Identity is such a sensitive term. There are people who suffer from what they call an “identity crisis”. I cannot give the particular definition of this term as professional psychologists can but I know it is a state of confusion that leads into asking “who one is” as well as “what one is”. Adolescents usually go through this for they are in the stage of finding themselves. Some also feel this in the later part of their lives. It’s just these times when they begin to seriously quest for an answer about the nature or essence of their being and the search for an identity. That having said, do Filipinos also experience this kind of dilemma?
I believe we are. We are not just aware of it. I mean, it would be easy for me to say what our identity is if I just know it. It’s a sad fact that most of us, including me, do not take time paying attention to who and what our identity as Filipino is. We just ponder on this when the situation tells us that it’s compulsory. This affirms what the prominent Filipino author Nick Joaquin has said. He said that the identity of the Filipino today is of a person asking what his identity is.
So that is, we do truly have an identity crisis. But what is this “identity” that we are searching for? That is, what is this assignment all about?
According to the Dictionary, the word “identity” is a noun that means “the sameness of essential or generic character in different instances”.
So in other words, I am basically being asked to present what I think is the similarity of every Filipinos’ important or common character in different occasions.
On the deeper sense, I am asked to present what our identity as defined earlier so that we could identify ourselves as Filipinos. That is, to prove to be, or consider as, the same as everyone else who call themselves Filipinos. Thus, specify a certain Filipinohood that would eventually unite and bind us as one people.
So the quest to our identity begins here. I am equipped of its definition as our map in this strange world. That is, I deem it’s just right to adhere on its denotation to end up with the correct result.
“SAMENESS”
Now, the definition has the important term “SAMENESS”. By that, I must present things that are exactly alike with all Filipinos. Hence, they must be the same.
“OF IMPORTANT”
Next to the word “sameness” goes “of important...” So what are the same essential and pertinent attributes that all Filipinos must possess?
First and foremost Filipinos live and/or are citizens of the Philippines. They can either be born here or acquired their Philippine citizenship through undergoing certain processes. Likewise, they are individuals who can trace a Filipino connection in their family tree to say that they have a “Filipino blood” and have obtained “Filipino genes”.
“OR GENERIC CHARACTER”
Subsequent to that is the portion that says “or generic character”. This part all in all just pushes me to point out common distinctive qualities and traits that Filipinos manifest.
The Admirable Ones
Filipinos commonly offer food and decline the offer. “Kain!” (Let’s eat!) This is how Filipinos acknowledge anyone who stumbles upon a flock of Filipinos eating. This is our distinctive way of offering food to strangers and people we barely know. In fact, it could be a way of greeting someone while you’re eating. Instead of saying “Hello”, you say “Let’s eat!” Now the thing that makes it a bit baffling is that it’s polite to offer to share your meal with a person, but, it is equally polite for the other person to decline the offer. It makes me wonder “why offer in the first place if you don’t expect the other person to accept it?” Well in fact most people who get offered to eat decline the offer regardless if they’re starving or not.
Also, we are famous for being very hospitable and delightful to be with. In all modesty, I must say we are the warmest people one will ever meet. Hospitality coupled with smile is another rarity found only among Filipinos. A “very gracious host” is always the positive comment of every foreigner once he leaves or departs from the Philippines. In fact they would comment that Filipinos everywhere love to smile even though they are suffering. Being hospitable adorned with lovely and natural smile is almost like a second nature to every Filipinos.
The deep religiosity is another trait which is innate in the Filipinos. When we say innate, it is already embedded in the very nature of every Filipino. The sense of deep religiosity is what makes the Filipinos face every trial; economic, political upheaval, natural disasters and, even personal ones, with firm courage and strong belief in the providence of God. Sometimes, natural disasters are “sparks” because they awaken the nature of Filipinos to call out to their god for help. We can notice that in the recent natural calamities, people would no one to turn to but to god who gives them strength, hope and courage in the face of seemingly uncontrollable situations in life. And what can we say of the turning point in our political life in EDSA. Did it not happen because of the influence of our religiosity? One could really feel the “hands of god” in those troubled times. Blood shed and countless innocent civilians would be killed where it not for the people’s unceasing prayers to move heaven and earth; Democracy would not be restored. Religiosity in every Filipino is a mystifying force that unites each one, especially if their motivation is good. This trait is also manifested in every Grand fiesta of each city or barrio. In Cebu for instance, a foreigner would be filled with awes and wonder upon observing the Sinulog festival and the way the Cebuanos celebrate it.
The trait of strong family ties is a distinctive feature that makes us Filipinos stood out to the rest of the world.Where on earth can you see that even in their old age, members of Filipino families still live together in one roof, if not, adjacent to each other? Because of such remarkable closeness, parents sometimes have difficulties letting go of their children and thus results to having them stay for as long as they want. For this somehow explains why grandparents are commonly seen living with their children in the Philippines. Unlike the way people grow old in the west where they are provided with outside homes and care giving, Filipino elderly enjoy their remaining lives inside their houses with their children and grandchildren looking after them.
Another trait Filipinos made themselves exceptional from others is their strong respect for elders. Children are taught from birth how to say “po” and “opo” to teach them as early as possible how to properly respect their elders. These words are used to show respect to people of older level. Even adults will be criticized for not using these words when speaking with their parents or people older than them. Inside the family, the parents are expected to receive the highest respect from the children along with the elder siblings; as they are given more responsibilities to look after younger siblings when parents are not around. Children fighting back or addressing parents or elder siblings with arrogant tone are not at all tolerated.
We children as well as those adults who still live with their parents are also not allowed to leave the house without their parents’ permission. Upon arriving home, conservative families expect children to practice the kissing of hands or placing their parents or elder family members’ hand to their foreheads with the words “mano po” as a sort of greeting.
Filipinos are cooperative. They value the virtue of helping each other and other people. They cherish the ancestral trait of bayanihan, which means cooperation. In rural areas, when a man is building, repairing or transferring a house to another place, the neighbors come to help him. Through Bayanihan, Filipinos become heroes to each other.
The Filipinos are noted for their durability and resiliency. Through the ages they have met all kinds of calamities-- revolts, revolutions, wars, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and epidemics. They can assimilate any civilization and thrive in any climate. Against the adversities of life or nature, they merely bend, but never break. They possess the formidable durability of the narra tree and the resiliency of the bamboo.
Well these are just some of the positive attribute that Filipinos are observed to commonly possess and manifest. By them we can say that we are Proud to be Pinoy. But, human beings that we are, we are ambivalent. We have the tendency to exhibit good things as well as bad habits. Here are some of them:
The Despicable Ones
First is gossiping. Yes the good old gossiping became the past time of most people especially in the urban areas which causes fight amongst neighbors who gossip bad things and at the same time doesn't have any proof.
Second is lack of discipline. Yes you can see many people in the Philippines that lacks discipline, for example crossing the street even without the pedestrian lane or even when it is not the right time to do so. This is also the reason why there are a lot of road accidents in this country.
Next would be the colonial mentality. Filipinos tend to buy and patronize things that are imported and doesn't even care for products that are made in their own country. They tend to buy branded shoes even if it's smuggled or fake as long as it's branded but doesn't have a good quality when in fact some of their products are better and are exported by other countries. This is also true with those Pinoys who idolize more foreign artists, singers, books and movies rather than the local ones.
Subsequent to that is what they call "Filipino time". It means that we are not punctual and always comes late in meetings or jobs. Filipinos give so many alibis such as flat tire or the most commonly used "traffic jam".
Another is the one they call as “Ningas-cogon”. It is a negative trait, by all standards, because it begins ardently and diligently but this diligence eventually dies down as soon as it begins. This trait renders one inactive and unable to initiate things or to persevere.
Then comes Mañana or "Bukas na" Habit or the procrastination deeds by Filipinos.Negative, because one constantly postpones action and accomplishes nothing. This aggravates a situation, a problem grows beyond correction, a leak or a small break becomes a gaping hole. This arises from an slothful mentality that a problem will go away by itself.
We also have the trait of extreme loyalty to a group or “Pakikisama”. Negative, because one closes one's eyes to evils like graft and corruption in order to conserve peace and harmony in a group at the expense of one's comfort. Some negative results or manifestations of this are:
- palakasan (show of power)
- sipsip (bribery)
- palusot (alibi)
- lagay (bribe)
- bata System (nepotism)
Bahala na (resignation) - Negative, because one leaves everything to chance under the pretext of trusting in Divine providence. This trait is really laziness disguised in religious garb.
Utang na loob (indebtedness) -Negative, because one overlooks moral principles when one is indebted to a person. One who is beholden to another person will do anything to please him, thinking that by doing so he is able to repay a debt. One condones what the other person does and will never censure him for wrongdoing.
So those are some of the generic and distinctive characteristics of Filipinos.
"IN DIFFERENT INSTANCES"
The last but not of least importance is the phrase “in different instances”. This led me logically to conclude that identity and that the mentioned “sameness of important or generic character” are seen and felt in diverse occasions and that the act of identifying ourselves with others happens at particular times. Hence, the sense of identity is, and must be experienced. It is important to note that experiences are subjective and that we can have personal and unique encounters.
For one, we love to proudly identify with those Filipinos who made and/or continuously making a great job in their fields. We felt united when Manny Pacquaio has a fight. We felt one and became proud when Venus Raj and Shamcey Supsup had their places in the prestigious Ms. Universe pageant. We feel as one community while watching and shouting for the Azkals. There are other Filipinos who unconsciously unite us and strengthen our sense of identity. I thank them.
Perhaps it’s not just this “Proudly Pinoy” moments that we can identify with our Filipinos. We also become one during down times. We become united in helping our fellow countrymen recover after strong calamities struck. Typhoons, earthquakes, landslides, flashfloods among others are some of the different instances that we become more aware of our identity as one people too much that it overflows.
But it’s so sad to say that we wait for these extremes to happen. Why don’t we become united in combating poverty? How about fighting corruption? In this instance we also become one, in apathy.
Enough to say, we only become the ideal Filipinos at both extreme pleasurable and extreme difficult moments. We become our negative side at times when we remain ignorant and indifferent in social issues that are already in front of our eyes.
But I believe these positive and negative sides of our beings are just integral parts of our Filipino Identity. They’re part of our system as Filipinos. As David Hume has said, “There’s no such thing as self. We only have a bundle of selves.” Using Hume’s argument, there is no such thing as a Filipino identity- only a bundle of many Filipino identities.
That is, our identity cannot be defined and confined into words or even music or video presentations. As said, it is felt subjectively. It is experienced. The Filipino today is a collection of his many and varied subjective experiences. It is aroused unexpectedly and unconsciously at times when we don’t think we’ll feel it.
Now the challenge to each and everyone is how to use and will this awareness of identity into solving and combating perennial and serious problems that we are all involved in -The challenge to use this identity to effect change and progress.
Also, being aware of the negative side of our identity must bring forth improvement if not eradication of them bad habits. Likewise, consciousness of what we have as positive traits must lead for us to strengthen and maximize them for the benefit of all.
Hence , the sense of identity must be felt in our hearts. It must be felt rushing through our veins. For we have one blood - the blood that the Malays, Spaniards, Indonesians, Chinese, Americans, British among our other ancestors’ bloods comprise. They must be lived and imbibed.
We are one people. We are Filipinos.
***This is actually one of my assignments during my freshmen college on my Philippine History course. I might've copied paste some of the facts here. So I apologize for that and would like to give credit their sources. Definitely some of them are mine.
