just a short essay quiz for you this time.
Based on the reading the current reading:
"Tracing Origins: ‘Ilustrado’ Nationalism and the Racial Science
of Migration Waves"
You are to identify one of the supporting arguments of the author. Then provide your own stand whether to give support or a polemic on that idea.
Show logical reasoning, and mastery of political: nationalist and normative arguments.
1-4 sentences
10 pts.
Metric
1-2 = Very sloppy output: reasoning and composition
3-4 = Unprepared, flawed output
5-6 = Average output with minor flaws/errors
7-8 = Good output
9-10 = Exceptional output
P.S. We will skip discussion on
Rizal, Jacinto, Mabini – On Man and Society
Instead, by Monday, our discussion will be on
"Apolinario Mabini – The True Decalogue"
P.S. We will skip discussion on
Rizal, Jacinto, Mabini – On Man and Society
Instead, by Monday, our discussion will be on
"Apolinario Mabini – The True Decalogue"
"EVIDENTLY, RIZAL's ILUSTRADO THOUGHT HAS BEEN INFLUENCED BY EUROPEAN RACIAL EVOLUTIONISM, BACKED BY "PURPORTEDLY SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT INNATE INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL DIFFERENCES MADE CULTURAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN SUPERIOR AND INFERIOR RACES IMPOSSIBLE (ADAS, 1989)"
TumugonBurahinAs a statement which supports the distinction of racism and nationalism, and its accordance to the quest for Philippine independence, I would like to comment my support and disagreement for this proposition for the following grounds. First, with reference to the criticisms of the liberation argument particularly of Connor which states that "independence movements are essentially political in nature because it is not in accord with the geographical distribution of national groups which lead to the formation of a host of multinational states," I believe that the impossibility of the reconciliation of the innate intellectual and moral differences of two cultures is a hoax since there are nation-states who managed to include the interests of their minority members amidst the dominance of a particular culture such as the case of Australia wherein the Australians and the natives, the Maori are harmoniously living compared to the other countries in Oceania such as Fiji where conflicting interests among Fijians, Hindus and Chinese exist. On the other hand, I would like to support the idea of the influence of European racial evolutionism for Rizal's ilustrado thought since that concept originated in that continent and used by the Europeans to develop the genetic sciences such as anthropology, linguistics and archaeology which is used to discover the lost and forgotten cultures due to the hegemony of Christianity during the Middle Ages. Thus, I believe that the idea of racial evolutionism gave Rizal a primordialist perspective that's why he fantasized the presence of an ancient Filipino culture, an ancient civilization.
“Like an adopted child who grew up in another culture but is now in quest of roots (Yngvesson and Mahoney, 2000) – reared by Mother Spain but now in search of inang bayan, or the “the motherland” (Ileto, 1979) – Rizal was in search of a narrative of self.”
TumugonBurahinI would like to support the aforesaid argument based on the supposition of MacCormick in the identity argument, that which “the awareness of belonging to a nation is one of the many ways that allows individuals to overcome boundaries concerning space, time, and mortality in this early existence.” Initially, I believe that for both racism and nationalism, notwithstanding their distinction, the past serves as a fundamental key that determines the conceptions of identity, and that serves as the reason why Rizal extinguished his thirst for “self” by tracing the roots of the past to become aware of the national membership that his ancestors share. However, Rizal and the other ilustrados sought after enlightening themselves of their genealogy to define an identity grounded on racial science because they believe that no written works, sanctuaries, or monuments could illumine the past. Hence, Rizal’s sentimental yearning for the period of the past induced him to build a burgeoning, precolonial civilization to reconstruct the unison of the history of the Philippines.
“Negritos were the original owners of the land” I disagree with these. Not because they first came and be recognized by the people they were the real owner of the land. According to the Philippine history they migrated here in the Philippines form Borneo, Sumatra and Malaya . According to the argument of the Third wave Malay were considered the ancient Filipinos, yes I agree with this because they were the first inhabitants of the land and they made the land grow, they cultivated it as if they own it. It’s not appropriate to label ”Indios Filipinos” the Filipinos back then because Negritos have done. First they were just inhabitants and they were not the very first inhabitant of the Philippines. According to Professor H. Otley Beyer the Dawn Man were the first inhabitants. (Castro, 2013) It is not right to pattern the labels to those Negritos just because they were not educated, they were barbarians and they were food gatherers. It is not right to call Filipinos “indio” because of the Negritos. In fact Negritos were not the only ancestors of the Filipinos. Illustrados only considered Negritos’ way of life and they nor bother to see the development they contributed.
TumugonBurahinCastro, P. C. (2013). Chapter 2 Prehistoric Philippines. In Journey to the Past: A Study Guide in Philippine History (p. 17).
CAPIO, MA. KRISTEL G.
TumugonBurahin2POL1
“In the context of assimilation discourse, the term “Filipino race” was racist”
The abovementioned argument entails that in the context of the assimilation campaign, the usage of phrases such as “savage races” and “primitive races” implied hierarchy of differences and shows inferiority of minority people thus resulting to racism. I would like to support and agree with this argument; the term: “Filipino race” only refers to those indios who were said to be assimilable and civilizable. In line with this, the non- indios were excluded from the ilustrados’ demand for civil as well as political liberties. It disregarded those who were called “uncivilized races” or the “backward people”. The term “Filipino” only stood for the superior and dominant races who were led by the enlightened class. I believe that even the inferior races, those who do not belong to the higher class deserve liberty and also be a part of the independent nation. The view of the races as “barbaric”, “backward people”, “uncivilized” and the like has overshadowed their true colors, they were basically educated and educable, and they were not pagans and barbarians who love chaos. I believe that prior to the colonial era, the inhabitants of the Philippines have established their own culture and have formed a stable society, those races has their own heritage and traditions. In aspiring for a stable and firmer nationhood, all of the people should be included regardless of the class, race, ethnicity and cultural background.
"...to create a 'Filipino Blend' that 'will ultimate come to include the majority of the population" (Reyes et al. 1953, 12-13)
TumugonBurahinUsing H.Otley Beyer's Migration Theory, the Negritos, Igorots, and first wave Malays, who were deemed inferior by the Ilustrados and the second wave Malays were considered the "ancient Filipinos," the start of the Filipino population. However, in the latter part of the article, the movement of the Assimilation Campaign was emphasized wherein it was stated that there should be fair treatment of races, such that the minorities (Negritoes) were said to be 'primitive' and 'savage' which is in fact proven not true considering they have their own rules and government followed and they have their religion as well. As I have recalled, Identity argument, MacCormick stand: "Consciousness of belonging to a nation...enable us to transcend...in this earthly existence" which means, you have to be part of a group, to determine your identity, so as the mountain dwellers and ethnic minorities and Malay race, who migrated and accepted our culture and even lived as Filipinos. Ergo, nationalism is being bonded with 'commonalities' in identity though there were differences that cannot be denied.
VIERNES, Kate Abigail
2POL1
Rizal was in search of a narrative of self. He found the answer in scientific treatises. But given his political project, Rizal posed a question different from that of Blumentritt, who was concerned with classifying and ordering "the races" found in the Philippine islands. From the ethnologist's tacit question of "What races are found in the Philippines?" Rizal drew and transposed the information to answer the question with which he grappled: "Who are we?"
TumugonBurahinThe above mentioned lines clearly states that Rizal's utility of the sciences present in his time was not for the purpose of study but for a search of identity - a Filipino identity. I commend Rizal for his boldness in his search for identity because that is what the indios of his time needed the most. I believe that one of the main reasons the Spaniards easily conquered us is because of our lack of identity, our lack of knowledge about our glorious past, our apathy towards our roots. This is what Rizal is trying to mend, his enthusiasm in digging our roots is for the purpose of us to know ourselves. His efforts of giving us identity through tracing our roots, our supposed to be glorious roots, is an implication that before we know our enemy or our conquerors, we must first know ourselves in order to defend ourselves.
ESTEBAN, FRANCIS M.
2POL1
“The savage races were clearly outside the framework of justice and liberty sought by the early nationalists because their concept of nation was one that was modern, cultured, civilized, Catholic, industrial, and progressive-all comfortable with European notions.”
TumugonBurahinI would like to agree with this statement in the article because based on the discussion, the early Filipino nationalists are inclined to perpetuating a notion that the “Filipinos” are those people who are able to form civilization in the lowland and plain areas and are educated enough to accept Spanish imposition upon the country. The article explains that early Filipino nationalists like Rizal are ilustrados or those young people who are able to study in European countries; thus enabling them to acquire European ideologies and concepts regarding nationalism. Their status as educated and civilized “Filipinos” is centered among themselves because they did not have any personal contact with the so-called “wild tribes”, “savage races” and “primitives” ;which lead them to conclude that they are not part of the educated, cultured and civilized “Filipinos”. However, given the chance to encounter situations with the indigenous tribes, I believed that a different notion of nationalism would be applied by the ilustrados upon their writings; that which includes the ethnic and “mountain tribes” in the constitution of who and what the “Filipinos” are.
LEONARDO, MARY LOUISE P.
2POL1
"Filipino originally referred to Spaniards born in the colonial Philippines"
TumugonBurahinI really believe that we should have chosen a new name for us "Filipino" like what I said in my paper. The term Filipino indeed came from the our colonizers. It also refers to the Spaniards that was born in the Philippines and not even the natives. It is also said that it was Rizal who first used the term referring not only to the spaniards born in the Philippines but to all those born in our archipelago. The term Filipino was also being linked to as domestic helpers, they do help our economy but still I personally believe it is degrading because some of them are graduates and professionals but end up not doing what they studied.
Mercado, Ralph Louie O.
2POL1
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TumugonBurahinI support the idea that said Nationalism and racism are parallel ideologues. The idea of nationalism is characterized by a desire or a movement of making a separation in terms of who are the same from who are different and to elaborate, I will make the EDSA I movement as an example because the move was nationalistic because it freed the country from a dictatorship. If we look at it,the idea of ousting a movement or a government that is different from what the majority wants is very evident and we can apply the same argument to racism where there is a desire of separation among races because of the differences posed. The two ideologues can be said to go together because nationalism will occur when there is an idea that one belongs to a certain race and thinks that it is proper to get rid of foreign race that inhabited the same land.
TumugonBurahinThis comment has been removed by the author.
TumugonBurahinIt has been stated in the article that Negritos, mountain dwellers, Igorots, ethnic minorities and Malayan race are deemed inferior to Ilustrados and should not be accepted as the Ancient Filipinos for they are barbaric, primitive and uncivilized. In this case, I would like to express my opposition in this matter, we should take into consideration that in each culture or race there is a different view or perspective of being a civilized society, it may be said that the simple lifestyle of this ethnic minorities in mountains is uncivilized to eyes of the westerners who are living in the city but viewed as progressive by this ethnic society. It should be noted that though living in mountains this ethnic people began to developed tools for hunting, a system of government to lead them and creation of law in which they would conform. In this sense there can be no standard idea of a civilized and a progressive society for it depends on one’s perspective and view of its main idea. Thus, acceptance and respect with each culture or race is need which would result to unity that would lead to Nationalism.
TumugonBurahinGloria, Mark Dominic G.
2POL1
"Such knowledge was seen as vital to political action."
TumugonBurahinI support this argument mainly because in doing such political action, it is necessary to have some knowledge about it. According to David Easton, "Without reliable knowledge about the configurations of power, the determinants and knowable consequences of policy will continue to be vague and scientifically un unforeseeable." It is true also in the aforementioned as well as in article about the Tracing Origins. For a person to find his or her true identity, he must apply his rational thinking. Also, Rizal use his knowledge for the search of true Filipino identity. Reliable I say, to avoid such ambiguity in different concepts. Knowledge about something also needs apprehension based on experience and emotion. It also involves decision making process because as what Strauss have said we cannot judge something if you do not have knowledge about it. It is also true in different areas of studies not only pertaining to political life but also in different aspects of life. The firmness of a nation lies in the removal of apathy from the people. By these contexts therefore, knowledge is important for our actions and in human existence.
QUIZON, Janella M.
2pol1
John Schumacher has admitted that "[i]n the Philippines the pagan Igorots and Muslim Moros were considered and treated by Christian Filipinos as outside the civilized Filipino community," but claimed that their "humiliating treatment" in the 1887 Madrid
TumugonBurahinExposition "stung many of the educated Filipinos into identifying themselves with these their 'brothers' and 'countrymen'" (1973, 67)
Prior tothe colonization of the spaniards there has been already class diversity or division of classes, since during the pre hispanic era there were different classes of people in the archi. such as the maharlika and the alipin. The arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippines worsen the division of classes. Most people just accept what the colonizer has to say. Thus, making it harder for people to accept others as equal to them. For instances, Filipinos who considered the Muslims as different from them.
This assertion could not explain why, for example, Muslim leaders who decided to M. accept the central state had to assert a "Muslim-Filipino" identity beginning in the 1930s, as Patricio Abinales (2000) has elucidated. The "majority Filipinos" have considered Muslims inherently different, while some Muslims "do not appear too happy in being called 'Filipinos'" (Majul 1973, 346).
Conflicts due to class differences could not be totally removed but one solution that coub be done is to narrow it down and reach a middle ground or agreement between the two.
HERNANDEZ, Katrina Ysobelle
2POL1
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TumugonBurahinThis comment has been removed by the author.
TumugonBurahin"Race was not to take precedence over an emerging collective identity"
TumugonBurahinI disagree in the idea of “race was not to take precedence over an emerging collective identity”. Applying the identity argument, one’s membership is an important element in identifying person’s individuality. If we are to agree with the idea to abandon the precedence of “race” in the development of collective identity, an individual would not be able to trace his or her ancestry. Thus prohibiting someone to have a sense of belonging. This sense of belonging in turn, lessens enmity to an emerging collective identity and it leads to self-attainment through participating in social activities.Therefore, race should take precedence over an emerging collective identity wherein the recognition of one’s race becomes essential aspect in understanding who the person is.
“Nationalism thrives on political love and dreams of historical destinies, in contrast to racism's rage and obsession with contamination and class superiority.”
TumugonBurahinI would like to concur to the given statement above, that nationalism and racism is diverse in distinctiveness. In doing so, I would also like to support my contention in relation to the normative claims of nationalism: the identity argument and the cultural context argument. Basically, nationalism is different from racism since it gives us awareness of belonging to a nation. Ergo, having this kind of “awareness” it also contextualizes human actions; making them a part of a group in a group whereby concurrences of culture exist thus resulting to races and cleavages.
According to the cultural context argument, membership of such group is a great importance to an individual being since it greatly affects one’s opportunities and one’s ability to engage in the relationships and pursuits marked by the culture, race and religion. In effect, “Filipino” stood for internally superior and dominant “race” led by an “enlightened class,” whose members, although charged as an inferior by racist outsiders, were equal to Europeans in their being civilized and civilizable, deserving liberty and indeed their own independent nation.
Therefore, racism and nationalism is distinct from each other for the reason that the former is viewed with objective and subjective social differences while the latter is viewed with the ability to provide sense of continuity and enables individuals to transcend the limitations of their own existence.
"When the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines in 1521, it was no longer a savage pueblo" (Delos Reyes, 1889)
TumugonBurahinIt is true then, the Filipinos had established themselves, not as barbarians; but as civilized men. To further support Delos Reyes' argument, the so called small pueblos were the small communities called the "Barangay" ruled by a Datu. These barangays were similar with city-states per se, it has the customs and traditions, laws to implement discipline, peace, and prosperity. The citizens in these barangays were not ought to attack and ransack nor pillage other villages but they tend to have their own wholesome livelihood and engage in trade with foreign merchants under the barter system. The claims of other authors in Aguilar's article regarding the alleged barbaric nature of Filipinos is false and I willfully debunk them. The way how the Filipinos welcomed the Spaniards in 1521, the manner how Raja Humabon and his remnants performed the blood compact with Magellan, and the conversion of the natives to Christianity, no one can perform these actions with barbaric people without applying brute force that would lead to violence. The way how the early Filipinos governed themselves are far more better compared with the Spaniards, especially these friars who did not led us to success but tormented the early Filipinos in sorrow and despair.
REYES, John Harold B.
2POL1
Edmund Burke claimed that, "People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors." Being able to know your people's history is very important especially when you want to shape your future. According to Filomeno V. Aguilar Jr., the ilustrados or the enlightened had the desire to illuminate their origins in order to know themselves. As for Helena Cain, knowing your own history, or the history of your culture, is important because it helps us to know who we are while molding the future. It was believed that there are waves of migrations that colored and paved way of what really happened in the past. According to Blumentritt, it was the Negritos who were involved in the first wave of migration. And I would like to support Blumentrit’s belief that the Negritos are also part of the Filipino race. One must not classify a certain race with just a general characteristic, not because you are living in a very remote area and isn’t intelligent enough compared to the ilustrados or even the indios, would mean that you can’t be classified and accepted as one of them. I would also like to disagree with what Antonio de Morga stated about the Negritos being barbarians of trifling mental capacity. Negritos arrived in the Philippines long before any other civilization, thus implying that there’s still not much discoveries of fixed homes or even education. And with the case of pillaging other settlements, it was before a normal way, conquering and widening ones territorial space, every other tribes were known to have fought with each other in order to spread their power. Though the Negritos doesn’t have much to be proud of, still we must consider them as our ancestors who contributed, even if not much, certain things that add up to what we have know in the present time.
TumugonBurahinBISDA, Jemimah Faye I.
2POL1
To quench the thirst for identity, modern nations conjure their existence for antiquity, pillaging available scientific data, even as they look simultaneously to an eternal future. For both racism and nationalism, the past holds an important key to conceptions of identity.
TumugonBurahinThe past determines the identity of modern nations because the things that have happened in the past serve as a factor in the development of its character either by altering a specific thing to avoid disturbances that occurred or by maintaining the present status that proved no wrong in the society. I therefore support the stated argument above. For instance, in the case of the former, it is quite impossible for the Philippines to have another dictator considering the Marcos regime. The people of the Philippines, as it seems for my perspective, “will forever embrace democracy”. As for a practical application of the latter, if a student who usually studies at night then tried to study hours before dawn and gave him better results in his career, he will surely regard himself as a ‘morning-person’ for he will have the tendency to make it as his habit. Since modern nations embraced fully empirical studies, they will have the propensity to use scientific analysis with regards for their search of their identity.
ADAYA, Ma. Chona B.
2POL1
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TumugonBurahinAntonio de Morga said that the Negritos are natives of black complexion and he also described them as barbarians having low mental capacity and no fixed settlements. He said that they robbed the land of other natives.Rizal failed to respond to the accounts of de Morga because he believed that the Negritos were not his people.
TumugonBurahinI do not understand why Jose Rizal failed to defend the Negritos against the accounts of de Morga and why did he not include them in his works. The Negritos were the first wave of people that arrived in our islands way before the Spaniards came to colonize us. They were the first wave of migrants before the Malays. Negritos were mostly inhabiting the forests of the islands. They were mostly hidden from the outside world.
In the Spanish times, many of the indios were denigrated by our colonizers but the Nwegritos were denigrated by the Spaniards and their lowland subjects. Illustrados like Jose Rizal ignored them but for me still they are still considered to be subjects of the land. Many people have different colors of skin but that doesn't mean that one race should not be excluded from the insults of their colonizers. People have different skin colors but the truth is these people lived in one territory. The same applies now, we people tend to ignore that there are still people living in the mountains and are still outside of reach of civilization. We must not forget that we belong to one country despite our country being composed of difdferent ethnicities.
"The "foreign blood" were of superior quality such that metissage led to racial improvement"
TumugonBurahinI would like to disagree with the part of the statement "the foreign blood" were of superior quality" as no race is superior above another as one race has their own strength which is unique among themselves and so as the other races. Yet I would like to agree with the remaining half of the statement as this mixture combined these strengths and made them an asset to the country. As became evident with those Filipinos who are not purely Filipino, they seemed to have better physical attributes which was inherited from the non-Filipino race and they bring with them more possibilities and opportunities via culture as this tends to improve the country not only in several perspectives. Yet this does not mean that pure Filipinos are not good.
Dalay, Julius Nicoll Z.
2POl1
ROMUALDEZ,ALEXANDER T
TumugonBurahin2Pol1
"Nationalism thrives on political love and dreams of historical destinies, in contrast to racism's rage and obsession with contamination and class superiority." (Anderson, Benedict; 1991, 141-54)
TumugonBurahinI would like to both disagree and agree to the statement above, yes, racism and nationalism have their own distinctions from one and the other but with the identity argument, stating that nationalism must have the ability to give a sense of continuity for human flourishing, which clearly will link or relate racism and nationalism because in order to continue human flourishing, we need to know where we belong and who we are. Nationalism and racism have their own distinctions because nationalism is a nation that stands as one while a race is a single human race that believes that they are the best among all other races. But, what if a nation has 3 or more races that believe one must flourish than the other?
To conclude, nationalism and racism has a variety of lengths and ideas that we can relate or distinct to the other.
It was stated "The internal exclusion was related to the ilustrados' idea of the nation as a temporal project. They envisaged an educated in which liberty and justice could be enjoyed, but only those of the third migratory wave were included in this vision. And even they, with their "lost civilization," needed to be (re)civilized." This I highly disagree with, in what manner or level a particular culture has, may it be an advance or primitive type of culture, they are still subject and to be included in any idea or future envisioned with regards to justice and liberty. May it be the the Third Wave )the dominantly Malay race), the preceding waves, or the Filipinos of today,all are entitled to prosperity, non wold be alienated or detached from a bright future, for racial discrimination have no place in a prospering society, especially in contemporary times. The hand of Justice and Liberty extends to all, not just to a particular race, civilized or uncivilized. And to include every culture, in all walks of life, entails towards a road of nationalism through diversity and unity
TumugonBurahinAccording to Renato Constantino (1960) the designation "Filipino" was originally referred to Spaniards born in colonial Philippines and then translated "class concept" by the illustrados.
TumugonBurahinThe statement abovementioned is something I would like to disagree on. Constantino indirectly pointed out that the inhabitants of then Philippines aside from the Spaniards were no more than Filipinos. It is accepted that the name of our country indeed came from Spain, it was coined after their royalty, Prince Philip. Thus, it directly follows that whoever (with no connection of race) lives in that place must be rightfully called Filipinos. The term" Filipino" must be given to someone who stays inside the islands of the Philippines and as well to those who possess undying love for the Philippines.
Endaya, Jeanoel G.
2POL1
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TumugonBurahin“Nationalism thrives on political love and dreams of historical destinies, in contrast to racism’s rage and obsession with contamination and class superiority.”
TumugonBurahinI support this statement for nationalism should always reign over racism. Both of these ideas use the thought of the past to define an individual of his identity that can be traced through one’s bloods. At this point, racism can still, somehow, help a nation to be a great one by using historical notes. But it doesn’t mean that racism is good for it is the idea of corruption of classes and the ability to judge a certain nation easily. According to the Identity Argument presented by McCormick, awareness of being in a nation can help entities to breakthrough certain borders. Rizal once thought that identities based on a certain idea could never lighten the past. This, then, pushed him to unite the civilization and earlier society of our country.
VILLEGAS, Lyka
2POL1
"The Filipinos acted very much in conformity with natural laws, being ahead of the Europeans." (Rizal 1962, 276; 1961c, 294)
TumugonBurahinI agree with Dr. Rizal that the filipinos were not barbaric, and that the pre-colonial Filipinos are conformed citizens of a community. The ways of the early Filipinos might be primtive and crude but there already is a constitution which they abide. Some of it are written and some are only passed down to generations. Giving preponderance to the Natural laws, this law is the most practical and just law there is. Back then the practices of law are much more equal and the classes was not divided into race but by social status. Mosse emphasizes that” the search for roots is basic to racism” because “the roots of the race were thought to determine its future as well." If we think about it, if ever we were not colonized, the entire nation couldve been an islamic country and couldve developed its own way of living. We cannot determine or generalized that the future might be good or bad because there are a lot of different perspectives that should be considered.
DEL ROSARIO, ZANDRA JANE
TumugonBurahin2POL1
“ The ‘ancient Filipinos’ with whom Rizal and other ilustrados deciphered a racial and cultural affinity were found in the third migratory wave of ‘Malays’… with the last wave as the bearer of civilization… Rizal saw the Spanish conquest as nothing but a scourge that alienated him from his decent and deprived him of his history and identity (Aguilar Jr., 2005, p.612).”
I firmly disagree in everything that was aforementioned because of the following reasons: (1) Again I would like to point out that the reason why Rizal argued that the 3rd migration wave of Malays was the origin of the Filipino identity is because it was the most civilized among others. If being civilized in that case is the qualification for our identity then isn’t it more appropriate to say that the Filipino identity begun not in the Pre-Hispanic times but it eventually emerged in the Hispanic period wherein schools had been developed and a centralized government ruled.
And this would lead us to my next argument. According to Rizal “the Spanish conquest had deprived him of his history and identity” (Aguilar Jr., 2005). (2) Contrary with this statement, I argue that the Spaniards is not guilty of what Rizal is accusing them in fact they had even helped us find that lost “identity”. They served as a mirror but not of our own reflections; they were the “others” which we do not classify ourselves and for that reason we seek our own identity. I would even go far stating that the only good thing that the Spaniards did in this country is that they started the spark in this fire of nationalism. Without them and their abuse and exploitations we will not unite and fights against our freedom and identity; without them our history would be blur as the smoke of a dying ember.
“Jose Rizal portrayed “the ancient Filipinos” as possessing a civilization of which one could be proud of, in some aspects even superior to that of Europe.”
TumugonBurahinI firmly support Rizal’s notion that the ancient Filipinos already had a civilized society even before the Spaniards arrived in the archipelago. He even backed up his argument with facts such as the ancient Filipinos ability to conform to natural laws, which somehow deem them superior to Europeans, and their possession of systematic and civilized framework of justice though we cannot eradicate in the equation that the westerners still perceived them as barbaric because of the fact that their customs are aberrant but for our ancestors they deem themselves as distinct and civilized and such possession of unique culture can be a basis of what really a Filipino is.
Although the article’s aim is to trace the roots or genealogy of our origin, I think the search must not be confined only to the idea of who migrated first or last to be the basis of our Filipinoness, instead we must look on the different facet of the argument wherein, culture not race, will be the basis of who we really are and I believe that the very reason why until now we are still agitated with the confusion of our identity is that we focus too much on the question concerning where we came from not knowing that by seeking such answer for this question we neglect the rich and myriad cultures that our ancestors has greatly bequeathed us. Thus, we must focus our quest to know, revive, and enrich them for the solidarity of our identity and nation.
BAROT, Thyron Anthony D.
2 POL 1
We all know that Rizal and his companions were working hard to reconstruct history and define an identity for us Filipinos, (well, a mix of Indios and illustrados in their era), to form a legitimate core of our Nationalism back then, until today. But was this the only reason for Rizal's conquest for identity? Even Rizal himself had a confusion in his own hybrid ancestry, in which his bloodline is not clearly included in the migration-waves framework as well. He even classified himself as a part of minority, wherein he referred himself an impure indio; even though he considered himself earlier on that he is an Indio, a Malay Tagalog; whereas he cannot escape the fact the mixed heritage he possess.
TumugonBurahinWe commend Rizal and his companions for initiating the quest of our origins with the extensive study of Racial Science, but in the end, with all the information they have gathered and study, did Rizal and the others found the answer on who they really are? where did their ancestry come from? Who knows, maybe this attempt of theirs did cause the formation of our true identity, The Filipinos. Today, we too still ask, "Who is pure? Who is not?"
Mendoza, Catherine M.
TumugonBurahin2POL1
"Negritos figured as natives who are of black complexion, whom he described as barbarians of trifling mental capacity, who have no fixed homes of settlements.....On these characterizations Rizal made no comment in any of his annotations, as he was wont do to do when her felt that the Spaniards demeaned his people"
I would like to contest Rizal's beliefs on only recognizing the third wave of migration as the "ancient Filipinos", with the mere proof of saying they decipher a racial and cultural affinity. Such reasons can only reflect superficial traits that didn't deserve to be linked with nationalism. I believe that even if the Negritos were referred to as "mountain tribes" and an uncivilized culture, they didn't deserve to receive such demeaning insults. Going so far as to to reiterate Morga's account, it only reflects nothing but indirect form of racism. As Margalit and Raz argued from our previous reading, The Normative Claims of Nationalism, "what makes the nation particularly suitable as a foci of of identification is based on belonging and not on their accomplishments." They actually showed an image of nationalism that reflected their resistance against change, and such intervention from outsiders wouldn't make them cave in. Indeed it is not about whether they were civilized or not, but on the idea that even if they didn't fulfill the image of being an ancestor, they deserved a lot more than the treatment they received from people that lived on the same lands as them.
According to Edgar Wickberg (1960) “The Filipino elite descended from Chinese mestizos who first gained economic ascendary”
TumugonBurahinI support the argument stated by Wickberg, because of the fact that the Chinese were the first one who traded with the native Filipinos’ through Barter Trade. According to some historians, China seemed to be our first colonizer because it claimed the Philippines as part of China through its geographical location in the early Chinese maps. The customs and traditions of some early Filipinos are influenced by the Chinese, the names were also influenced. As a great example, Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero, came from a Chinese lineage from his pure Chinese great great grandfather from Fujian province in mainland China (Thanks to Gregorio F. Zaide's biography of Rizal).
NUMOS, Jackiri P.
2POL1
“Racism drives from nationalism.” (Nairn, 1977)
TumugonBurahinThis is the concept proposed by Tom Nairn, and I agree with his concept of racism, because I believe being nationalistic at some point aspired to elevate not only the economic status of one’s nation but also its political status. Point being inclined to “over” nationalistic progression leads to gratification of one’s nation, it is wanting to create a superior nation, a nation different from others and in these terms nationalists promote racism among different nations. Though racism and nationalism differ in origin as proposed by Benedict Anderson, if brought to the extremes they both equate to the same point because they arrive at the same end. I am not saying that being nationalistic is being a racis,; rather, one could not be a racist without being a nationalist.
Lisa Marie Garan
2POL1
Jarata, Kimberly Anne T.
TumugonBurahinAccording to De los Reyes, the Philippines has been civilized even before Spanish colonial period. There are factors that proved that the pre - colonial filipinos were civilized on the basis of their tribes and culture. They were civilized on the fact that they were educated, they had beliefs and traditions as well as politics. However, people define the term civilized in a biased way leaning on the Western idea. Filipinos were already on their way to modernization, the Spanish colonization only made it happen faster.
The Spanish colonial period did not give us a chance to shape our culture. From our country's name to our identity. Granted, the Filipinos were on a snail pace to modernization but through intervention, we were merely an imitation of the Spanish culture.
"Selectively using science as a memory, Jose Rizal portrayed the ancient filpinos as possessing a civilization of which one could be proud, in some aspects even superior to that of Europe.
TumugonBurahinI strongly agree in the statement above saying that Rizal portrayed the ancient Filipinos as a civilization which we can be proud and brag not just in Asia but as well as in Europe. I remembered the deliberation that we had before regarding who was the first Filipino nationalist. Some said it was gomburza, rizal, bonifacio and many more. Lapulapu's name was even brought up. my point is, before, they don't even know if there was already a nation, without them knowing it, they were already fighting for it, risking their lives for it. I think this made the ancient Filipinos, a one of kind civilization. they embodied traits that other civilization don't even possessed.
Madamba, Benise D.
2pol1
"Nationalism thrives on political love and dreams of historical destinies, in contrast to racism's rage and obsession with contamination and class superiority."
TumugonBurahinI somehow disagree with this statement, there are a lot of events within the world that could intertwine the two terms; the Philippine colonial period would be an example. The Spaniards, can also be regarded as nationalistic and racist at the same time,they look down upon other races because they love theirs too much. Another argument is that, "nationalism" wouldn't be given much notice if it weren't to racism, people only become nationalistic whenever they are oppressed by racist.In the same way in the modern times, we call ourselves nationalistic for loving who we are, but Filipinos are also racist by looking down upon other races like people from the southwest of Asia.
BERNARDINO, Ellaine Anne L. 2POL1
The "foreign blood" were of superior quality such that metissage led to racial improvement"
TumugonBurahinI strongly disagree with the first statement mentioned above due to the fact that each race has their own unique set of skills and quality. we can never say that another race is above the other each race were created in a way that everyone is balanced. no one is above or below another race. the second statement however i do agree with it due to the fact that mixture of races has led to improvements both physically and mentally. it also gives a unique bond between two different individuals of different cultures.
Dar Amber Coronel
"Jose Rizal portrayed "the ancient Filipinos"(los antiguos Filipinos) as possesing a civilization of which one could be proud,in some aspecta even superior to that of Europe."
TumugonBurahinI think I have to agree with Rizal,that the ancient filipinos are far more excellent race than that of those who resides in Europe because we can see base in our history that,during the pre-colonial period in thePhilippines the early filipinos were already civilized they have already established a goverment of their own,establish their own religion,excercise a simple way of life and,the people within the community are bound to follow the set of rules made by their chieftains but, with the arrival of the spaniards this flourishing cultural root of the filipinos had been adulterated.
The arrival of the spaniard in the Philippines can be likened with the infiltration of of Christianity in Rome. if you will extensively look at Rome's set up before and after the spread of christianity in the empire,you will see that its might became softer as soon as they embrace the said religion, in short the empires ferocity and might have weakened. In comparison in the Philippines, the arrival of the spaniards maked the ancient filipinos be like them they're the one who let the filipinos to be most of the time idling and lazy eventhough,they impose a lot of hard labor to them because, as we all know spaniards were fond of having "siestas" in between the hours of the day,another is that during the pre-colonoial period the filipinos follow a just and a more stricter and simpler rules like the code of Hummurabai which follows a concept of "an eye for an eye,a tooth for a tooth." but as this colonizers came they've presented a kind of justice system which practice due process but,in actuality it only projects injustice and biasness, a kind of justice system that only protects the right of the privelage few and the interest of the powerful ones.
In the end I believe that Rizal was right in saying this words " With loss of reason,the "ancient filipinos" were kept in the dark.The ancestors regressed.This statement draws us more vividly in a picture wherein we can say that if only the spaniards failed to discover the Philippines this country could have been far beyond better and more sophisticated with the help of our ancient ancestors alone.
Nino Joseph B. Pio Roda
-2pol1
According to Renato Constantino "Filipino" originally referred to Spaniards born in the colonial Philippines...
TumugonBurahinPhilippine Government practices the Jus sanguinis and jus soli principle where in a person will be called a citizen of the Philippines if he was born here in the Philippines or he is a Filipino by blood. We can never remove the fact that we Filipinos are really Heterogeneous by nature because we are following the principle of Jus soli that once a child was born in our mother land no matter what his/her race we consider him as Filipino without questioning if he portrays a quality of a Filipino, if He can speak our Language or not he is still considered as a citizen of the Philippines.
"The search for roots is basic to racism"
TumugonBurahinThe quest to find our origins doesn't necessarily suggest racism for there can be many factors that can sway a person to trace their origins. I believe that racism and nationalism are diverse concepts that are often intertwined because of their search for their own history. I think that racism came from how other taces thrive to prove they are the superior race.
Gimly Melendres,
2POL1