Is There a Filipino Identity? Essay

Is There A Filipino Identity? A glance of our historical past will surely reveal who the Filipinos really ar, the Filipino identity as it is called. Yet, due to external particularors like technological advancements and compound influences, the true essence of being a Filipino now reaches the apex where it is slowly degrading. Evidently, our colorful history truly defines our identity as a Filipino, plainly as I said earlier, changes threatened this identity. Now, despite of these changes, Is on that point still a Filipino identity? Let us give for example our national flag which is the symbol of our nationality.This rectangular piece of material identifies us being a Filipino. But according to Prof. Randolf S. David, We may chirrup the national anthem, as the flag is raised, and execute the pledge of allegiance everyday, but these do non do not automatically evoke in as a consciousness of being a part of a nation. Whats the use of uttering such if we dont even recite it by heart? In other words, we are just winning it for granted. National symbols like our national flag may give us a sense of being a Filipino, but these do not reveal our identity.Like for example, the barong tagalog, without doubt, it is the garment of defining moments in the lives of Filipinos, from cradle to grave. The barong reminds the Filipinos of who they are. It may really identify us apart from other nationalities, but it is solo an external identification. Knowledge of these symbols is not enough to identify yourself as a Filipino. What really matters most is our culture. Culture is our identity. Filipino cultural values are widely-held beliefs which make some activities, relationships, goals and feelings important to the Filipino peoples identity. Yet, watching of this culture is now deteriorating.The culprit behind this is our colonial mentality. The Filipino track of thinking that everything foreign is good is still embedded in his personality. We choose foreign c ulture more than our own. Now, I can conclude the fact that there is still a Filipino identity. Yet the identity we get hold of in the past is different from what we have now. Ronnie John Pascua SOURCES Ma, Corazon Alejo-Itila, Mitzi Marie Aguilar-Reyes, and Anita Feleo, fit out of Honor, Garment Of Identity (Manila En Barong Filipino, 2008), 17,271 Tomas D. Andres and Pilar B. Ilada-Andres, Understanding the Filipino (Quezon City bare-assed Day Publishers, 1987), 5, 151.