Alonzo, Jaime Vicente C.
GELITPH – Y26
May 31, 2021
Ms. Rosallia Domingo
The idea that literature has been shown to be a reflection of what a nation’s society is in
the past or at present, and that it has an effect of how it shapes the culture of that nation going
forward has not been a unique discussion. Literature, among many other literary or fine artforms,
have been used as an investigative medium into the historical and social support it provides in
shaping how we perceive our own society (Albrecht). After all, the narratives that have been
written and recorded throughout history have, in essence, shaped the way that history itself is going
towards (Puchner).
So, in this case, how can we utilize our knowledge on Philippine literature’s conceptual
and symbolic usage to nurture a generation of people who can imagine and take initiative to address
national and global concerns moving forward?
Philippine literature is no exception to the general trend that literature allows us a
framework for how it has been interwoven into our history, and how it continuously shapes our
future. Our quest in developing an identity is a continuous process where we rebuild a warped
image of what we perceive ourselves to be (WordsInTheBucket). However, this leads us to a few
downsides that inhibit the use of our own historical literature as an anchor for our imagination and
future initiatives.
Leading in from the previous point, basing our perceptions of our identity on literature
alone paints a discordant fusion of classism, historical and religious matters that cause us to live
with the struggle of searching for a coherent image of being “Filipino” (Mulder). This is also due
in part to the fact that we Filipinos do not embody a single identity, but constitute a multitude of
identities (Benrad). Our current understanding of ourselves is based, in part, from the fact that we
are a mosaic of different cultures that we forcefully tried to make work. Despite the points made
preciously, that does not go without saying that literature stops at the past, for we Filipinos record
our experiences to the modern day; the flexible nature of literature of transcending merely
historical boundaries. It serves as, not only a historical record of what’s been done, but is a present
reflection of what society is today (Ismail).
Many of the works that Filipinos are writing today come from the communities in our
society that are romanticized or oppressed by the general public. One of these communities is the
OFW migrants in other countries, who try to sustain their family and personal lives. Their goal is
that they are able to benefit themselves without regard to “getting along” with the people of that
country; reflecting a struggle where what is good for all in one’s nation and what is good for one’s
self in a foreign region come into direct conflict with each other. This struggle is the epitome of
Patterson’s understanding of cosmopolitanism and Anderson’s framework of nationalism.
Similarly, one of the issues that literature comes to light is our romanticization of the OFWs living
abroad, when in reality they are subject to discrimination, not just as Filipinos, but also on the basis
of prejudicial notions of sex (Patterson) and the color of their skin (Tadiar) as mentioned in the
works of those cited. This tension between us Filipinos here in the Philippines and those Filipinos
who are living in the current diaspora causes us to form a form of detachment that we do not fully
understand (Aguilar). Looking beyond the OFWs, we can see that literature also plays a big role
in the recording of the struggles among women and the LGBTQIA+ community across the world.
Taking exampled from the work of Mina Roces and Martin Manalansan, it is seen that Filipino
women and queer people who live in the US have had the chance to dismantle the notions of
sexuality in the country as it stands today. These contemporary forms of Philippine literature allow
us a glimpse into the global struggles that we are made to face, and provide insight from the lens
of those who live in these struggles.
Philippine literature is a complex mosaic of historical notions, interwoven cultural
identities, and glimpses into the struggles of our society in the present. This opens up the idea to
the imagination, what I believe, the goal of Philippine literature should be.
We can use the historical issues and idea that we’ve faced in the past as a reflection of what
went wrong, and reconcile them with the current issues that we face as a society today. It functions
like a puzzle of sorts — for as time goes by, we use each piece that we get to be able to build a
coherent image of what we must do to address the national and global concerns relevant in our
generation. And by using these literatures to spark the imagination and initiative of us Filipinos,
Philippine literature can be used as a means so that the mistakes of history and the struggles of the
present can be used to build a brighter and stable future to come.
Works Cited
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