Many other Filipinos could pretty much say the same thing. But then again, sometimes I think that Filipino pride is not as deep as it should be. Sadly, because the Philippines had been colonized and conquered more than a handful of times for over three centuries, the colonizers and conquerors left one lasting “gift” to the native Filipinos – colonial mentality. This way of thinking is still very much present in the Philippine society.
The definition of colonial mentality that I got from wikipedia was “A cultural notion of inferiority sometimes seen amongst populations previously subjugated and colonsed [sic] by foreign entities.” True enough, the Philippines had been colonized and conquered, namely by the Spaniards, the Americans, and the Japanese. As I have seen firsthand, a large number of my countrymen has an outlook that makes them believe that anything foreign, particularly anything western, is far superior than everything else, including our own native products.
I myself am not excluded from this. It’s true that I would choose Nike or Adidas over a local brand of rubber shoes, but I like to think that it’s because those two brands have proven themselves, being renowned worldwide, after all. Ironically, some of those merchandises are created in sweatshops all over Asia. Hmm… so we end up buying something made by our own countrymen and fellow Asians, only made more expensive and disguised with a foreign brand? (then again, that is yet a different topic
).Still, I find it funny how many of my countrymen would flock to the nearest Starbucks – a coffee place famous in a tropical country??? Okay, I admit that I too have sampled a couple of lattés and frapuccinos, but then again, I inherited my dad’s untamed and insatiable compulsion when it comes to trying any kind of food or drink. I remember my sister saying that Starbucks does provide a relaxing environment that suits any conversation and mood. Those above could be true or we both are exhibiting our colonial mindedness, along with many other fellow Filipinos.
Colonial mentality manifests itself even in Filipinos’ movie and music choices. It is evident in Filipinos’ inclination to prefer a Hollywood blockbuster film over our own “slapdash obra maestras.” One would even catch youngsters singing and bobbing their heads to the likes of some foreign artist.
There are also shops and restaurants here that have coined their names from famous American movies or TV personalities and added a touch of mirth (examples of which are Petal Attraction for Fatal Attraction, and Tom Cruz Grill for Tom Cruise). The littlest things, even signs in public vehicles, are in English laced with the Filipino humor like the ever famous “God knows Hudas not pay” ("God knows who does not pay" and by the way, Hudas is Judas Iscariot). English, English, English! The funny thing is, even my pets prefer English commands rather than Tagalog ones! In our house, the instruction “sit” would be heard more often than “upo,” its Tagalog counterpart. As I have observed from my friends’ homes, the same thing can pretty much be said.
I even know of people who, despite having lived here their entire lives here, speak fluently in English but could only make do with butchered Tagalog during conversations. Oh yeah, dare I forget the many acquaintances I have who claim they are Spanish, or Portuguese, or American, or Chinese (etc) even if the said nationality comprises only a miniscule digit over a hundred percent (not to mention, those people look VERY Filipino)? Really, those people ought to learn…
It simply does not end here. A lot of Filipinos are going out of their way to even look western. The sudden onslaught of skin whitening products has taken its toll on the complexion-conscious Filipinas and the said products have started to infest the bathrooms of locals (hell, even my mom has that blasted whitening papaya soap). People like myself also have to put up with derogatory commercials, print ads and such promoting the idea that “white is beautiful.”
It’s the mentality of people who come up with those silly commercials that make people want to be white. Then again, for something to be supplied, there has to be a demand, right? Yes, long before those advertisements and products existed, cebo de macho, kalamansi (native lemon), milk and various other natural products are being used to lighten the native Filipino skin. After all, girls who have fairer complexions are considered more beautiful than their darker counterparts. Girls with foreign physical traits are regarded to be more beautiful than the typical Filipina. Guys, too, are not spared from this. There are still those women who fancy mestizo men; and there are also some who want their men to be as white as milk.
Yes, almost everyone wants to be white. But every summer, people stampede to beaches to get a tan. At first, I thought that the Filipinos were finally accepting and flaunting what nature had given them. But then again, once summer is over, they bring out their trusted papaya soaps and whitening lotions and let that beautiful sun-kissed skin fade out. The bronze look is, again, another western fad. Once summer is out, Filipinos would continue fulfilling their roles as frustrated whites.
How can we say we truly love ourselves when we are embracing fads and ideologies that are not even ours? Filipinos keep holding on to cultures that had once dominated us and we keep trying to be second rate versions of these foreign invaders. I have nothing against appreciation for other nations' cultures. What I don't like is when my own countrymen accept them so much, that all the passion and, perhaps, even love that should be saved as a nationalistic pride for my country is channeled elsewere.bforgive me if I kept changing the tenses of my verbs @.@ I liked citing stuff from the past and then adding something that should be in present tense, but then again, bleh. This is my pathetic attempt of trying to show my point of view in a lighthearted way and with a touch of humor. gwah. anyway..
Colonial Mentality may not be such a big social or controversial issue in the U.S., but it is something that has been pestering my country for a long time now. We were required to express passion and knowledge in an argumentative column, and I do believe that I could fervently make an argument about something that I have experienced and seen firsthand. I wrote this, not only to fulfill a task for the APTP contest, but to inform some of you (who may not be aware of this) a reality that is happening to a place outside of the U.S., as well as to show you how colonial mentality has affected Filipinos, including myself.
http://allpoetry.com/poem/1212429 - a poem written by a fellow kababayan, which is somewhat related to this
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really bad. But I do love some other Filipinos here like you. I do hope that this would open the eyes of our countrymen. THank you for the great read. I wish I could give you more applause. Eris 
