Research Reflection
Research Question
My passion is that my students to be able to communicate well; I want their voices to be heard. I also want them to be able to recognize the perspectives of others, to inform appropriate global communication. These outcomes that I strive for led me to my research question during my international field experience in the Philippines: What are the powerful words that demonstrate the culture of the Philippines? Examining and understanding the powerful words of the Filipino people helps to bring understanding to the perspectives of the Filipino people.
Powerful words regarding family
One perspective that is clearly important to the people of the Philippines is the perspective of family unity. Much of the conversation and powerful phrases in the Philippines apply to the importance of the family. Educational posters express the following cultural perspective. “It is inherent in the Filipinos to value the family. Happy memories are lovingly engraved in the heart as golden moments to be cherished forever.” This is a strong value that has been established in the Philippines, and many of the people I met in the Philippines expressed the importance of family. Some families live in multigenerational housing, with grandparents living alongside grandchildren. On more than one occasion, we visited homes of teachers that were situated next door to a sibling, parent or cousin’s home. Filipino families are close, but sometimes the closeness is not physical. Many families have members who are working in the Middle East or U.S. to help support the family back in the Philippines. I learned that those who work on the sea also advance their families financially. The physical separation is difficult for families, but due to unemployment and underemployment, these sacrifices are made to help families survive and thrive. Another powerful phrase I heard may not be used often, but is so powerful that I would like to include it. “I’m home and I’m happy.” This phrase was shared by Arsenio, an elderly man who had traveled the world. He was happy to be finished with his travels and back in his home on the shores of Lake Taal. His main concern is for the welfare of his people, and their struggle with typhoons and economic hardship. We could see his genuine concern, and it moved us. He did not want the entire conversation to be filled with his concerns, and then he told us that he was glad to be living in his hometown during this time of his life. It was a heartwarming reminder that there are strong bonds for many people to their hometowns. For many of us, there is a certain peace that we feel when we return to our hometowns. I feel that this is something that a majority of humans feel, regardless of the global location or culture of the hometown. It seems that the perspectives of the elderly are focused on family connections and the well-being of youth in society. Another powerful phrase that demonstrates a perspective that relates to family is “Mano Po,” although the use of the phrase Mano Po is broader than familial, it is a phrase that is used often in the family. Mano translates to “hand” and Po translates to “a respected elder.” Mano Po are powerful words of respect in the Philippines. Mano Po describes a tradition in which a younger person bows his head to an older person while holding the older person’s hand to the bowed head. The closest comparison in the US would be to take your elder’s hand and kiss it; however, in Mano Po, there is no kiss involved, only a hand to the forehead. There are also historical perspectives regarding family that are demonstrated through language. Heroes from the Philippines often wrote about family members. One such example is from 1888, when revolutionary Jose Rizal wrote, “My Mother is not a woman of ordinary culture. She know literature and speaks Spanish better than I do. She even corrected my poems and gave me wise advice when I was studying rhetoric.” The words of Filipino heroes regarding their families are valued and displayed in museums, as well as history books.
By understanding the values of respect and happiness that the Filipino culture places on family, we can better understand their perspective on family globally. I find this respect and happiness in many cultures throughout the world, and I especially relate this family perspective to similar perspectives held by my students. As my students examine global topics, I am able to be more aware of the similar perspectives regarding family in the Filipino culture and my students’ home cultures.
Words tied to empowerment.
Another perspective that is important in the Philippines is the perspective on empowerment. The people of the Philippines face many struggles, yet they take personal responsibility for making the world a better place despite these struggles.
Through the words of Filipino heroes Apolinario Mabini and Jose Rizal, we can see the determination for a self-governing country. The Philippines broke free from colonization by Spain and the U.S., and broke free from the rule of Japan. Mabini, a Filipino hero from humble roots, wrote about his willingness to give his life for his country’s freedom. He expresses this in the powerful words of 1898: “Even though I am already weak and ailing, I willingly followed, my beloved country, what is inside my heart without thinking of the peril. At this time of grave predicament, it is necessary to risk one’s will and life, for we should not let others snatch our fate.” He was willing to risk his own life because he saw the harsh conditions of Spanish rule and wanted to join his people and empower them with his writings. “But when I observed in 1898 the restlessness and indignation in many parts arising from the stubbornness of the Spanish government and the cruelties… I… declared it my duty to… join the Revolution.” We see that Mabini’s perspective was to do all that he could to empower the Filipino people, and he used powerful words to that extent.
Jose Rizal had a different style of writing, and yet his purpose was similar to Mabini’s. He wanted to empower the people of the Philippines through words of revolution. Rizal used symbolism in his writing, equating light to truth and virtue, and darkness with evil. In 1887 he wrote: “When the light of day reveals the monstrous creatures of the night, the reaction will be terrifying; all the forces stifled for centuries, so much venom distilled drop by drop, all the repressed emotions will come to light and explode…” Rizal used the powerful symbolism to emphasize the difference between Filipinos and the rule that they found themselves under. This powerful symbolism helped fuel revolution. Rizal had several other famous writings that deal with the same symbolism, such as “I have glimpsed a faint ray of light and I believe it my duty to show this light to my countrymen…” and “Without struggle there is, too, no freedom!...Without freedom, there is no light.” These revolutionary writers used their messages as agents of change, encouraging Filipinos to gain independence in desperate times.
I was also able to ask the high school students in Boot about their hopes and dreams. This exercise also provided words of empowerment. The students proudly displayed posters of their dreams for the future with words including, ”My prayer is to become a successful individual,” “My dream is to live in my own way,” “My dream is to become a successful business woman,” “My dream is to give my family a better life,” and “My dream is to be a successful architect.” These are words of self-empowerment that we might hear from any teen across the globe.
The power of religious language
I was impressed by the amount of language that relates to religion. The language of religion seems imbedded in the people and traditions of the Philippines. The Philippines is a largely Catholic nation, but we found that many different religions were found there, including Islam, The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, Jehovah’s Witness and evangelical Christian. Public prayer takes place frequently in the Philippines. Many public school classes begin with a public Catholic prayer. Also, many times saying goodbye includes ”God Bless.” When my colleague and I gathered for meals with other teachers, many times a public prayer would be offered by one of us.
Religious writing is also prevalent in the Philippines. There are samples of religious writings from national heroes displayed in museums. Two such examples are, “Oh yes, a man owes everything to his mother, next to God. She taught me how to read and to say haltingly the humble prayers which I raised fervently to God…” – Jose Rizal 1878 and “… I am convinced that the true minister of God is not one who wears a habit, but all those who proclaim his glory through good works beneficial to most of his creation, I will strive to be faithful to your will as long as there is strength in me to do so.” -- Apolinario Mabini to his mother 1902
It is not uncommon to find religious writing and scripture in public and private classrooms. In a public classroom in Boot, hung the following sign, “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7.” I found no object to displayed scripture or group prayers in the public classrooms. This type of message and tradition seems to be easily accepted by many Filipinos, and this demonstrates a perception of openness to religion, specifically Catholicism.
Reflect
My misconception before traveling is that the powerful words that I would come across in the Philippines would be foreign to me. Although some of the words used are unfamiliar to me because they are Filipino, the meaning behind the words is common through humanity. There were no concepts behind the language that I could not understand. For example, although I was unfamiliar with the cultural practice of putting an elder’s hand on my forehead, I am very familiar with the concept of honoring elders and words associated with that concept. It was surprising, yet comforting, to know that the important words that I was finding had important meaning for me, also.