Filipino social thinkers have contributed to our understanding of society throughout centuries. 3
What are the key concepts and ideas of 19TH CENTURY Filipino Thinkers?
In the 19th century (1801-1900) Spanish Colonial Philippines, increasing number of affluent Filipinos began to study abroad
This educated class, who were later called as ILUSTRADOS , were exposed to the ideas of the Enlightenment, they later applied these ideas about the languages and experiences in the Philippine society.
1. JOSE RIZAL
1. JOSE RIZAL (1861-1896) NOLI ME TANGERE (1887) EL FILIBUSTERISMO (1891)
He became the leader of the Propaganda Movement that supported political and social reform such as the advancement of individual liberty, social progress, tolerance, scientific knowledge, constitutional government, and separation of church and state.
Rizal disagreed with the proponents of the 1896 Revolution2 , he thought that the country is not ready at the time for such radical process and instead he advocated for an intellectual revolution which aimed to educate the Filipino masses on the concept and exercise of freedom through reason
On the area on language, he worked to enrich Tagalog literature and to make it more accessible to ordinary people, wrote a short manuscript in Tagalog, translated European stories in Tagalog and simplifying the orthography [spelling] of Tagalog langauge .
2. ISABELO DE LOS REYES
2. ISABELO DE LOS REYES (1864-1938) is an author, politician founder of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente wrote the “El Folk-lore Filipino” (1887)
“ EL FOLK-LORE FILIPINO” a compilation of riddles, proverbs, and other folklore from Ilocos , Zambales and Malabon . His work laid the foundations for anthropology specifically the study of native culture, traditions, and beliefs.
1897, HE WAS IMPRISONED FOR HIS WRITINGS that criticizes the mismanagement and abuses of Spanish colonial government and the friars. He was influenced by the socialist ideas of Karl Marx and others which led him to organized the first labor union (1902) in the Philippines and led a labor strike to force an increase wages and better working conditions.
wrote a series of articles against American rule “ BENEVOLENT ” reasons in acquiring the Philippines The US government at the time outlined their reason in acquiring the Philippines in a document known as the Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation (1898)
wherein one of the reasons is that the U.S. have "come, not as invaders or conquerors, but as friends, to protect the natives in their homes, in their employment, and in their personal and religious rights
He pointed out the “ HYPOCRISY ” and that the real reason is American political and economic gains.
3. APOLINARIO MABINI
3. APOLINARIO MABINI ( 1864-1903) He is known as the POLITICAL PHILOSOPHER during the 1896 Revolution.
IN 1898 HE WROTE “THE TRUE DECALOGUE,” in which he explained the basics of citizenship of being a Filipino and the inherent goodness of human nature, he wrote to “always look on your countryman as more than a neighbor…by the same happiness and sorrows, and by the same aspirations and interests.”
Mabini also emphasized the relationship of the people to the government that its authority comes from the people and therefore its decisions based on reason.
He wove these Enlightenment themes into the strands of the deeply religious culture of his time. The God-given talents are to be developed to attain his or her own abilities and thus nurture success.
What are the key concepts and ideas of 20TH - 21ST CENTURY Filipino Thinking?
In the 20th century, (1901-2000) the Philippines transitioned from colony to independent republic Beginning in the 1960’s , a move for a more culturally relevant and Filipino based social sciences.
1. SIKOLOHIYANG PILIPINO
1. SIKOLOHIYANG PILIPINO Is a field of psychology derived from native experiences and knowledge and based on a pro-Filipino point of view. This approach was introduced by
VIRGILIO ENRIQUEZ (1942-1994) in 1974 Is a Professor Psychology from UP This is an indigenization of psychology that is based on the experiences of Filipinos.
Enriquez encouraged fellow scholars to rethink Filipino values in the perspective of local experience and culture. For instance, BAHALA NA is wrongly interpreted in English as “ FATALISM - the Filipino attitude that makes him accept sufferings and problems, leaving everything to God.”
But for Enriquez, BAHALA NA is “ DETERMINATION and RISK-TAKING ” and that for Filipinos it means to face and give their best in whatever challenges lay ahead.
1.1 SURFACE VALUES
1.1.1 COLONIAL/ ACCOMMODATIVE SURFACE VALUE are values that considers the perspectives of others. HIYA or proprietary/ dignity, UTANG NA LOOB or gratitude/ solidarity, PAKIKISAMA or comp anionship / esteem
1.1.2 Confrontative Surface Value are values that seeks to protect one’s dignity from adversities. BAHALA NA or determination, SAMA/LAKAS NG LOOB or resentment/ guts, PAKIKIBAKA or resistance
1.2 Pivotal Interpersonal Value PAKIRAMDAM or pakikipagkapwa-tao is the pivotal value that stresses the role of being able to feel or sense the feelings of others in such a way to be careful in dealing with other’s sensitivities
1.3 Core Value KAPWA or togetherness is the core of the values identified by V. Enriquez. It represents the communal orientation of Filipino society that gives emphasis on the shared identity of the people
1.4 Linking Socio-Personal Value is the KAGANDAHANG-LOOB or shared humanity which is a value that support charity and kindness to kapwa Filipinos most specially during hard times.
1.5 Associated Societal Values are values that are connected to kagandahang-loob and kapwa since it serves as common moral obligation to the community These values are karangalan or dignity, katarungan or justice and kalayaan or freedom.
2. PANTAYONG PANANAW is the “ from-us-for-us” perspective of Filipino historiography that emphasizes the use of Filipino language in Philippine history.
Proposed in the 1970s by Zeus A. Salazar (b. 1934) who is a UP History professor, it is a communication-based framework whose aim is to produce a "national" discourse (“ talastasang bayan ”) on Philippine history and therefore help enforce national identity as Filipinos. Salazar points out that Philippine history was and is written in three perspectives.
2.1 Pangkayong Pananaw translated as ‘ from-you-for-us’ perspective, is the Western perspective on studying Philippine history using their standards or external interpretation of Filipino culture
For Salazar , this view of history is designed by and for Westerners in judging local culture that are different to them.
2.2 Pangkaming Pananaw translated as ‘ from-us-to-you’ perspective, is the result of Western-trained Filipino historians who rewrite the history made by Westerners and provided alternative analysis of local culture. They used English or Spanish as a medium of writing Philippine history. For Salazar this is still meant to be read by Westerners and not for consumption by Filipinos.
2.3 Pantayong Pananaw is the history that should be written and primarily consumed by Filipinos since it used the Filipino language as the medium of discourse in explaining and analyzing Philippine culture.
Salazar emphasized that all concepts, meaning and its relationship among ideas are to be in Filipino language18 because it is through this medium that the people can better understand their history and culture.
KEY POINTS Modern Filipino thinkers and academicians indigenized the social sciences to create a more culturally relevant approach in understanding Philippine culture, society, and history.
19th century Filipino thinkers were exposed to the ideas of the Enlightenment. Jose Rizal through his writings and reform agenda supported the Enlightenment Ideas and proposed an intellectual revolution of which the Filipino people must educate themselves on the concept and exercise of freedom
Isabelo de los Reyes introduced and actualized socialist ideas as that of Karl Marx and others by establishing the Philippine’s first labor union and promoting labor rights. He also contributed in the study of native culture, beliefs, and traditions.
Apolinario Mabini’s political philosophy contributed in the formation of being a Filipino citizen, on goodness and capability of the human nature to develop God-given talents. Mabini combined the Enlightenment ideas with the people’s religious orientation as characteristic of the Filipino.
20th and 21st century Filipino academicians developed social science approaches that are relevant to the cultural, socioeconomic, political, and historical context of the Philippines
The Sikolohiyang Pilipino of Virgilio Enriquez seeks to indigenized psychology based on the experiences and social realities of Filipinos. The approach identified 12 values as part of building national identity of the Filipino.
Pantayong Pananaw of Zeus Salazar focuses on how history is to be rewrite in the perspective of Filipino language and interpret cultural, societal realities and historical narration intended for the Filipino people.