Finding your identity

From the assigned readings this week, as well as our experiences and interactions with the community in the Philippines, an overarching theme of identity construction as well as impacts of colonial mentality can be demystified. Miseducation plays a tremendous role of how one may perceive their culture, which in turn affects their identity formation. It is also important to note that mass media, such as billboards, advertising, magazines, movies, ect also plays an immense role in the colonial mentality of Filipino’s. In this paper I will support my argument by using four different academic sources, as well a personal interaction that occurred this prior week with Filipinos students attending PWU.

The article, “The Mideducation of the Filipino” by Renato Constantino (1982), emphasizes that nationalism is found through education. Constantino stresses that education is a vital weapon for people to seek cultural renaissance (Constantino, 1982; pg 177). Americans used education as a weapon rather than providing the people with knowledge. English was a status symbol and those who only spoke their native language were looked down upon and viewed as lower class citizens. Constantino states, “With American textbooks, Filipinos started learning not only a new language but also a new way of life, alien to their traditions and yet a caricature of their model. This was the beginning of their education. At the same time, it was the beginning of their miseducation, for they learned no longer as Filipinos but as colonials” (Constantino; pg 181). English was a colonial tool that was used to capture children’s minds and subjugate Filipinos because Americans felt that they had uncivilized minds, therefore they could not be entrusted. This also connects with Anne Paulet’s article “To Change the World” (2007), due to the fact that the education system of the Philippines as a means to civilize and assimilate the people to American cultural values, works in the same way as the education system that was brought to Native American’s. American Indian studies on their history as an occupied civilization can be used as a framework to understand Filipino history. It is important to note that education must been viewed as an acquisition, which shapes the mind, internal thought process and thus, identity.

According to David & Okazaki, as well as Third Andresen, a chief effect of colonization often is the internalization of the subordinate consciousness, which is inflicted on a person by the colonizer (David & Okazaki, 2006). Colonial mentality (CM) can be extremely detrimental in aspects such as culture, social behaviors, and identity. Third Andresen’s article, “Knowledge construction, transformative academic knowledge, and Filipino American identity and experience” (2012), discloses how the American education system can significantly impact identity construction. Andresen’s ideology of identity construction is based off of Banks framework supporting the notion that knowledge and identity is not only gained through textbooks or history, but through experience. Andresen states, ““As we become adults in a culture that historically marginalizes communities of color, “we continue to experience forces, which tend to make us question who we are and which push to embrace attitudes and ideas that are alien to us” (Harris, 1995; pg 1)” (Andresen, 2012; pg 67). Essentially Andresen is affirming Filipino culture is lost through miseducation.

I find it very interesting that some Filipinos prefer to speak English instead of their native language, Tagalog. English is highly encouraged merely for the fact that it is the “language of democracy” and symbolizes status and power (Constantino, 1982; pg 186). This is connected to David & Ozaki’s and Third Andresen’s ideology regarding colonial mentality. David and Ozaki article, “The Colonial Mentality Scale (CMS) for Filipino American”, illustrates preference as “automatic and uncritical preference for anything American” (David and Okazaki, 2006, p. 241). David and Ozaki also reveal that those who adopt dominate culture experience or identity less racist events and experiences.

(Yang, 2012)When visiting with PWU we all watched the film, Slow Jam King (Mallorca, 2004), which revealed several issues regarding race and identity establishment. It highlights the impacts that arise from stereotypes and generalizations in terms of race and identity. The film is connected to Andresen and David & Okazaki’s ideological frameworks about identity formation and colonial mentality. After watching the film, a group discussion occurred amongst the students and the notion that miseducation can be extremely damaging was validated. When discussing what it meant to be a “pure or full” American, Filipino students automatically assumed that meant one must be white, which completely disregarded the reality that all 14 students from UW were actually in fact American citizens.

Question: Do you believe that teaching English as the main language in Filipino schools is beneficial or detrimental to students?

References:

Andresen, T. (2012). Knowledge construction, transformative academic knowledge, and Filipino American identity and experience, In E. Bonus & D. Maramba, The “other“students: Filipino Americans, education, and power. (pp. 65-87). Charlotte, NC: IAP.

Constantino, R. (1982). Miseducation of Filipinos. In A.V. Shaw & L.H Francia, Vestiges of war. (pp. 177-192). New York: New York Press. 

David, E.J.R., & Okazaki, S. (2006). The Colonial Mentality Scale (CMS) for Filipino Americans: Scale construction and psychological implications: A review and recommendation. Journal of Counseling Psychology 53 (1), pp. 241-251.

Mallorca, S. E. (2004). Slow Jam King [DVD]. USA: Woo Art International.

Paulet, A. (2007). To change the world: The use of American Indian education in the Philippines. History of Educational Quarterly, 47 (2), 173-202.

Yang, C. (2012). Cinema Asian America: Q&A with 'Slow Jam King' Filmmaker Steven Mallorca - Xfinity TV Blog. Xfinity TV Blog. Retrieved 9 August 2016, from http://my.xfinity.com/blogs/tv/2012/01/17/cinema-asian-america-qa-with-slow-jam-king-filmmaker-steven-mallorca/