Pinay Ako!

[Anna and Jeff 3]

I just wonder the purpose of this thread lol (please do not take any offense), seeing how the discussion goes. Anyways, just thinking out loud here.

So what does it really mean to be a Filipino?

-peace

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

I just wonder the purpose of this thread lol (please do not take any offense), seeing how the discussion goes. Anyways, just thinking out loud here.

So what does it really mean to be a Filipino?

-peace

I originally started the thread when the Kano spouses were engaged in verbal combat with the rest of VJ, hoping mga Pinay would define themselves rather than be defined by everyone else, including the Kano spouses. I tried to keep the thread alive by posting some Filipino history, and in the process, spark some discussion. I am very happy the way things are going lately, so, keep going like you are. When the thread starts to die, I will bump it back to the top with some more history lessons.

I am learning much in the process, and I hope everyone else will as well.

--Bullwinkle

Edited February 3, 2009 by Rocky_nBullwinkle

[Anna and Jeff 3]

I just wonder the purpose of this thread lol (please do not take any offense), seeing how the discussion goes. Anyways, just thinking out loud here.

So what does it really mean to be a Filipino?

-peace

I originally started the thread when the Kano spouses were engaged in verbal combat with the rest of VJ, hoping mga Pinay would define themselves rather than be defined by everyone else, including the Kano spouses. I tried to keep the thread alive by posting some Filipino history, and in the process, spark some discussion. I am very happy the way things are going lately, so, keep going like you are. When the thread starts to die, I will bump it back to the top with some more history lessons.

I am learning much in the process, and I hope everyone else will as well.

--Bullwinkle

I like history very much and I am thankful that I am able to contribute something as well. I have to admit it kind of ticks me off (sorry lol but I know everyone's entitled to their opinion so peace ) how they look at certain things, e.g. Rizal's books. It makes me wonder if they have read and understood between the lines what the National hero wrote. Anyways, just thinking out loud here.

Carry on and peace.

Ps. Please check this out:

I have yet to look a complete copy of RA 1425 (Rizal Law) but here's something to look at

Rizal Law

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

I like history very much and I am thankful that I am able to contribute something as well. I have to admit it kind of ticks me off (sorry lol but I know everyone's entitled to their opinion so peace ) how they look at certain things, e.g. Rizal's books. It makes me wonder if they have read and understood between the lines what the National hero wrote. Anyways, just thinking out loud here.

Carry on and peace.

Ps. Please check this out:

I have yet to look a complete copy of RA 1425 (Rizal Law) but here's something to look at

Rizal Law

That is why I like Mi Ultimo Adios. I read it first in Fort Santiago at the Rizal Museum, trying to translate it myself from the original Spanish. (It reads beautifully.) There is a clarity of mind, and of purpose, when one knows death is near. Of course, I disregard his (no doubt forced) confession to the Spanish Imperialists, but I see no subtle messages in what he writes in his last uncoerced work.

Still, I may have to read his literature to truly understand the man, and the story he was trying to tell.

--Bullwinkle

Edited February 3, 2009 by Rocky_nBullwinkle

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

Here you go:

Rizal's Law

Passed the year I was born!

--Bullwinkle

Edited February 3, 2009 by Rocky_nBullwinkle

[Anna and Jeff 3]

I like history very much and I am thankful that I am able to contribute something as well. I have to admit it kind of ticks me off (sorry lol but I know everyone's entitled to their opinion so peace ) how they look at certain things, e.g. Rizal's books. It makes me wonder if they have read and understood between the lines what the National hero wrote. Anyways, just thinking out loud here.

Carry on and peace.

Ps. Please check this out:

I have yet to look a complete copy of RA 1425 (Rizal Law) but here's something to look at

Rizal Law

That is why I like Mi Ultimo Adios. I read it first in Fort Santiago at the Rizal Museum, trying to translate it myself from the original Spanish. (It reads beautifully.) There is a clarity of mind, and of purpose, when one knows death is near. Of course, I disregard his (no doubt forced) confession to the Spanish Imperialists, but I see no subtle messages in what he writes in his last uncoerced work.

Still, I may have to read his literature to truly understand the man, and the story he was trying to tell.

--Bullwinkle

Thanks.

The confession you speak was based from the account of Father Balaguer ( a Jesuit priest I think). Rizal was in Fort Santiago and was visited by several priests. They have asked him to retract his statements against the church and government. The priest himself wrote a retraction letter Rizal but 'rejected' it as it was too long a piece. Based from the historical movie, Bayaning Third World (Thirld World Hero), Balaguer claimed that Jose wrote and signed the letter. However, there were no other witnesses when that document was made, and it could also be said the (Rizal's) signature may have been forged. Nonetheless, I stand for what I believe in, Rizal didn't confess nor did he write the retraction letter. -peace.

[Completely 3]

This thread is interesting I guess but i just did not like the idea of sharing opinion in other foreign language other than english and tagalog..

Knowing and not forgetting where we came from is a great thing, but being so proud that results to disrespect to other races or nationality is not right at all... People can tell where we came from, what races are we, we dont have to be real proud and disrespectful to other people and compare ourselves to them. Just the way we look, the way we carry ourselves, people knows we are from the Philippines

Cheers!

Edited February 3, 2009 by Completely

[Anna and Jeff 3]

Now speaking of where we, Filipinos came from, I would like to cite some theories here.

Otley Beyer's Theory of waves of migration is a long gone debunked theory. It stated that the Filipinos came from 3 successive waves of migration during or most likely after the Paleolithic Period (Old Stone Age). The first set of people who came in the islands (Philippiens) were the negritos, dark complexioned, curly haired people (probably coming from the south). They have lived near the shore until they were displaced and pushed towards the foot of the mountains by the Indones. According to Beyer, the Indones had 2 types- Indones A and B ( "A" could probably be people with fairer skin while "B" the opposite). The negritos were then again pushed in the mountains when another wave came in the Philippines. This would be the Malay race where the Filipinos came from. Why this theory is debunked by the historians is because Beyer didn't have much solid evidence except only for the broken pots he saw in Cagayan (correct me if I am wrong) or in Palawan. From those artifacts, he had drawn his theory and able to describe further how these people looked like. I forgot to mention, Beyer's theory implied that the Negritos possessed very slow civilization to almost nil while the improved ones were possessed by the Indones and best among the rest were the Malay. If you would look at it, it would seem that Beyer was stereotyping the level of improvement according to race.

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

This thread is interesting I guess but i just did not like the idea of sharing opinion in other foreign language other than english and tagalog..

Knowing and not forgetting where we came from is a great thing, but being so proud that results to disrespect to other races or nationality is not right at all... People can tell where we came from, what races are we, we dont have to be real proud and disrespectful to other people and compare ourselves to them. Just the way we look, the way we carry ourselves, people knows we are from the Philippines

Cheers!

Welcome to the history class! Before English and Tagalog became the official languages for the Philippines, Spanish was the official language of the Philippines for 300 years. I had been providing, and will continue to provide English translations for anything posted here in Spanish.

--Bullwinkle

I will do the same for Tagalog. Tagalog is not universally spoken in the Philippines, even in Manila, or here on VJ.

--Rocky

Edited February 3, 2009 by Rocky_nBullwinkle

[Besame Mucho 1]

This thread is interesting I guess but i just did not like the idea of sharing opinion in other foreign language other than english and tagalog..

Knowing and not forgetting where we came from is a great thing, but being so proud that results to disrespect to other races or nationality is not right at all... People can tell where we came from, what races are we, we dont have to be real proud and disrespectful to other people and compare ourselves to them. Just the way we look, the way we carry ourselves, people knows we are from the Philippines

Cheers!

Hey, listen and shut up. If we write in Spanish, it does not imply that we are disrespectful to Filipinos and other races who do not understand Spanish. Señorita Teresita and I converse in Spanish because we like to and not because we are talking behind your backs or bragging about our ancestry. Yeah, we are proud of our tongues but we ain’t bragging.

[Besame Mucho 1]

The “El Filibusterismo” was essentially a call to revolution although with many limitations. Nevertheless, it was published in an extensively more relaxed atmosphere than the "Noli". It created a stir, when for the first time, a Spanish newspaper, the liberal "Nuevo Regimen" (New Regime) reproduced the novel in daily sequels in October 1891.

But the friars too were convinced of the value of the "Fili". They are said to have offered Rizal a professorship at the University of Manila, an estate and 100,000 pesos in cash for the retraction of both novels. To this offer, Rizal is supposed to have answered that he will not undo with the left hand what he has done with the right. If his books were true, then he would have written about them, the friars. If not, then they would have nothing to fear. "You are trying to drown me in a glass of water, but you cannot even succeed in doing it in an ocean." He dismisses brusquely even the request of his sister to consider the offer.

[Anna and Jeff 3]

The “El Filibusterismo” was essentially a call to revolution although with many limitations. Nevertheless, it was published in an extensively more relaxed atmosphere than the "Noli". It created a stir, when for the first time, a Spanish newspaper, the liberal "Nuevo Regimen" (New Regime) reproduced the novel in daily sequels in October 1891.

But the friars too were convinced of the value of the "Fili". They are said to have offered Rizal a professorship at the University of Manila, an estate and 100,000 pesos in cash for the retraction of both novels. To this offer, Rizal is supposed to have answered that he will not undo with the left hand what he has done with the right. If his books were true, then he would have written about them, the friars. If not, then they would have nothing to fear. "You are trying to drown me in a glass of water, but you cannot even succeed in doing it in an ocean." He dismisses brusquely even the request of his sister to consider the offer.

If that was true, then Rizal would have risen from his grave. University of Manila was founded in 1913! He was a graduate from UST but did not consider professorial position for number 1: he didn't submit his thesis while a student and 2: there would be no schools willing to accept someone who's grilling their hind.

Noli was more romantic a novel but did not dismiss the idea of revolution (Please read the novel) while El Fili was more political. Anyways, something to think about.

[Anna and Jeff 3]

I would also like to add that during Rizal's time, or even before he was born, all books were reviewed by spanish priests. This was to make sure no propaganda or ill things would be spoken about the government or to them. When Rizal's novels were published and reviewed by the priests, they recommended the governor general (I forgot his name) to arrest him. The governor general read the novels and found out himself that the novels didn't contain anti-friar things.

Which reminds me, one of the priests commented and even gave leaflets to church goers when noli came out that who ever read it is a sinner. A very good Filipino (native) then replied if that was the case, the priest himself was also a sinner. (Source: Zaide, Agoncillo and Leon Ma. Guerero- notable Filipino historians)

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

I took that Rizal course in college, but I never paid attention to what our professor was saying. Instead of listening, I was mooning over him. He's kind of cute and smart anyway. Everybody got a crush on him.

Anyway, reading Rizal's life and writings based on the college text book (Rizal's life and writings) we used, IMO, he was like many of his idealist Filipino contemporaries, except that he came from a rich family. He made a lot of travels abroad to further his studies. He just wants a better life for the Filipino people and that is why he used his writings to voice his objections instead of taking arms againts the Spanish. Of course, he was a frail man, small in stature, but big in ideals.

I went to visit my cousin in Calamba Laguna and we went to see Rizal's ancestral home. Calamba is a tourist destination. You will get a grand tour of Rizal's home as a child for a small fee which was quite an experience for me during that time. It somehow gave me a glimpse of Rizal's childhood by looking at that little Nipa hut sitting in the backyard. According to his biography, he and his siblings used to play in that little Nipa hut.

Rocky

P.S.

Rizal was also like any red-blooded guy. He had a lot of girlfriends before he married Josephine Bracken, an American girl.

Edited February 4, 2009 by Rocky_nBullwinkle

[Anna and Jeff 3]

I took that Rizal course in college, but I never paid attention to what our professor was saying. Instead of listening, I was mooning over him. He's kind of cute and smart anyway. Everybody got a crush on him.

Anyway, reading Rizal's life and writings based on the college text book (Rizal's life and writings) we used, IMO, he was like many of his idealist Filipino contemporaries, except that he came from a rich family. He made a lot of travels abroad to further his studies. He just wants a better life for the Filipino people and that is why he used his writings to voice his objections instead of taking arms againts the Spanish. Of course, he was a frail man, small in stature, but big in ideals.

I went to visit my cousin in Calamba Laguna and we went to see Rizal's ancestral home. Calamba is a tourist destination. You will get a grand tour of Rizal's home as a child for a small fee which was quite an experience for me during that time. It somehow gave me a glimpse of Rizal's childhood by looking at that little Nipa hut sitting in the backyard. According to his biography, he and his siblings used to play in that little Nipa hut.

Rocky

P.S.

Rizal was also like any red-blooded guy. He had a lot of girlfriends before he married Josephine Bracken, an American girl.

Ive been to Rizal's house a number of times and a number of times we would get dismayed. The house itself called (bahay na bato / Stone house) is a later evolution of nipa hut. During that time, if a native owned a bahay na bato, he would be considered a member of the principalia class (other characteristics of this class was owning a carriage, a piece of land and perhaps, the ability to send kids to European schools).

Rizal's house of today is very much different before in the sense that the local government ''totally renovated / rehabilitated" it. That is to say, the walls were painted white, even the well. There aren't much things to see on the first floor except for blow up photos, and Mi Ultimo Adios on the walls. To cut the story short, the house being a historical heritage lost half of its value. Ask any architects or historians and they would tell you the same thing.

Ps: Josephine Bracken was an Irish. -peace.