your discretion) of the comments, it won’t sound so redundant.
Again, at your discretion of course!
No hay problemo.
About the dogs, while it is true that we have some people who eats our furry best friends, they’re confined to those who have a tradition of doing so, like the highlanders for example but majority of Filipinos are outraged by this practice.
Eating dogs is punishable by imprisonment, so that should reassure dog loving humans that we are indeed kind to our pets.
Listen, I am not “anti-Filipino” by all means. I just believe the Philippines and Filipinos need to recognize their Spanish cultural past – both the pros and cons – and deal with it.
Seems to me, this “Filipinos are Asians” obsession is due to the term Asian being identified with the “model minority” rhetoric. However, the truth of the matter is Filipinos are predominantly “brown-skinned” people with Spanish names which usually equates to being mistaken for Mexican. In all due respect, the term Mexican or Hispanic, usually defines a general stereotype quite ‘contrary’ and opposite to the “model minority” description often connected to the term Asian.
The dog thing was just a “tic for tac” example of how insulting “stereotyping” can be. It was a subliminal rebuttal towards Mr. Torres’ glib and rude example regarding that all Hispanics eat at Taco Bell. Only Mexico is known for its people eating tacos NOT Cubans, Puert Ricans, Central Americans or South Americans, all being “Hispanics”.
I get it bro. The sad part is that recognition is missing today, when I talk about hispanism, I’m tagged as someone apologizing for Spain’s errors or romanticizing the Spanish era, hispanism has nothing to do with Spain anymore, were talking of cultural and historical identity here not of any allegiance. As you said we just have to deal with it, for me we have to embrace it and make other people fall in love with it. There’s something wrong here, like amnesia, were the only one – of all Spanish colonies that have not known how to value our hispanic origins!
Thanks, good article… Do you know any other places that discuss this?
¿QUÉ QUEDA DE ESPAÑA EN FILIPINAS?
Por Antonio M. Molina (*)
Conferencia en el SEECI reproducida por kaibigan kastila web
NOTA sobre A.M. Molina, por J.R. Perdigón (2003)
Los que cifran su verdad en la estadística tienen ganada la partida si se trata de calibrar la presencia española en Filipinas en función del número de hispano-hablantes. El resultado negativo es obvio, con su carga de pesimismo. Acepto el resultado, pero no su connotación adversa. Somos una minoría los filipinos que poseemos el idioma español en relación con la totalidad de la población nacional. Pero, esto no nos debe llamar a escándalo.
Recordemos, lo primero, que el español no fue nunca idioma del pueblo filipino. Más bien, siempre fue patrimonio exclusivo de una minoría; entiéndase Gobierno, Iglesia, Milicia, el Comercio y los ámbitos de la docencia y las artes. No hay porqué hurgar ahora en las razones que expliquen esta realidad histórica y aún coetánea. Basta con aceptar el hecho consumado. Lo que nos ahorraría rasgarnos las vestiduras innecesariamente. Después de todo, no empiece la porfía de continuados avatares adversos, esa minoría pervive en nuestros días.
Lo que interesa pues, es conservarla cuando menos y, cuando más, ampliarla hasta sus máximas posibilidades. En esto radica la agonía del español en Filipinas; bien entendido, que empleo la palabra agonía en su sentido unamuniano. Unamuno, en efecto, nos advierte que no debemos confundir agonía con muerte ni siquiera relacionarlas indefectiblemente, porque se puede morir sin agonía y hay, en cambio quienes viven en la agonía y por la agonía. Esto, insisto, es cuanto acontece en Filipinas.
La agonía o lo que es lo mismo, la lucha por la supervivencia del español en Filipinas es secularmente denodada. Sin el apoyo, ni siquiera el agradecimiento, de los países hermanos allende los mares, los filipinos, incansables, vamos apuntalando la conservación del idioma español, propiciando así adeptos y cultivadores del mismo, que, lenta pero inexorablemente, reemplacen a los que por ley de vida ahuecan nuestras filas en el decurso de los años.
La Academia Filipina de la Lengua Española, correspondiente de la Real Academia Española; la concesión anual del Premio Literario Zóbel de tan rancio sabor e indudable prestigio; el Instituto Cervantes, últimamente; la Asociación de Maestros de Español; las aulas de español en los principales centros docentes, así estatales como privados; los recientes acuerdos entre las autoridades filipinas y el Ministerio español de Asuntos Exteriores y la Radiotelevisión Española en orden a intensificar el aprendizaje y cultivo del español en Filipinas; las modestas publicaciones periódicas y los humildes títulos editoriales, así como la fidelidad de los hogares cuyo idioma sigue siendo el español, todos, según sus posibles y con unánime afán, van aportando su clásico granito de arena en pro del ideal común. No hemos rendido, pues, la plaza. Ni se rendirá, porque hacemos nuestra la firme convicción de nuestro eximio poeta Claro Recto, al apostrofar de esta guisa a la lengua de esa minoría filipina:
No morirás jamás en nuestro suelo
que aún guarda tu esplendor. Quien lo pretenda
ignora que mis templos y mis ágoras
son de bloques que dieron tus canteras
Los que por otro lado, ciñen lo hispánico al idioma español, cuando comprueban que en Filipinas esta lengua hispana, como ya se ha apuntado, se habla muy minoritariamente, creyendo incluso que va camino de su extinción, nos acosan con angustia: “¿Qué queda ya de España en Filipinas?” Antes de responder, permitidme anteponga una afirmación asaz categórica: Lo hispánico no se agota con el idioma. El hispanismo es más, mucho más que un mero asunto de gramática o de filología tan siquiera de literatura, aunque también abarque todo esto. ¡Mengua sería que España hubiese legado a Filipinas tan sólo su habla, cantarina y bella por demás!
Y ahora responderé a la pregunta, que vuelvo a formular: ¿Qué queda ya de España en Filipinas? En otras palabras, ¿Qué realidad ostenta aún la presencia española en mi país?
Lo primero, a despecho de los llamados espíritus fuertes, esa realidad es la religión católica. El Cristianismo llamó a todas las puertas de Oriente, pero, solamente, bogando en naves españolas, encontró acogida en Filipinas. No extrañe, por tanto, que Filipinas sea “El Unico País Cristiano en el Extremo Oriente”. Nuestra fe religiosa no es relumbrón ocasional, sino que subyace en el trasfondo de nuestro diario quehacer, perfila nuestro modo de ser y aflora en los momentos transcendentales de nuestra vida nacional.
De ahí que, por ejemplo, no obstante, intentonas reiteradas en contrario, quedan proscritos en nuestra legislación el aborto, la eutanasia y el divorcio vincular. Por otra parte, el Estado queda obligado, por ley, a proporcionar enseñanza religiosa en los centros docentes gubernamentales a todos los escolares cuyos padres así lo soliciten por escrito. Y si ampliamos la mirada, observaremos que las festividades locales de la inmensa mayoría de nuestras ciudades y pueblos giran alrededor de su Santo Patrón. ¡En cuántas poblaciones, cuando la Misa Mayor de los domingos, todavía se interpreta la Marcha Real española en el momento de la Consagración!.
Los ritos cuaresmales -Sermón de las siete palabras, lavatorio de los pies, recorrido de los monumentos, que allá se conoce con el nombre español de “Visita Iglesias”, oficio de tinieblas, los “Nazarenos” y demás penitentes públicos con sus correspondientes flagelaciones, las procesiones del Santo Entierro y la Soledad en Viernes Santo y la del Encuentro en Domingo de Resurrección -todos son hitos inconfundibles de lo que España dejara en Filipinas en el curso de la trisecular convivencia fil-hispana. Al igual que esas otras procesiones de impacto nacional como son la de la Virgen del Santísimo Rosario, que, con el nombre de “La Naval”, conmemora con apoyo oficial del Estado, la milagrosa victoria alcanzada por los marinos filipinos y españoles contra las fuerzas de la armada holandesa en 1646, la de Jesús Nazareno de Quiapo, en Manila, exclusivamente para varones, y la fluvial de la Virgen de Peña de Francia en la ciudad de Naga, en Camarines, todas las cuales se originan durante el régimen español en Filipinas y perduras hasta nuestros días. Lo mismo cabe decir del “Santacrusan” -filipinización de la expresión española: Santa Cruz-, que es una especie de procesión cívico-religiosa, que desfila diariamente durante todo el mes de mayo, en honor de la Invención de la Santa Cruz, y en cuyo recorrido los alumbrantes cantan, a dos voces, en español el santo rosario. Podemos citar, para mayor abundancia, las misas de Aguinaldo, que se celebran diariamente, a las cuatro de la mañana, desde el dieciseis de diciembre hasta el día veinticuatro de dicho mes, cuando llegan a su culmen a medianoche, con la Misa del Gallo, entonándose en ellas villancicos españoles al son de castañuelas y panderetas. ¿Y que decir de las innumerables romerías a santuarios tan famosos como los de la Virgen de la Paz y Buen Viaje en el pueblo de Antípolo y de la Virgen del Rosario de Mananag, en la provincia de Pangasinán? Todas estas manifestaciones nos hablan de la labor perdurable de España en mi país.
Pero, citemos un acontecimiento de los años recientes. Me refiero a la incruenta revolución que derrocó la férrea dictadura de Ferdinand Marcos. Cuando éste ordena a las Fuerzas Armadas que consigan la rendición y captura de su Ministro de Defensa, Juan Ponce Enrile, y de su Jefe de Estado Mayor, el general Fidel Ramos Valdés (en la actualidad Presidente de Filipinas habiendo sucedido en el cargo a la presidente Corazón Aquino, verdadera autora de susodicha revolución) así como a sus doscientos seguidores, que se atrincheran en los Cuarteles Generales, Mons. Jaime Sin, Cardenal Arzobispo de Manila, a través de la emisora Veritas, del Episcopado Católico, hace un llamamiento al pueblo para que acudan a defender a los alzados en armas. Impone, sin embargo, sus condiciones: Todos deberán acudir desarmados; tan sólo llevarán el santo rosario; les acompañarán las imágenes más veneradas de la ciudad; los sacerdotes, religiosos y religiosas deberán encabezar al pueblo y dirigirán las oraciones, pidiendo por el triunfo de la libertad y el restablecimiento de la paz. Apenas transcurrida una hora, acudieron dos millones de filipinos, que rodeando los Cuarteles Generales, hicieron frente a las fuerzas militares del gobierno que, -causa asombro ¿verdad?-, no dispararon un sólo tiro; antes al contrario, sin dificultad alguna se unieron a los defensores de la rebelión. El dictador hubo de huir precipitadamente. Así de arraigada es la fe religiosa de los filipinos, preciado legado de siglo.
Eso queda de España en Filipinas.
La vida de todo estado de derecho encuentra su reflejo en su ordenamiento jurídico. Pues, bien; en Filipinas este ordenamiento es fundamentalmente hispánico. Durante el régimen español se trasvasaron a Filipinas los Códigos Civil, Penal y Mercantil de España. Al finalizar el dominio español, los nuevos gobernantes norteamericanos no se atrevieron a abrogar estas legislaciones, que, hasta nuestros días, perviven, si bien con las adiciones y reformas exigidas por las circunstancias histórico-políticas del país. Por otro lado, cuando Filipinas establece su primera República en 1898, la dota de una Constitución Política que se inspira en la española de 1876 y en las de varias repúblicas hispanoamericanas. Cuando en 1935, como antesala de nuestra independencia de la Mancomunidad de Filipinas, su nueva Constitución también adopta varios artículados de la Constitución Española de 1931. Un buen número de esas diversas disposiciones constitucionales de cuño hispánico, y sobre todo, su inspiración jurídica hispánica, encuentran vigencia en nuestra actual legislación.
Eso queda de España en Filipinas.
Hace unos años regresaba yo a Filipinas a bordo de un buque francés. Al día siguiente de zarpar de Marsella, los pasajeros, como es costumbre, comenzaron a trabar mutuo conocimiento. Un profesor japonés se me acercó para presentarse. Nos dimos las manos e intercambiamos tarjetas. Más, cuando este profesor se presentó a otros dos pasajeros japoneses, no se estrecharon las manos, sino que, reverentes, se inclinaron ante sí tres veces. Más tarde, un industrial de Bombay, al presentárseme, también me dio la mano y me entregó su tarjeta. Pero luego, al pretender lo mismo con un funcionario de Nueva Dehli, tampoco se dieron las manos… En cambio, unidas las palmas, las elevaron hasta la altura de la frente y lentamente las bajaron hasta la mitad del pecho, repitiéndolo varias veces.
Cuando después me encontré con don Reynaldo Bautista, del Ministerio de Trabajo de Filipinas, el único pasajero filipino fuera de mí, me invadió un algo de perplejidad. Me pregunté: “¿Cómo saludar a lo filipino, tal que los otros citados lo habían hecho a lo japonés y a lo hindú?”. No sabía si tocarmen las narices o tirarme de las orejas. Me conformé con darle la mano. En seguida interiormente volví a preguntarme: “¿Es que los filipinos estamos tan desprovistos de personalidad propia que ni siquiera tenemos un saludo típico?” Recordé, entonces, que se me tenía por historiador. A fuer de tal, por tanto, repasé mentalmente las crónicas de mi país al respecto. En efecto, en ellas se nos dice que los filipinos, antes de la llegada e instalación de los españoles en Filipinas, para saludar, juntaban las palmas de las manos, alzaban seguidamente en sentido diagonal hasta la altura de la frente, doblaban la pierna izquierda al mismo tiempo que lentamente se agachaban hasta ponerse en cuclillas. Excuso decir que si hubiera saludado así al paisano Bautista, se habría tronchado de risa o, lo que no hubiese tenido ninguna gracia, me habría arrojado por la borda creyéndose objeto de una burla.
Todo esto demuestra que en la llamada occidentalización de los países asiáticos, de lo que se trata es de adoptar los modos y usos de Occidente para su empleo ocasional cuando corresponda, demostrando así que se es igual a los europeos y americanos, pero, entre los naturales del país se retiene lo autóctono, que no ha perdido vigencia. Más, no acontece así, con el pueblo filipino. Nosotros hemos adoptado la cultura y la civilización occidentales como de nuestro propio acervo, válidas entre propios y extraños, así en el país o fuera de sus costas. Digámoslo de una vez, la occidentalización del Oriente encuentra su máxima y cabal representación en Filipinas.
Eso queda de España en Filipinas.
En otra ocasión, esta vez navegando hacia el Japón bajábamos mi mujer y yo por las escaleras del barco para dirigirnos al comedor, cuando sorprendimos a cuatro jóvenes que subían. “Vamos a saludar a estos paisanos míos”, le dije a mi mujer, española de origen. Extrañada me preguntó: “¿Cómo sabes que son filipinos si ni siquiera nos han sido presentados?” Rápidamente la respondí: “Está clarísimo ¿Ves ese rótulo? Dice: Bajada solamente. Y ellos suben!”. Efectivamente, eran cuatro estudiantes filipinos, que se disculparon, diciéndome que, subiendo por aquellas escaleras, se llegaba antes a sus camarotes. ¿Herencia española? Ciertamente. Los japonenes, los chinos, los coreanos, los vietnamitas o los indonesios son incapaces de semejante indisciplina. Ya nuestro héroe nacional, José Rizal, en su novela “El filibusterismo”, pone en boca de un personaje español estas palabras:”¿Queréis que se abra una carretera en España? No hay más que poner un cartel que se diga: Prohibido el paso. Y por allí justamente transitarán todos hasta hacerse camino” Y añadía: “En España el día que se prohiba la virtud, al día siguiente todos los españoles, santos”. Dentro de su hipérbole, las afirmaciones de nuestro novelista son de una realidad innegable. El llamado espíritu de contradicción, que no es más que el culto a la libertad personal frente a todo autoritarismo, es típicamente español. En cuanto a nosotros los filipinos, ya hace tiempo que ha venido a serlo también.
Eso queda de España en Filipinas.
No hace mucho un prominente filipino hubo de recurrir a los tribunales de justicia para hacer efectivo el cobro de un pagaré que suscribiera un amigo norteamericano, a quien aquél venciera en una partida de bacarrá, en la cantidad de cincuenta mil pesos filipinos. El demandado, que se negaba a pagar lo adeudado, en la vista del juicio, admitió ante el juez que había firmado dicho pagaré, revelando el motivo de haberlo hecho. Entonces su abogado invocó al correspondiente artículo del Código Civil -en este respecto y en muchos otros más, fiel calco del Código Civil español, por la razón ya indicada anteriormente- disposición legal que hace inviable el cobro mediante proceso judicial, de ninguna obligación contraída de resultas de un juego de azar.
El juzgado se vió constreñido a sostener la defensa del demandado como ajustaba a la ley. Entonces el demandante filipino solicita se le entregue el pagaré. Una vez en su poder, lo hace añicos, mientras decía: “Señoría: Pido que se haga constar en las diligencias que un filipino puede permitirse el lujo de perder cincuenta mil pesos para conocer a un norteamericano sinvergüenza”.
Eso queda de España en Filipinas.
Cierto magistrado filipino, enojado porque el novio de su hija había enviado la fotografía de ésta a la redacción de un periódico, que patrocinaba un concurso de belleza, para incluirla entre las candidatas, le aconsejó a que retirara dicha fotografía, porque no consentía que dispusiera de ella antes de que fuera marido de su hija. Ya en los recintos de la redacción, dicho magistrado coincidió con un colega suyo, a quien, a preguntas del mismo, le explicó la situación. Sin ningún recato, dicho colega le comentó: “Pues haces muy bien en retirar la candidatura de tu hija, porque, presentándose la mía al concurso, veo difícil que tu hija pueda vencer. ¡Más vale ahorrarse el bochorno de una derrota!” En tono enérgico el magistrado le replicó al instante: “¿Ah sí? Pues mira, no retiro la fotografía. ¡Mi hija será candidata!” A la postre ésta venció. Es que el magistrado se había suscrito al periódico por veinte años, visto que los votos se conseguían en función de suscripciones al periódico. Vuelto a ver su colega, le faltó tiempo para preguntarle: “¿Qué tal el bochorno de tu hija?” Inconfundiblemente hispánico todo ello.
Eso queda de España en Filipinas.
Cuando hace algunos años se presentó un proyecto de ley en nuestro Congreso Nacional para abolir la enseñanza obligatoria del español en las escuelas filipinas, comparecí en la correspondiente sesión pública, habiendo solicitado un turno en contra. El legislador que presidía la sesión, me preguntó: “¿Por qué se opone usted a este proyecto de ley? ¿Por qué prefiere que continúe la enseñanza obligatoria del español en nuestras escuelas? ¿Es que se enseña el tagálog en los centros docentes de España? Tenemos nuestro idioma propio. Cuidemos de enseñarlo y cultirvarlo, en lugar de imponer en nuestras aulas un idioma extranjero que no tiene nada que ver con nosotros. ¿No le parece a usted que llevo razón?”. Le respondí entonces: “Su señoría dice bien. Tenemos un idioma propio, el tagálog, que debíamos hablar y cultivar. ¿No le parece, por tanto, que deberíamos hacerlo ahora aquí, en vez de emplear el inglés, como lo está haciendo Su Señoría? Accedió a ello, aunque no sé si de muy buena gana. Empecé, entonces, preguntándole en tagálog: ¿Cómo se llama esta prenda?”. Me contestó: “Americana”. Arguyo: “Perdone su Señoría, pero esa palabra es española”. Y proseguí: “Señoría, cuál es el nombre tagálog de esta otra prenda?” Me respondió: “Camiseta”. “Vuelva a perdonarme su señoría, pero esa palabra también es española”. Y así le hice recorrer las demás prendas como pantalón, cinturón, corbata y calzoncillo, que también se llama así tagálog.
¿Tiene que ver con nosotros el idioma español? En el Parque de Rizal se pueden leer en sendas placas conmemorativas las traducciones de la poesía última de nuestro hérores nacional realizadas en todos los idiomas principales del mundo. Falta el texto en español. ¿Es que no es este idioma uno de los principales?. Sí, lo es. Se trata únicamente de que Rizal, el héroe, escribió su poesía en español. Como es español se compuso por el joven poeta filipino, José Palma, la letra de nuestro Himno Nacional. También en español se redactó la Constitución de nuestra Primera República, así como los escritos de nuestros más insignes patricios y los documentos más salientes de nuestra historia patria, amén de las mejores producciones literarias de nuestros escritores, tanto en prosa como en verso.
Eso queda de España en Filipinas.
Por un decreto del que fuera Gobernador y Capitán General de Filipinas, don Narciso de Clavería, los filipinos adoptamos apellidos españoles, que son los de más del noventa por ciento de los filipinos; inclusive, hay quien obstenta como apellidos palabras españolas que no lo son; de ahí, que nos tropecemos con sobrenombres tan peregrinos como bragas, pantalón, campana, jaula, elefante y pájaro. Han pasado años desde entonces, se han sucedido los regímenes políticos, los filipinos nos hemos vuelto independientes, soberanos de nuestros destinos y, sin embargo, no hemos renegado de ese úcase español, retenemos dichos apellidos y a mucha honra. Por eso no extrañe, en un repaso de la lista de los delegados a la Conferencia Afro-Asiática de Bandung, que leamos esta reseña: Birmania – U nu; China – Chou En Lai; India – Jawarharlal Nehru; Thailandia – Wakatayakan; Indochina – Ho Chi Ming; Indonesia – Sukarno; y Filipinas – Carlos Rómulo Peña. ¿No es revelador esta singular variante filipina? Lo mismo acontece con los dirigentes de los países orientales, tales como el Emperador Akihito, de Japón; la Primer Ministro Ali Bhuto, de Pakistán, y el Presidente Suharto, de Indonesia, por citar a algunos, frente al presidente de Filipinas, que se llama Fidel Ramos Valdés, como antes lo fuera la Presidenta Corazón Aquino, sin que tengamos que remontarnos al presidente de nuestra primera República, que se llamó Emilio Aguinaldo.
Eso queda de España en Filipinas.
El más somero repaso de la toponimia filipina nos brinda un aval más a nuestra respuesta afirmativa a la pregunta que ocupa nuestra atención. Lo inicia el mismo nombre de nuestro país, Filipinas, que se deriva de Felipe, nombre del que entonces fuera Príncipe de Asturias, en cuyo honor se adoptó ese nombre para nuestras Islas. Nos sale, luego, al paso, una letanía de provincias tales como La Unión, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, La Laguna, Camarines, Mindoro y Negros. Nos hacen el encuentro también ciudades y poblaciones como Ballesteros, San Fernando, Solano, San Carlos, San Quintín, San José, Luceno, Valladolid, Mondragón, Getafe, La Carlota, Pontevedra, Victoria, Santa Catalina, Santander, San Luis y Puerto Princesa. Desfilan seguidamente islas como Corregidor, Monja, Fraile, San Miguel y Boca Grande; bahías y golfos de nombre Illana, Lanuza, Coral, San Antonio, San Juanico e Isla Verde; los cabos Engaño, San Ildefonso, Espíritu Santo, San Agustín, Santiago y Coronado, sin dejar de aludir a ríos y cascadas como Chico, Magno, Grande y María Cristina, así como los montes Sierra Madre, Carballo, Cordillera, Halcón y Santo Tomás. Hago referencia al tomo inédito que, sobre el particular, nos dejara aquel gran investigador y buen amigo que en vida se llamó Adolfo Cuadrado Muñiz, del que he extraído tan parcos ejemplos.
Eso queda de España en Filipinas.
¿Donde está el “American School” establecido por los norteamericanos en Filipinas hace un siglo? Y, sin embargo, allí permanecen la Universidad de Santo Tomás, la del Ateneo de Manila, el Colegio de San Juan de Letrán, el de San Beda y los femeninos de Santa Isabel, Santa Catalina, Santa Rosa, La Concordia, La Consolación y Santa Rita. Todas son instituciones creadas por españoles durante el régimen español en Filipinas y que, aun en nuestros días, continúan su secular misión docente. Y si nos trasladamos a los exponentes materiales existentes cabe citar las fuentes de Carriedo y de Calderón de la Barca, las murallas de Manila que datan de 1574, la Real Fortaleza de Santiago, el Palacio de Malacañang, residencio oficial del Presidente de Filipinas, la Fuerza de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, en Zamboanga, las catedrales de Manila, Lipa y Calasiado, así como las iglesias de San Agustín, Malate y San Sebastián y los templos provinciales de Paoay, Tanay, Dingras, Lucbán, gumaca, Morong, Barasoain y Naga. ¿Podemos olvidar, acaso, los monumentos a Legazpi y Urdaneta, al Arzobispo Miguel de Benavides, al botánico Sebastián Soler y al Gobernandor General Simón de Anda y Salazar? ¿Y qué decir de esa maravilla mundial que es el órgano de bambú de las Piñas?
Eso queda de España en Filipinas.
Los filipinos abrimos los libros de derecha a izquierda, así como leemos horizontalmente de izquierda a derecha, justamente lo contrario a como lo hacen nuestros hermanos orientales. Empleamos el negro para el luto y no el blanco o el amarillo preferido en otras latitudes de Extremo Oriente. En la urdimbre de nuestras danzas y canciones juguetean los fandangos, las habaneras y las jotas, siquiera sea, en palabras del maestro español Cubiles, “con cierta pereza oriental”. Nuestra gastronomía desconoce los platos exóticos de China, Japón y Corea, por ejemplo, a base de serpientes, ratas o monos. Nuestro plato nacional es el cochinillo asado, como se conoce en vuestra Segovia. Nuestra indumentaria típica es, para los varones, la camisa occidental, aunque enriquecida con bordados a mano, y, para las mujeres, la falda larga y la camisa de diseño originariamente valenciano, como lo demuestra la doctora Inés Villas, en su tesis doctoral en la Universidad Complutense, de la que fue primera doctora filipina.
Eso queda de España en Filipinas.
En Filipinas presumimos de redes ferroviarias; alumbrado eléctrico público y privado, traída de aguas potables; marina mercante; plantaciones de azucar, tabaco, maíz, añil y algodón; observatorio meteorológico; cria caballar y bovina; hospitales, orfelinatos, seminarios, conventos de clausura y colegios y universidades. También contamos con un sistema de seguridad social, con economatos y mutualidades, escuelas de maternidad y óptica, asilos, sanatorios, presidios. Y así se podría prolongar la reseña sin pausa; pero, hagámosla para recalcar que todas estas realidades filipinas son de origen español y datan de siglos.
Eso queda de España en Filipinas.
España sigue, pues, presente en Filipinas. Nos lo asegura con mejor acento el bardo filipino Jesús Balmori, que se dirige así a España:
Reina de los amores y los dolores grandes,
que por todas las tierras tu habla sonora expandes
y por todos los cielos prendiste una quimera:
¡Aquel tu sol glorioso que ayer se puso en Flandes
hoy vuelve a ser tu sol, porque está en mi bandera!
High School Filipino Kathleen Ferraren wins Latino Essay Writing Contest in DC
Tue, October 2, 2007 7:37 am
Kathleen’s Dad, Patrick Ferraren (in Virginia), a long lost friend, 30 years ago a co-staffer of The Forward at Colegio de San Jose-Recoletos, after we got reconnected wrote:
“How can a young contemporary Filipina lay claim to Hispanic Heritage, compete with other DC area high school Hispanics in an essay contest about how being Latino is the best of both worlds in the USA, and win? Answer: By weaving a connection that is indisputably valid, drawing on her life’s experiences that enhance the connection, and expressing her feelings about the significance of that Spanish connection–utilizing her unique personal style of literary writing that appeals to her audience. She made it light reading and interestingly anecdotal, with relevant facts. The dozen or so judges approved and gave it to her. Who would have known? Pardon my “estoy muy orgulloso” father attitude, but this makes for an interesting English Lesson because it is true. Here is an example of how to write a winning piece! In the real world!” (I asked Patrick that I post Kathleen’s winning piece as I find this very inspiring for our young Danawanons in California as well as all other young Pinays. – Monching)
SOY LATINA TAMBIEN
Kathleen is my given name but I recall my parents called me by my Spanish name, Catalina, when I was four years old. Both my parents are Filipinos of mixed origin—mostly Spanish and Asian. Having immigrated to America from the Philippines, they brought their colorful cultures to the melting pot that is America. I was brought up in a Roman Catholic household where the Santo Niño and the Virgen stood on an altar.
Although my parents’ home country, the Philippines, is located in Asia, it has a lot to share with other Latino countries. Named after Madrid’s King Philip II, the country was colonized by Spain from 1565 to 1898.
My parents decided that I would grow up learning English only. However, they would often insert Spanish words—embossed into their culture from 333 years of Spanish rule—into daily conversation. I was used to hearing other people muttering about my and other children’s foibles, complaining with sacrilegious words of Jesús y María, and when we were especially clumsy, Jesús, María y José. Refusals to eat my empanada or drink my leche earned me a slap on the arm and an order of habre.
Around this time, when I was about three, my mother and my tía thought that it would be charming to dress up my cousin and me up in matching outfits. Next to my lacy camisetas, beautiful fans from Sevilla, and handed down jewelries, my mother’s favorite outfit for me was a bright red tiered Spanish dress with puffy sleeves and white lace. I hated it and cried often when I was forced to wear it to parties.
“Put it on, hija” commanded my mother.
“No, mamá” I replied defiantly.
“You’ll never go to Nicky’s again,” warned my mother, forcing the itchy heap over my head.
“Jesús, María y José!” I protested, promptly earning me a time-out.
After that episode, my parents considered augmenting my Spanish in addition to the trite expressions. Already I was going around telling my fellow preschoolers that yes, babies could talk, because ga-ga in Pilipino (a language sporadically infused with Spanish) meant stupid. My father especially nudged me to learn Castilian, and he continues to advocate the vosotros conjugation and th lisp to this day.
After seven years, I began to grumble. It irked me when another student was given the Spanish name Catalina. I had to settle for Catrina. The misnomer tormented me, and my interest waned. “Soy Catalina,” I used to murmur. “Why do I have to learn, anyway? In America, people speak English.”
“Huh,” my mother replied. “It is your heritage, and many people in America speak Spanish. Besides, don’t you want to be able to read Don Quixote in its original Spanish?”
That last reason remains my biggest motivation of all. Since I am still not fluent in the language, my second-hand hardcover still lies enticingly on my bookshelf. I will suffer patiently like the steadfast Florentino Ariza. However, I have succumbed to the charms of Gabriel García Márquez and Isabel Allende, whose words I devour amid sobs and laughter. I have also given way to telenovelas, RBD, and reggaeton.
I finally had a chance to practice my Spanish during this year’s spring break on a school trip to Perú and Ecuador. I spent many happy hours enjoying the warmth and joy of the people, and I nearly leapt out of my chair in a restaurant when local musicians played “Qué sera, sera,” a song that my father used to sing to me when I was very little. Cheering and wearing red, I ran into the celebrating throngs in Plaza de Armas when the local Cienciano team won the South American World Cup. I gaped at the majestic Sacsayhuamán, I ate cuy, and I took care not to use the Sagrada Familia’s names in vain in the beloved Iglesia de San Francisco. My most unforgettable experience, however, was getting lost on the mountain Machu Picchu.
By the time I started to descend, it was already sunset. Anyone who has been up that long, treacherous mountain can understand the terror it inspired in me as I stumbled in the dark, often losing my footing and hearing snakes in the undergrowth. I found myself conversing with the Urubamba below and clutching my Incan cross that I had bought from the tienda. When I finally emerged along with my fellow hikers, our guide tried to calm us down with Inca Kola and stories of his home life in Lima.
“Well, I like to spend time with my wife and daughter,” he began. “And I catch up on telenovelas.”
“Ooh, do you watch Rebelde?” I asked eagerly, and conversed with him in as much Spanish as I could muster.
I returned home victoriously spouting colloquial Spanish and proclaiming myself a Latina. That entire trip, more than anything else, made me realize how much the Spanish culture is ingrained in people’s lives, including mine, albeit not entirely native. I consider myself a far-extended product of Spanish progeny and regale, however vicariously, in its influence and impact to the world. We as a people have a proud history, and our language unites us and defines our culture. Culture is how one lives his heritage: the dances my mother knew, the songs on the guitarra my father would sing, the religion we practice, the wars we fought, and the glorious lands of our fathers that are worth dying for. Everything is filled with our passion for life. And so we are fortunate to live in the United States, who celebrates and integrates our unique culture with her own. Here, we are offered opportunities that we may not have had back home, and our countries stand together in friendship.
My dream is to take a road trip across Spain and to dance the flamenco in the middle of Madrid, amid shouts of Olé from the audience. And then, of course, to eat chicharrones and vindictively spill them all over my puffy and lacy red dress.
Filipinas quiere que el español vuelva a ser lengua oficial
Se llama Gloria Macapagal Arroyo y es la presidenta de Filipinas. Quiere que el español vuelva a ser lengua oficial en el archipiélago, que fue tierra española desde 1565 hasta 1898. Aunque los norteamericanos impusieron el inglés en las islas a partir de esa fecha, el español siguió siendo lengua de rango oficial hasta 1987, cuando el Gobierno de Corazón Aquino la suprimió. Ahora Macapagal tiene un gesto de sensatez y solicita al Gobierno español que colabore en este proyecto. En buena lógica, España debería echar una mano.
Quien ha hecho público el propósito del Gobierno filipino es Humberto López Morales, un filólogo cubano nacionalizado español que ejerce como secretario de la Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española. Según ha informado EFE, López Morales, en la inauguración de un coloquio en Buenos Aires sobre la lengua española, afirmó que la gobernante filipina hará su petición de ayuda a España durante la visita que tiene prevista a nuestro país en el mes de diciembre.
La colaboración de España con su antigua colonia puede consistir, según el filólogo cubano nacionalizado español, en el envío de profesores y material bibliográfico para la enseñanza del idioma, entre otras medidas. Si logra ayuda de las autoridades de España, posiblemente en enero dicte un decreto que oficialice el idioma español, sigue informando EFE, siempre citando a López Morales.
En abril pasado, el Instituto Cervantes de Manila pidió al Gobierno filipino que volviera a incluir el estudio del español como lengua oficial dentro del currículum de los alumnos de la escuela pública. Filipinas suprimió el español de su sistema educativo en 1987, durante el Gobierno de la presidenta Corazón Aquino, bajo la nueva Constitución que se redactó tras la caída del régimen de Ferdinand Marcos. Más de 5.000 personas estudian actualmente español en el país, según datos del Instituto Cervantes. Es una cifra ridícula.
En el terreno práctico, España posee recursos sobrados para colaborar en el proyecto de la presidenta Macapagal Arroyo. La proyección exterior de la cultura española, una vez desaparecido el Instituto de Cultura Hispánica creado por Franco, pasó a oscilar entre los ministerios de Exteriores y Cultura hasta pivotar sobre el Instituto Cervantes, ya en época de Felipe González. Se abrió entonces un periodo de confusión y solapamiento de competencias que, aún dando sus frutos, pudo haber ofrecido mejores rendimientos.
El papel del Instituto Cervantes bajo el gobierno de Aznar fue afinado y clarificado, pero lo esencial del esfuerzo de cooperación cultural venía a recaer en Exteriores, ministerio cuyas prioridades rara vez coinciden con la potenciación de la cultura española. Después, con Zapatero, se impuso la doctrina de que el Cervantes debía evitar perfiles “expansionistas” y, aún más, integrar la proyección exterior de las lenguas vasca, catalana y gallega. La gestión de César Antonio Molina (hoy ministro de Cultura), generalmente elogiada, ha atemperado esa doctrina, pero el hecho es que la proyección exterior de la cultura española sigue pareciendo demasiado escasa.
Okay. Here’s my two cents worth.
Being “Hispanic” in the U.S. context has some very political implications that need to be understood. Spaniards, for example, are not classified as “Hispanic,” but as “European.”
Being Hispanic, in that sense, apart from its geographic and racial applications, implies I believe either fluency in Spanish (or Castillan, if you prefer) or the possession of a Spanish-speaking home background.
The vast majority of Filipinos, and I mean more than ninety-nine percent, DO NOT come from a Spanish-speaking home environment. For them, Spanish is neither the mother tongue nor a first learned language. Most do not even have Spanish as a good second language, though this number, among Filipinos in the States, is definitely growing as a result of demographic influence and economic necessity.
Not one in ten Filipinos in the States would be able to fully comprehend the Spanish written in the earlier posts.
However, virtually all Filipinos who immigrate to the States from the Philippines have some Filipino language, either as a mother tongue or as a first learned language. There are several Filipino languages, including Tagalog, Ilokano, Kapampangan, Cebuano, Ilonggo and Chavacano. The last mentioned, Chavacano, is a heavily hispanized language, BUT IT IS NOT SPANISH AND WOULD NOT BE RECOGNIZED AS SPANISH ANYWHERE ELSE.
Now here is the point. ALL Filipino languages are classified as Asian and have the closest linguistic affinity to neighboring languages. Filipino languages are cousins to Malay, Javanese, Achenese and even Polynesian languages, just as Spanish is a cousin to Portuguese, French and Italian. This is well-established scientifically and cannot be disputed.
On the other hand, this does not mean that three-and-a-half centuries of Spanish colonial rule did not leave an indelible imprint on Filipino language, culture and religion.
Parenthetically, the fact that more Filipinos are at home in English than in Spanish does not make them “Anglo-Saxon” either!
I would also suggest that people be careful about throwing FOB-ness around. This is a very sensitive subject to many Filipinos and does not rest well with many of them.
Going back to culture, Filipinos are closely linked in many deep levels with other Asians. Traditional Filipino attitudes towards family and community are definitely more Asian than Western.
The bottom line is that Filipino-Americans can — if they see the political expediency of doing so and have the astuteness to act on this realization — identify with both the Hispanic and the Asian-Pacific Islander ethno-political communities in the U.S. If they are welcomed, Filipinos can have representatives in the AAPI and La Raza and so forth.
One interesting aspect of this, and of globalization trends, is the hiring by the hundreds of Filipino teachers to staff schools along the border regions in the southern part of the U.S. Many of these teachers have been recruited to teach Engish. No doubt, they and their family members will also pick up a good working knowledge of Spanish.
Vale!
Marcelo
Hi Sr. Marcelo
Hispanism does not pertain to language alone, actually its more culture and tradition than language. I could understand why people would relate it with THE language, because there, in the US, Latino [hispanic], has become an expanding demographic unit, an ethnonym, and since Spanish speakers are from different countries, the US response was the generalization of differentiating Spanish speakers from other immigrants by use of their language, calling all of them Hispanic or Latinos.
The term Latino, which was officially adopted sometime in the 1990’s by the US government actually is incorrect, because Latino refers to other romance languages like Portuguese and Italian, this familiar mistake is made because Hispanism is tied to Spanish, the language.
By the way, in NO former Spanish colony was Spanish the only language. It was the new republics that created educational systems the created use of Spanish. So if we adopted a curriculum that made used of Spanish, we would all be speaking Spanish right now. Of course, it didn’t happened, the US came in with their public schools and their so called progressive democratic ideas.
We really do have a short memory, we forget that revolution’s language was Spanish, the original composition of our anthem was Spanish, our first constitution was in Spanish, our greatest literature was in Spanish, Filipinos names and places are in Spanish [most], the people who carried out the fight against the Spaniards were Spanish speakers, our Tagalog [not the bastardized Filipino or Taglish] has loads of Spanish influenced expressions – and that we don’t speak it now doesn’t mean we never did.
un abrazo,
Arnaldo
They are going to teach the Spanish language -again- at the selected secondary schools? Wow…the Philippines is finally thinking “globalization.” For cultural exchange and more opportunities for the newer generations, I think it’s a positive move.
zealous nationalist, or those pretending to be,worked behind the scenes to remove Spanish [language], these are shortsighted leaders, who abolished the official teaching of Spanish [authored by Senador Enrique Magalona during mid 1900's] during the phony cory constitution, they should be ashamed that the language Claro M. Recto, Enrique Magalona, Adriatico, Rizal, and so many great Filipinos fought for was eradicated by their politics , simply because this idiotic leaders saw speaking and studying Spanish as unnationalistic, what these morons forgot is that we started this nation using Spanish as its language, her first constitution, her national anthem, her revolution, her greatest sons and daughters were spanish speakers, her greatest novels and poems were in Spanish, so how could we be less Filipinos in Spanish?
Interesting discussion. I have friends and associates from Korea, Japan and Indonesia, and I have to say that few of them think of Filipinos as an Asian people, in any sense other than geographic. Knowledgeable Koreans I have met say that Filipinos resemble Mexicans or even Africans (possibly having met some Aetas), rather than Asians. An Indonesian friend once said that culturally the Philippines is very far from Indonesia, Malaysia or Singapore (according to him, most Filipinos can’t even find Indonesia on a map, much less connect to an imaginary shared heritage).
1) geographically Asian, 2) culturally Hispanic influenced, and 3) linguistcally uses English as a second language.
These are three reasons that make if difficult to define filipinos, yet these are the same three reasons that “do” define them…
It’s a unique situation really, and I love it!!!
Tenemos que conocer acerca de la diversidad de nuestra cultura. Recuerde, nuestra cultura es ni oriental ni occidental. Somos influido por las tres culturas: Lumad, Moro y La Gente de las Tierras Bajas (Cultura Hispana). Somos no Americano pero Filipino. Aprenda la lenguas locales y lengua nacional! Aprenda la lengua española porque tambien es la herencia Mexicana y España. No estas ignorantes. Mabuhay ang nasod sa Pilipinas! ¡Adelante La Republica Filipina!
look im married to a filipina here in australia……i went there for the first time to manila and then down to her parents province…..to me and here in australia filipinos are considerd ASIAN!!!..yes they do have spanish influence but they look exactly the same as indos malays and thais……what about the east timorese are they hispanic as well!! they wherer colonized by the portugese also….even there language is close to indonesian and malay alot of words having the same meaning….so basically from my observation they are strongly more connected with Asia than hispana
Mike, have you traveled into Mexico, Central America, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia and observed the indigenous populations there?
You need to stop thinking Australian. Your ethnicity is world renowned for being the most closed-minded, racist, unwelcoming to people of color of ALL the civilized world.
they also look somewhat like the people of southeast Asia. It maybe a mistake to categorize people by what continent they live in. Some Russians, certainly Arabs, and Japanese would be lumped into the same category. I think of Hispanics as people who speak Spanish as a native tongue even when it was forced upon them as in the case of the peoples of Southern North America of aztecs of Mayan decent what about the South American Incas they too are Hispanic as are the blacks in Cuba or Puerto Rico that were also Spanish colonies. Once you cease to speak the language I think you are no longer Hispanic as I think someone with the name like Wagner who lost touch with his ancestors language would no longer be German.
Language plays an important role in defining nationality, l think this is also the reason why nationalist started to call the national language Filipino-Pilipino, so the language and the national is one – this is what they wanted people to accept. There is a confusion with these two, anyway, I don’t agree with your point because Spanish, although was never widespread, it permeated with all the major languages. I like what the Jesuit Arcilla said about our Hispanic identity, that if you would take all that we got from it we would not recognize the Filipino. The American historian Leddy-Phelan was accurate when he described the Filipino as being fully Hispanized.
ABSOLUTELY YES MIKE. Hispanicity has nothing to do with race or physical attributes. Equatorial Guinea is a Hispanic African nation. You’re narrowing down the idea of hispanidad.
Yes the PH is in ASIA obviously but she has been dissociated from ASIA when it became part of the Spanish empire for 333 years for crying out loud. Hispanidad has something to do with INFLUENCE, RELIGION, CULTURE & LANGUAGE not race that’s pathetic.
The American were the one who started calling Hispanics based on their language, thats is why we have the US Govt official term, Latino, since all hispanics speaks Spanish anyway – but the problem is Italian and Portuguese are also Latino languages, should we call them Latinos too?
Identity is rooted in traditions, culture and history – we have no right to call ourselves Filipino if we keep on denying that much of what we have now, including our religion even our food – came from our hispano past.
Es una pena que el genocidio norteamericano durante 1901-1909 haya asesinado a 1/7 de la población filipina para erradicar el español y la herencia cultural española. Los americanos no pudieron vencer al español y tuvieron que bombardear y destruir intramuros. Es una vergüenza!
It is a pitty that the american genocide during 1901-1909 killed more than 1/7th of the filipino population in order to root out spanish heritage. The americans coud not finish their work until they bombed and destroyed Manila Intramuros. Shame on that!
pelotillo…
it is true. however;
1) as the spanish language is reintroduced to selected secondary schools and re-emphasized at the university level,
2) with the assistance and moral support of “all” of spain’s former colonies,
3) the aggressive p/r by “istituto cervantes of the p.i.,”
4) the 300,000 chavacano speakers,
5) president Arroyo’s vision of the growing importance of spanish worldwide aka globalization,
= the philippines could finally experience a long deserved hispanic-renaissance. Lets hope and see…
cuanto daño ha hecho la americanización de Filipinas a todos los Filipinos……
La cultura hispana es la que creó Filipinas como nación, la cultura hispana es idioma, tradiciones, sangre, genética y todo eso está dentro de Filipinas….así que Filipinas es el “primo tonto” de los pueblos Hispánicos ,,, digo tonto porque sus políticos decidieron (claramente pagados por los americanos) dejar de hablar español.
@ Eleuterio Masera – Thank you for visiting the site, you’re right that much of what has been removed was the making of the Politicos who submitted to the US. People argue that since we no longer use Spanish we no longer have the right to claim that we are Hispanics, this is a shallow analogy, we not only adapted the Spanish ways, in time it evolved and became uniquely Filipino. Just like what you said, Hispanization is “la cultura hispana es idioma, tradiciones, sangre, genética”. Not because I celebrate my Hispanic identity and tradition, like many of us, means I’m less of a Filipino, people who brand hispanistas as unpatriotic could not even define what Filipino means, because its very definition is the result of a process that made it identifiable today, remove it and you’ll no longer identify the Filipino.
It’s really hard for any Filipino to embrace it’s Hispanic heritage when most Filipinos do not travel to Latin America. They only see the negative stereotypical images of “Mexicans”, which unfairly translates to all Hispanics, when visiting the United States.
I think one of the things that make it difficult for Filipino or Filipino Americans to identify with being Hispanic is because they do not want to be affiliated with being;
1) illegal and undocumented,
2) undeducated and no professional ambitions,
3) gang members and criminals,
and other negative stereotypical images prompted by the powerful American media.
Likewise, it is easier for them to embrace thier “geographic” location of Asia, and not thier cultural affiliation with Latin America, and identify themselves of how Asians, the Model Minority, are perceived in the U.S.
Sad, but true…