Lecture on history ,cultural identity the philippine case

HISTORY AND CULTURAL IDENTITY: The HISTORY AND CULTURAL IDENTITY: The Philippine CasePhilippine Case

Prof. Ferdinand D. Salagan, RPT, MA,MPA, PhD Cand.

Associate Professor VSt. Dominic College of Asia / University of Perpetual Help System DALTA

Source: Rolando Gripaldo, PhD(2010) History, Philosophy & Culture

ABSTRACT

• This paper argues for a positive cultural identity that can be made to evolve in a nation so that it can help build the pride of a people in search of identity.

• The author believes that while the national leaders may still be groping for a plausible future, other-situated citizens could take the initiative in making this nation great.

• CULTURAL IDENTITY evolves with historical development. Sometimes the evolution is so slow that the cultural identity of a community is identified as virtually the same as that of centuries ago. This is usually the case for primitive ethnic or tribal identities.

INTRODUCTION

• In another case, the evolution is fast compared with the first case such that CULTURAL IDENTITY of a community contains many FOREIGN CULTURAL ELEMENTS although it is still identified with many important ethnic cultural traits.

INTRODUCTION

• In the third scenario, the evolution is much faster than the second case such that the cultural identity of the group assumes most of the foreign cultural traits, usually those brought about by WESTERNIZATION.

INTRODUCTION

• In the last scenario, the evolution is fastest such that the cultural identity of the community is very similar to the Western cultural identity although slight vestiges of its ethnic or racial origin may still be noticeable.

INTRODUCTION

• The Philippine case belongs to the fourth scenario and the purpose of this paper is to philosophically explain how such scenario comes about.

• Certainly, the current usage of the term “cultural identity” is contextual and will have different meanings in different contexts.

INTRODUCTION

• This paper will argue that Filipino Cultural Identity is still something in the making within the greater purview of the Western culture- a positive cultural identity which Filipinos can be proud of and which foreigners can affirm in a favorable light.

INTRODUCTION

HISTORY & CULTURAL IDENTITY

HISTORY

Defined as the study of the records of the past. This includes written records, archeological artifacts, ruins, and even traditions & literature orally transmitted from generation to generation.

HISTORY & CULTURAL IDENTITY

CULTURAL IDENTITY

Is the aspect of a culture that a people are proud to identify themselves with and which foreigners usually mention with awe or admiration.

CULTURAL IDENTITY

Connotes something positive, admirable, and enduring.It also connotes an Ethnic or Racial underpinning.

The Ibanag culture is ethnic while the Ibanag as a Filipino (Malay race) is racial.

TRIBAL CULTURAL IDENTITY & NATIONAL CULTURAL IDENTITY

A nation generally consists of different tribes, and so there is a tribal cultural identity and national cultural identity.


“ It is possible in a war-torn country, as in civil war, or in a postcolonial nation that there are only tribal cultural identities without a national cultural identity”.


“ Each tribe may want secession or complete independence . They would not want to avail themselves of a NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP”.

CULTURAL TRAITS

“ Cultural traits are aspects of culture and, at least, one or a group of these may serve as a benchmark for cultural identity for as long as the people can positively identify themselves with that of benchmark & foreigners generally recognize it.”

CULTURE DEFINES THE SELF

In Cultural Psychology, the self and culture are seen as mutually constitutive ( Fiske, Kitayama, Markus&Nisbett,1998).

Cultural meanings & practices construct psychological processes, which in turn transform these cultural meanings & processes.

CULTURE DEFINES THE SELF

In a sense, Culture and SELF construct each other. The INDIVIDUAL SELF develops within a particular culture that structures how the self is to think, feel, & act. In turn, the INTERACTION of many INDIVIDUAL SELVES transforms the CULTURAL SYSTEM.

Our sense of self, is shaped by our cultural context (Matsumoto & Juang,2004)

Different cultures produce different self-concepts in their members.Even though the self is a basic psychological concept that is commonly assumed to have a universal nature, the meaning of the self varies across different cultural contexts.

How do we define the self/ identity in Filipino Culture?

Is the meaning of the self/identity for the Filipinos the same as the meaning of the self for Americans?

INDIVIDUALIST CULTURE

Individualist Cultures emphasize that people are independent of their groups . In individualist cultures, the SELF is defined as an independent entity. A person must articulate clearly one’s goals. Personal goals are seen as more important the goals of the ingroup.

COLLECTIVIST CULTURES

COLLECTIVIST CULTURES emphasize the interdependence among people ( Triandis, 2001)In Collectivist Cultures, the self is defined in terms of primary ingroups or relationships.Collectives or groups, such as the family, tribe, work group, or nation, are primary.

Kapwa Conference: A Filipino Example of Collevtivist Cultural Paradigm


In collectivist cultures, a person’s goals are defined according to one’s social roles, with the goals of the ingroup more important than one’s own group goals.



As such, the norm is to remain embedded or part of the ingroup, like one’s family or kin.People are expected to maintain close interdependent relationships with their ingroups



In Collectivist Cultures, much is expected of the person by one’s ingroup like one’s family, with SELF-SACRIFICE for the group seen as natural.

INDIV IDUALIST CULTURES VS. COLLECTIVIST

• The classic study by Hofstede(1980) gave an empirical evidence supporting the existence of INDIVIDUALIST CULTURES vis-à-vis COLLECTIVIST CULTURES.

• In the study, Americans scored highest on individualism, followed by Canada & Western European countries.

Education

Lecture on history ,cultural identity the philippine case