Colonial Mentality in the Philippines.

          The culture of contemporary individuals is a cliche ; the attachment to social media, the rise of informal conversations, the preference of anything “epic” or “awesome”, but more importantly that unjustifiable surge for independence from societal norms-traditional ones, specifically.

Photo taken from Google

This movement among individuals not only affects the United States but also countries that inhabits individuals that are desperate to release themselves from the bondage of traditionalism. Philippines, in fact, is becoming a breeding ground for foreign loving dignitaries, a breeding ground that is unsurprising for the very fact that Filipino lacks the sense of identity; while heavily accustomed to their supposed “pride”, it is country in fact ashamed of its flaws and inability to cope with other developed countries.

The emergence of pop culture does not diffuse this epidemic. It is pop culture that introduced morality: songs laden with profanity, the lifestyle of partying, the introduction of fornication, and the worst of all; disregarding family and cultural values in favor of a false doctrine-a façade that leads to one’s demise.

It is no surprise that a country like Philippines can experience such a phase with said issue, since it is a country rife with poverty and squalor. And it is also no surprise that the only escape out of the ordinary is to be extraordinary. Filipino are among a group of people that are adaptable (natural disasters, recessions, corrupt government), and by having this innate ability, the act of shedding cultural ties is as easy changing one’s clothes.

If one is trying to assess that Filipino is indeed experiencing a degrading cultural identity and mentality, one should look no further to the Filipino media culture. The Filipino media culture is marred with western cliches: attempts to impersonate famous western celebrities, emergence of contemporary western elements in motion pictures and music, and the unappealing new language called Tag-lish. It is this desperate urge of Filipinos to rid themselves of their cultural identity, that the word Filipino might indeed become synonymous with imitation and unoriginal.

Photo taken from Google

Being a Filipino and also getting a chance to grow up in the Philippines, I have experienced the Filipino lifestyle, education and the strict moral values. Though I am now living outside of the Philippines, it seems that the perks of being a Filipino means that one’s kinsmen would always be at someplace one thinks unsuited.

While it is true that Filipinos do get around in any part of the world, they do it with an utmost goal in their mind; to bring a chance of prosperity within their family’s grasp, a chance for a better life. The sad part, however, is that once Filipino leaves their homeland, they become attached to their adopted country. Filipinos then become a “foreigner”.

Colonial mentality is a mental processes largely attributed to colonized people or people with colonial history. While the Philippines is an independent country, it has a rich history of colonialism, from the Spanish to the Americans. While the effects of Spanish colonialism are etched in the Filipino language, religion and cultural values, the American culture influence on the Filipinos should also be considered.

The American culture epitomizes independence and individualism. This evolution in society is gaining a hold in many individual’s mind around the world. The American pop culture presents a lifestyle of hedonism; excess and pleasure. It was mentioned that Filipinos have the ability to adapt to any given situations and seeing the American culture as superior, Filipinos become mesmerized with it. As time progresses, the colonial mentality among them starts to emerge; they would idolize American celebrities, listen to American music, eat American foods, and would even do whatever it takes to become American-even if it means losing one’s identity.

-JR Lasado