what makes a person filipino essay

Essay on Proud Of Being A Filipino

Students are often asked to write an essay on Proud Of Being A Filipino in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Proud Of Being A Filipino

Introduction.

Being a Filipino is a matter of pride. We are known for our warm hospitality, rich culture, and resilience. These traits make us unique and distinguish us from the rest of the world.

Rich Culture

Filipinos have a rich culture, influenced by various civilizations. Our traditional music, dance, and art reflect our diverse history. We celebrate festivals with joy and enthusiasm, showcasing our vibrant traditions.

Filipinos are known for their resilience. Despite facing natural disasters and challenges, we rise again with a smile. Our spirit of ‘Bayanihan’, or community cooperation, helps us overcome difficulties together.

Warm Hospitality

Our hospitality is world-renowned. We welcome guests with open hearts, treating them like family. This trait reflects our caring and loving nature.

250 Words Essay on Proud Of Being A Filipino

Filipinos are known for their vibrant culture, rich history, and strong values. Being a Filipino, I am proud of my heritage and the unique qualities that set us apart from the rest of the world.

Filipino Culture

Our culture is a colorful mix of influences from the East and West. We have our own music, dance, art, and food that are unique to us. We celebrate fiestas with joy, showcasing our love for life and community. Our traditions and customs are a true reflection of our strong spirit and resilience.

Rich History

The history of the Philippines is a testament to our strength and resilience. From our ancestors who fought bravely for our independence to the modern-day heroes who strive for progress, every Filipino has a story of courage and determination. This rich history makes me proud to be a Filipino.

Filipino Values

Being Filipino means embracing our core values. We are known for our “Bayanihan” spirit, which means helping each other in times of need. We value family above all, and we are known for our respect towards elders. Our sense of “kapwa,” or shared humanity, is a value that binds us together.

Being a Filipino is not just about the place of birth, it’s also about being part of a community with a unique culture, rich history, and strong values. It’s about being part of a nation that values unity, respect, and resilience. I am proud to be a Filipino because of these qualities that define us as a people.

500 Words Essay on Proud Of Being A Filipino

Feeling proud of one’s heritage is a wonderful thing. I am a Filipino and I am very proud of it. The Philippines, my homeland, is a country rich in culture, history, and natural beauty. There are many reasons why I am proud to be a Filipino, and in this essay, we will explore some of them.

Rich History and Culture

The Philippines has a rich history and culture. Our ancestors fought bravely for our freedom. Their courage and love for our homeland are inspiring. We have a unique culture that is a mix of native traditions and influences from other countries. Our music, dance, art, and food reflect our rich cultural heritage. We celebrate many colorful festivals throughout the year. These celebrations showcase our traditions and bring us closer as a community.

Beautiful Natural Resources

Our country is blessed with stunning natural beauty. We have beautiful beaches, mountains, forests, and rivers. Our biodiversity is one of the richest in the world. We have unique plants and animals that are not found anywhere else. These natural resources are a source of pride for us Filipinos.

Friendly and Hospitable People

Resilience in the face of challenges.

Filipinos are resilient people. We face many challenges, such as natural disasters and economic difficulties. But we always find a way to overcome these challenges. We help each other and stay strong together. This resilience is a testament to our spirit as Filipinos.

Love for Family and Community

Family and community are very important to us Filipinos. We value our relationships with our family members and neighbors. We support each other in times of need. This strong sense of community and family ties makes us proud to be Filipinos.

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What is Filipino? What Filipino means to me… What is Filipino to you?

by Jonnalyn Camba

What is Filipino?

I am filipino. i had no say or choice in the matter. it was something i had been predestined with long before i was born. it’s interesting to think that many of the things we deem important, in fact, so important that they constitute a large part of our identity, are things beyond our control., being born into a family guarantees us all a set of values, and being born into a filipino family, at that, provides me with filipino values. my conformity or rejection of any of those values only further affirms those values’ influence., filipino is an essence within me , one i share with my family, and ancestors all the way from the distant past. filipino is the city of manila where i was born, a megalopolis overflowing with personalities, colorful jeepneys , noise, and vibrance. in its streets, one can truly feel the hustle and bustle of city living., on the other hand, filipino is baguio and pangasinan , provinces starkly different from manila. baguio, known as the summer capital due to its cool, fresh mountain air. while pangasinan offers many different beaches, the moment you plunge in its waters, you realize why its name means “a place for salt”. you come out of it feeling refreshed; your face is clearer, your lungs breathe easier, and the rest of your skin feels smoother., filipino is the language i speak with my parents. words my heart knows, and words that are sometimes difficult to translate. it’s the “bayang magiliw” and “lupang hinirang” that i sang and recited in school with my classmates as we saluted the philippine flag before the first class would start… songs and tunes of childhood memories, hard to forget, but also not easy to describe., living life mostly outside, playing all kinds of games… that’s filipino. i remembered skipping jump rope (made of rubber bands i linked together), hula hooping, playing piko (filipino hopscotch) and patintero (where we must run past marked lines)., it’s my mama’s home-cooked meals, a beautiful balance of flavors that my tongue and heart just know . the perfect lumpia, pancit, kare-kare and adobo often found right at home., filipino is many things. it’s an essence within me, yet is independent of me, a separate entity that does not belong to me; it does not belong to anyone. filipino… is., filipino is both clear and obscure. it’s both tangible and ideal. it’s also something that grows and evolves. as i grow older, and hopefully wiser, i realize that filipino continues to grow and transform , changing with its people and the country, who in turn are influenced by a myriad of things like economics and globalization. yet, still, there’s some things that remain the same, such as the love of family, respect for the elderly, and faithful optimism., when my family moved to the united states, i experienced the filipino transformation first-hand. my filipino-ness evolved from someone fully immersed into the daily customs of the philippines, to something more esoteric, and i discovered that filipino is also a feeling and a choice., separated from my country does not take away my filipino-ness, but it does transform it from a filipino person living in the philippines to a filipino person living abroad. like many filipinos living and working overseas, i’m still filipino, but in a different environment. i did not feel less filipino; its essence did not separate from me when i physically left the country., however, my own filipino journey (and the journeys of many others i’ve met along the way, both filipinos and non-filipinos who are either newly discovering or rediscovering aspects of filipino) taught me that filipino is also a choice ., yes, i began by saying that i had no choice in being filipino since i was born in the philippines to filipino parents, giving me a jumpstart on my filipino-ness. however, it’s a choice to learn more about what filipino is…to keep its language and culture a part of you , to attend filipino events, to uphold filipino values, and to eat filipino food ., it amazes me and makes me feel so grateful when i hear non-filipinos speak my language and even be able to write in it. they have made a choice to learn more about me and my culture, and even if they do not possess filipino blood, each filipino thing they partake in, whether it’s by learning a filipino song or eating filipino food, brings them closer to filipino., closer to understanding what it means to be filipino, closer to empathizing with filipinos. in fact, some become so immersed in this filipino-ness that the essence of filipino springs within them. filipino is also a seed that some choose to plant within themselves and cultivate continuously until it becomes truly rooted and becomes a part of them., so my question for you is, what is filipino to you , related posts:.

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Filipino Citizenship | Filipinos – More Than Just Inhabitants

Filipino Citizenship: The most common way to become a Filipino citizen is through descent from a parent who is a Republic of the Philippines citizen or national. The reason for this is that Philippine Nationality law is based on the concepts of jus sanguinis or by blood. Contrast this with the legal concept of jus soli, which grants citizenship to those born on a country’s territory even if their parents are from another country.

“ Hoy, pinoy ako! Buo aking loob, may agimat ang dugo ko!” This line is quite familiar, right? It is the chorus part of one of Bamboo’s famous songs, Noypi. Filipino (Pilipino)—the formal and most common term to call people who are citizens or natives of the Philippines.

What is Filipino Citizenship | Who are Filipino Citizens

What makes a person Filipino? Is he automatically Filipino if born in Philippine soil or if he’s born from a Filipino family? This article will be a discourse regarding citizenship and domicile as embodied in Philippine laws.

“(1) Those who were citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of the Constitution of the Philippines; 2

“(2) Those born in the Philippines of foreign parents who, before the adoption of said Constitution, had been elected to public office in the Philippines; 3

“(4) Those whose mothers are citizens of the Philippines and, upon reaching the age of majority, elect Philippine citizenship; 3

Citizenship is the status of being a citizen, or of owing allegiance to a state for the privilege of being under its protection. 4 In a clearer sense, citizenship is a relationship between a person owing allegiance to the state while the latter protects the former in return.

(2) Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines; 7

SECTION 3. Philippine citizenship may be lost or reacquired in the manner provided by law. 7

Article IV of the Constitution clearly provides for the rule on citizenship. A person is considered a Filipino citizen if:

(1) he is a citizen of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of the 1987 Constitution ;

(3) if he is born from a Filipino mother and chose to elect Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority and is born before January 17, 1973; and

While it is true that there is no stated period when electing Philippine citizenship upon reaching the age of majority, has been construed to mean a reasonable time after reaching the age of majority which had been interpreted by the Secretary of Justice to be three (3) years. 8

Natural Born

Seulgi was born in 1974 in the USA to an American father, and a mother who was a Filipino. Her mother applied for American citizenship before Seulgi’s birth, and she then became a naturalized American citizen. Is Seulgi a natural-born Filipino?

Jinnie was born in Australia of a foreign father and a Filipino mother. Her mother applied for Australian citizenship 2 years after Jinnie’s birth, then became a naturalized Australian citizen after. Is Jinnie a natural-born Filipino?

Answer: Yes, he is a natural-born Filipino since one of his parents was a Filipino at the time of his birth.

What are the modes of acquiring Citizenship?

Jus soli (right of soil)— is the legal principle that a person’s nationality at birth is determined by the place of birth. 10

What is Naturalization?

ARTICLE 49. Naturalization and the loss and reacquisition of citizenship of the Philippines are governed by special laws. (n) 12

Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition

Republic Act No. 9225, 14 otherwise known as the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003, declares that natural born Filipinos who were naturalized in other countries could reacquire or retain their Philippine citizenship after undergoing the procedure provided for under the law.

The aforementioned act took effect on September 17, 2003 and is also commonly referred to as the Dual Citizenship Act. Philippine citizenship is reacquired by taking the Philippine oath of allegiance before a duly authorized Philippine official.

The Oath of Allegiance is the final act that confers Philippine citizenship. It reads as follows:

“I_______________, solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and obey the laws and local orders promulgated by the duly constituted authorities of the Philippines, and I hereby declare that I recognize and accept the supreme authority of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto, and that I impose this obligation upon myself voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion.” 16

Persons who were naturalized Filipinos before acquiring the citizenship of another country are not eligible for Philippine dual citizenship. Those who are not natural born Filipinos are not eligible to apply under this Act. 17

Minji was born in the Philippines to a Korean father and a Filipino mother in 1996. She has lived her whole life in the Philippines including completion of her education. At the age of 19, she went to Korea and applied under the Citizenship Act.

In another scenario:

Applying the same facts from the case above with her mother obtaining Korean citizenship before her birth and Minji having obtained Philippine citizenship through naturalization before renouncing it for her Korean citizenship, is Minji still eligible to re-acquire her Philippine citizenship?

ARTICLE 50. For the exercise of civil rights and the fulfillment of civil obligations, the domicile of natural persons is the place of their habitual residence. (40a) 19

ARTICLE 51. When the law creating or recognizing them, or any other provision does not fix the domicile of juridical persons, the same shall be understood to be the place where their legal representation is established or where they exercise their principal functions. (41a) 20

RALB Law | RABR & Associates Law Firm

Be proud of being a Filipino (even if it’s not easy)

Editor’s Note: In celebration of the Philippines’ 117th Independence Day, INQUIRER.net is publishing short essays submitted by our readers.

Gemma Louise Heaton, a teacher at The Lord of Grace Christian School, asked students under her History and Social Studies classes to answer our question: “What’s the best that you have done for our country?” Here are their responses.

‘Be proud of being a Filipino’

What is the best the thing I have done for my country? I actually don’t know because at my age, it is impossible to do something big. Then I realized it isn’t important on how big it is. I think the best thing I’ve done for my country is to be proud that I am a Filipino.

Being proud that I am a Filipino is not quite easy. Sometimes, I even doubt it because of our government. The people have to rally on the streets to get what they want. I feel like it is telling me that we have to go to war first before we can gain peace. When I was in Grade 7, we studied Philippine history. I then appreciated peace. It was not just about the Filipinos fighting the Spanish but how we fought for our independence.

Now, if someone will ask me what is the best thing that I have done for our country, I will tell him or her that I am proud to be a Filipino.

– Jen Denielle R. Hernandez, Grade 9

‘Give respect’

There are many heroes and heroines who have done big things for the Philippines: Andres Bonifacio, who sacrificed and gave everything for the sake of the Philippines; Melchora Aquino, who risked her life to help the Katipuneros; Dr. Jose Rizal, who is our national hero, and others who sacrificed their lives.

But what is the best thing a 13-year-old girl has done and can do for her country? I am not a mother who is a hero for neither her child nor a father who is a hero for his son. I am just a sophomore student, a girl who knows nothing but to eat, sleep, surf the Internet, watch television and fan-girl over Daniel Padilla. The things I have done for my country so far are to make my parents proud and to give respect. I study to make my parents, as well as my teachers, proud. It is not easy to make a person proud and, at the same time, happy.

I gave relief items to the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” before. Yes, it is a big thing, but for me, giving respect is bigger. It is the biggest thing a 13-year-old girl can do and give. Giving respect, for me, is the sister of loving and loving is the root of caring.

Giving respect is the best thing I have done for my country and for the people around me.

– Maureen Omanito, Grade 8

‘Study our history, teach it to others’

What’s the best that I have done for my beautiful, loving country? Even if I can’t die for my country like Andres Bonifacio and Dr. Jose Rizal, here are best things that I have done for my country and I will continue to do for my country: In our house, we separate biodegradable, degradable and recyclable trash. For that, I contribute to saving our environment. I also use “ po” and “ opo” because it is one of our Filipino traits well-known by people around the world.

But really, what is the best that I have done for our country? It is to study about its history so that I can teach it to the future young Filipino kids, that they will never forget where they belong. It doesn’t matter if what you’ve done for your country is big or small. Small things can become big things.

You don’t have to die for your country; you can simply do small things that will help the future of the Philippines.

– Marie Gold Vivien M. Totanes, Grade 8

‘Do good in school’

When people ask that question, the answer really depends on who you are asking. When you ask an adult, he/she would probably answer something like: “I have donated to charity” or “I have beggars on the street.” But as a sophomore student, and not a financially fortunate one at that, there is only so much I can do.

A lot of people say it doesn’t matter how old you are and stuff like that, “you can do anything if you put your mind to it.” But in my perspective, I am just a little girl who is lost in a big world. What is there for a 14-year-old to do that will improve our country? After all the ups and downs in my 14 years of existence, I guess the best I can do is to do good in school, succeed as a student and be an obedient daughter to my family.

If I am an honor student, I can graduate with honors, and graduating with a scholarship is my goal. If I can make to the Dean’s List, I will succeed in the career I want to pursue. If I am going to be a film director in the future, as an adult I can change or improve the country by directing inspirational or motivational films.

– Anna Maria Mikaela Almirez, Grade 8

‘Pray for the nation, embrace our culture’

Praying for our nation is the best I can contribute to our country. When we had our field trip at Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, we were told not to fold the bills. By not folding our monetary bills, I am helping our economy. Embracing our culture is one of the best things I can do for our country.

– Jean Lalaine F. Rubio, Grade 9

‘Help victims of calamities’

I, with my dad and sister, participated in the “World Wide Walk” fund run to help the people who were affected by a typhoon in the Visayas, a run that broke the Guinness World Record for having a huge number of participants. This event helped the victims of the typhoon in Samar and Leyte. If there are more events like this in the future, I’ll be there to participate and help.

– VJ Bagani R. Villan, Grade 9

‘Save electricity’

I think the best thing I have done for my country is to save electricity since the Philippines has a power supply problem. By simply turning off appliances when not in use, we are helping the country.

– Aira Joy L. Bercero, Grade 10

‘Pick up litter’

As a student, the simple things I can do for my country will snowball to bigger things. Something as simple as picking up candy wrappers affects us all. This should not be taken lightly, as throwing small things can lead to throwing bigger things. By picking up litter, if done little by little, we are also influencing others to do the same.

– Reimart C. Sarmiento, Grade 10

‘Grow up!’

Being a citizen is a little difficult for the reason that you have to follow the rules implemented by your country. We know that people hate to follow them; if you don’t you, could be sent to jail or you will have to pay the price. You have to submit to the authorities. You have to be responsible and you need to contribute in the simplest way that you can do for your country. Actually, as a citizen, you need to be aware and remember a few things or rules.

As a student, I believe the things that I can do for my country are limitless, as long as I believe in myself. Honestly, when I’m at home, I dislike following the house rules; sometimes, even when I am in school. When I’m outside, I throw garbage anywhere. But when I entered high school, I realized I have to stop these practices because it is childish. I need to grow up in order to contribute to my country. So, I started following the rules, regardless of where I am.

Therefore, I conclude that our society has a lot of problems right now and I’m aware there will be a lot more as time goes by. So stop being a burden in our society: Follow rules and submit to our authorities. Our society has a lot to face they may not be able to help you right now. Grow up!

– Lois Corliss Q. Rivera, Grade 9

‘Make the right decisions’

Choosing what course to take up in college and which school to apply for are the main thoughts of a Grade 10 student like me, taking up exams in the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University and the University of Santo Tomas. Once we make the right decisions, we are doing the best we can do for our country.

– Joan Ellaine F. Rubio, Grade 10

OTHER ESSAYS:

There is hope for Manila in Escolta

A nurse’s duty: Service and compassion above all else

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Life in the Philippines: Contextual Essays on Filipino Being

This collection of essays comprises the ideas that fueled the author’s work on Philippine society and Filipino worlds of thought. The ideas concerned have been conceived in a comparative context that, on the one hand, draws on general social science and the humanities, and, on the other, on the analogies with the praxis of life in both Thailand and on Java (Indonesia). Whereas the focus of the essays is on life in the Philippines, Jose Rizal’s demonio de las comparaciones firmly situates Filipino being in Southeast Asia, or at least among the commonalities of life along the littoral of the South China cum Java Sea. Because of this, and after this position has been clarified in essay 2, Javanese and Thai data will steadily be juxtaposed to similar observations on Filipino being. After this, and similar to the analysis of the Filipino condition in essay 1, the spotlight will be on the mentality informing the public world in the Philippines.

Upon these analytical essays, we step down to earth with sketches of everyday happenings and observations that should convey the flavor of life in the islands such as experienced and interpreted by the non-native denizen.

Niels Mulder has the rare ability to be both scholarly and entertaining – Ian Buruma in God’s Dust

In Inside Philippine Society, Mulder is particularly good at showing the contradictions in Philippine society and culture. The chapter on Filipino self-images is extremely revealing – Raul Pertierra in Review of the Asian Studies Association of Australia

For some fifty years, cultural anthropologist Niels Mulder (1935; Dutch) has been actively engaged with the mental world of members of the urban middle classes, first in Jogjakarta on Java (Indonesia), then in Chiang Mai in Thailand, and, since 1983, also in Lucena City in the Southern Tagalog Region of the Philippines.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Niels Mulder, 1935, Dutch, obtained his MA in Human Geography cum Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam in 1964, and has since been actively engaged with the world of thought of urban middle classes in Jogjakarta and Jakarta, Indonesia; in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand; in Lucena City and Metro Manila, Philippines. His fifteen years of field work among the Javanese, Thai, and Filipinos, and his fifteen years of writing and intermittent academic engagements at Northern Illinois University, the University of Amsterdam, several universities in Germany (Bielefeld; Passau; Berlin; Bonn) and virtually all the main centers of academic learning in the Scandinavian countries (among others, Copenhagen; Lund; Uppsala; Bergen; Turku) resulted in some fifteen academic titles on his work in Southeast Asia, two of which attained the status of classics, viz., Mysticism in Java//Ideology in Indonesia (Kanisius, 2005), originally defended as Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Amsterdam in 1975. With revisions and additions, this work has been in print ever since its earliest Singapore University Press edition of 1978 and has, to date, sold 28,000 copies; Inside Thai Society: Religion, Everyday Life, Change (Silkworm Books, 2006), originally published as Everyday Life in Thailand: An Interpretation with Editions Duang Kamol in 1979. Through six revised editions, this work has been in print ever since and has, to date, sold 22,000 copies. Among his books, the following are relevant to the Philippines: Inside Southeast Asia: Culture, Everyday Life, Social Change (Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books, 2000); Inside Philippine Society: Interpretations of Everyday Life (Quezon City: New Day, 1997); Filipino Images: Culture of the Public World (Quezon City: New Day, 2000); Southeast Asian Images: Towards Civil Society? (Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books, 2003); Sanaysay sa Kabihasnang Pilipino (Mamala 1, Sariaya: Dr. Niels Mulder Scholarships Foundation, 2009); Life in the Philippines: Contextual Essays on Filipino Being. (Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, 2016). During his retirement on the slope of Mt. Banahaw (since 2003), he has been reflecting on his field research and evolution from human geographer to full-fledged cultural analyst, such as recorded in Doing Java: An Anthropological Detective Story. Yogyakarta: Kanisius, 2006; Doing Thailand: The Anthropologist as a Young Dog in Bangkok in the 1960s. Bangkok: White Lotus, 2008; Professional Stranger: Doing Thailand during Its Most Violent Decade. Bangkok: White Lotus, 2009; Beroepsvreemdeling: Antropoloog in het Veld (Professional Stranger: The Anthropologist in the Field). Amsterdam: University of Amsterdam Press, forthcoming.

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What does it mean to be Filipino?

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

These are the stories of how the ancients saw the world, how they understood it, and how they saw themselves within it. One of the more memorable origin stories is the story of mighty Bathala “baking” to make the perfect human.

For those who don’t know or forgot the story, Bathala made the first humans out of clay and baked them in a kiln. The one that was underbaked came out very white in color which explains why there are people with white skin color. The one that was left inside too long was burned, which explains why there are people with black skin. Finally, Bathala bakes the human that’s just right, which is why there are people with kayumanggi (brown) skin.

The fact that brown skin was “just right” struck a chord with me. I was far from the image of the Pinoy. My skin was fairly white, not brown. My eyes were so chinky they’d disappear when I smiled.

Finding my identity

I grew up having trouble identifying myself as a Filipino. As much as I tried, my appearance made most people see me as Chinese and not Filipino. And I’m not alone in this.

Kathleen Yu, a UP Diliman student, experienced this kind of judgment on a plane ride home as two Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) she sat next to said she cannot be Filipino because of her complexion. She laments how Filipinos are more accustomed to identifying each other through differences rather than similarities. ( READ: My Tsinoy dilemma )

These differences become so rigid that we’re constantly defined by them. This is what one Pinoy in Malaysia had to deal with. Paolo Mangahas narrated how he had to choose between 4 racial categories: Malay, Chinese, Indian and Others . ( READ: Races are like mixed rice )

Apparently, appearance is the biggest factor for most people when it comes to identity. This is not surprising because appearance is what most people have access to. It’s not like one can readily see what heritage a person identifies himself/herself with.

Is being kayumanggi the only thing that makes a Filipino? Erin Sinogba, a writer, puts the Filipino identity in question. She says there is a dominant construction of what it means to be Filipino. The problem, however, is that it does not accommodate the “cultural panorama” of Filipino experiences. Each person who identifies himself/herself as Filipino contributes his/her diverse background and experience to what it means to be Filipino. ( READ: Pinoy diversity in a hyper-connected world )

Even Filipinos who leave the country and grow up in other nations still identify themselves as Filipino in one way or another. Reina Reyes looks at Jose Rizal and how he traveled Europe, adopting things from various cultures in hopes of bringing them back to the Philippines. She says the chance to experience other cultures helps us realize that things don’t have to be the way they’ve always been. (READ: Coming home )

‘It’s a choice’

Is the Filipino really just the kayumanggi person who goes to Catholic mass every Sunday and eats adobo? What does it mean to be Filipino when most of Philippine history is a construct of colonialism?

Not everyone might agree but I’m off the sentiment that being Filipino is a choice.

As humans, we have the liberty to choose how we define ourselves. We might not completely be free from the ties that bind – heritage, appearance, upbringing, etc, – but that does not mean we cannot build our identities around them.

The Persian poet Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī is believed to have said “If light is in your heart, you will find your way home.” I believe this light to be a certain openness, where one simply chooses to live without confining oneself or others to pre-conceived categories.

Be it about being Filipino or anything else, we are free to find our place, our home. One author says at home that we can find solace and joy in a world of suffering and difficulties. (READ: ‘Mundo ang tahanan ko’ )

I might not be able to blend in perfectly in most communities in the Philippines but I still choose to see myself as Filipino. I might speak English with an accent, look Chinese, and prefer ramen over adobo but that doesn’t mean I live an existence separate from other Filipinos.

The experience of frustration while taking the MRT, of anger when I find out hard-earned taxes are landing in the pockets of the corrupt, of sadness in seeing the devastation of every calamity, and of joy in seeing our countrymen unite to come to the aid of those afflicted with disaster – all of these are my experiences as well.

These are the issues that face my country and I also want to take a part in them. – Rappler.com

Gerard Lim or “Rucha” is a 5th year Communication major at the Ateneo de Manila University with minors in Philosophy and Literature in English. He is a Buddhist who is deeply interested in seeing into the nuances and philosophical roots of all things while finding wonder and humor along the way.

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I Am Proud to Be Part of The Filipino Culture

Categories: National Identity Philippines

About this sample

Words: 997 |

Published: Sep 19, 2019

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What is it like to be a part of filipino culture, final thoughts, works cited.

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What is an Educated Filipino? by Francisco Benitez (An Excerpt

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The Miseducation of the Filipino

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Education is a vital weapon of a people striving for economic emancipation, political independence, and cultural renaissance. We are such people. Philippine education, therefore, must produce Filipinos who are aware of their country's problems, who understand the basic solution to these problems, and who care enough to have the courage to work and sacrifice for their country's salvation. (Constantino, 1966).

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is a Filipino scholar, educator, and believer in the critical nature of comprehensively researching Filipino/National history. He wrote around thirty novels and a large number of short notes. According to Renato Constantino, "Education is a critical tool in people's struggle for economic liberty, political independence, and cultural renaissance. We are precisely that type of person. As a result, Filipino Education must produce individuals who are aware of their country's problems, comprehend the fundamental answers to these problems, and care about their country enough to work and sacrifice for its recovery". Renato Constantino believes that Education is a potent weapon for creating a powerful and independent nation. The Education of Filipinos has resulted in indifferent and ignorant citizens who lack a sense of direction and objectives for the country's welfare. Reading the book is not a waste of time; you will not only pick

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Nationalism is still alive. However, the Philippines is yet to see another revolution—not against a militarized or political force—but against colonial hegemonies and oppressive self-perpetuated ideologies. With rectifications on economic and educational standards in the country, Filipinos can start to find their genuine identity. A colonial mind can cease to work in politics, culture, and society as well. Ultimately, the Philippine government and citizenry should only know how to function in collective mobility—to provide concrete and tangible meaning to independence and truly emancipate Filipinos from the pervasive American influence.

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What Makes a 'True' Filipino Hero?

It is often said that Philippine history is the history of the struggle of the many against the few. Our society concentrates power and resources at the hands of the few elite, while millions are left to fend for scraps and suffer oppression.

It is in these special moments that sweeping movements emerge. Revolutions, wars, and other special periods forge certain kinds of people: visionaries, leaders, revolutionaries. Today, we consider them heroes. But what makes a Filipino hero?

Our history is filled with great men and women who rose against the current and stood for what they believed in. Some of them fought for their own interests. Others fought for principles they believed in. Some were more divisive. But they had their common threads.

Take Lapu-Lapu, for example. Widely considered the first Filipino hero, he fought the Spaniards in Mactan and managed to kill Ferdinand Magellan, staving off Spanish colonial conquest for 60 years before Miguel Lopez de Legazpi finished the job.

Historical facts, however, show that Lapu-Lapu was less the patriotic defender of the archipelago and more of a local warlord who fought to defend his territory against his rival Humabon. Is Lapu-Lapu less heroic now that we know that he was driven more by selfish interest? Or does the symbolic fact that he fought against a foreign colonizer and won make up for any shortcomings in romanticized virtue?

The same can be asked of other Filipino heroes in our colonial history. Figures like Gabriela Silang and Francisco Dagohoy are revered today, and rightfully so, for leading revolts that sought to break the back of Spanish oppression.

But, like Lapu-Lapu, they waged their struggle not because of a patriotic sense of duty but for personal reasons. Dagohoy, for example, sparked the longest revolt in Philippine history after a Jesuit priest refused a Christian burial for his brother. Gabriela and her husband Diego, meanwhile, were emboldened by the British occupation of Manila.

There is no doubt that they knew who their enemies were. But the question remains the same: What weighs more in determining heroism—motive or legacy?

Sometimes those who share the same goals end up with blurred lines. The decades-old question of Jose Rizal or Andres Bonifacio still finds no answers to this day. Both were no doubt great individuals—but where Rizal sought reforms for his fellow Filipinos, Bonifacio took up arms in the quest for freedom.

We now enjoy a country that reaps the benefits of that revolutionary struggle. At the same time, we have elevated Rizal’s life and works to a position rightfully befitting “the Great Malayan.” But how can two people, seemingly on opposite ends of reform and revolution, both be heroes?

And what of Emilio Aguinaldo, the first President who waved the flag of independence in Kawit, Cavite? There is no doubt that his contributions to the Revolution cannot be discounted. But he was also the man who signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato, which killed both Bonifacio and Antonio Luna, and collaborated with the Japanese during the Second World War.

Is he still the Filipino hero we deserve?

P erhaps the question of heroes is not a question we can answer by counting deeds or intentions. Too many figures in our history are shrouded in controversy—after all, people are never as clear-cut as books portray them.

Perhaps it is more important to look at our heroes through the lives they lived. Instead of looking at what they did or what symbols they portray, maybe it is more important for us to recognize how they lived their lives and for whom.

During martial law, an entire generation of Filipinos found themselves at a crossroads. The youthful idealism of the student movement came head-to-head with the ugly face of a fascist dictatorship. Thousands were left to choose: Stay silent or fight?

For so many people, the choice was obvious; it was only a matter of how. Stalwarts like Lorenzo Tañada, Jose Diokno, and Ninoy Aquino chose to fight the Marcos dictatorship by staying defiant, forming the core of a democratic opposition in an increasingly undemocratic republic.

Others, like Edgar Jopson, Melito Glor, and Eman Lacaba, took the path of armed struggle, choosing to serve the wider masses of the Filipino people.

In the end, it is this distinction that seems most important. Controversial figures often have their “hero” status questioned because of who they were and whose interest they served. For thousands of the country’s poorest farmers, Gregorion Rosal was a hero of the people and the man who fought with them for a better life. For the Cory Aquino administration, he was Ka Roger, commander of the New People’s Army and public enemy number one.

Philippine history is never as simple as history books make it out to be. There is no villain in the story of Roger and Cory; only protagonists. Ka Roger was the face of the Communist Party of the Philippines until his death, and an active participant in the decades-old civil war in the countryside. Cory Aquino’s soldiers, meanwhile, kidnapped Ka Roger’s daughter Andrea when she was barely four years old and threatened to throw her off a helicopter if Roger didn’t surrender.

But perhaps the greatest Filipino heroes are those whose lives are unquestionably heroic. Dandy Miguel was a man who devoted his life to his fellow workers—first as a unionist, then as vice president of regional labor center PAMANTIK-KMU. He worked tirelessly to ensure workers everywhere had their rights to fair wages, regularization, and other benefits.

On March 28, 2021, Palm Sunday, he was killed by unknown assailants. He was the 10th activist killed that month in CALABARZON. His killers are still unknown.

But if there is one sure thing about Miguel, is that he was a true hero, not just for the working class, but for Filipinos everywhere. And maybe, that is what matters most.

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Home / Essay Samples / World / Philippines / Resiliency and Adaptability: Key Traits of the Filipino Spirit

Resiliency and Adaptability: Key Traits of the Filipino Spirit

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Topic: Personal Qualities , Philippines , Resilience

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Be proud of being a Filipino (even if it’s not easy)

‘Be proud of being a Filipino’

‘Give respect’

‘Study our history, teach it to others’

‘Do good in school’

‘Pray for the nation, embrace our culture’

‘Help victims of calamities’

‘Save electricity’

‘Pick up litter’

‘Grow up!’

‘Make the right decisions’

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