OF FELLOW FILIPINOS

“Pilipino kasi, eh!” & “Pilipino yata ‘yan!”

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:” 1/ “What we think we become.” 2/ “Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.” 3/

Habit, they say, is but a set of TEAs (thoughts, emotions, actions) repeated over time (at least 21 days, we are told) that then becomes a pattern our body-mind gets accustomed to; the longer this TEA-set is done again and again, the more it becomes somewhat of a second nature to us, sometimes even to the extent of making us say 'this is our nature', 'this is what we really are...'

There is a mental habit and habitual expression that many of us, perhaps unconsciously, say of our fellow Filipinos when something ‘newsworthy’ (translation: bad) happens in the Philippines or to Filipinos. It is: "Pilipino kasi, eh!" This is an utterly disparaging remark that most probably originated in colonial times, connoting someone unworthy, clumsy, 'walang kaya' (poor and/or without capability), incompetent, ignorant, 'tinimbang ngunit kulang' (weighed but found wanting) and whatever other word that would try to put the Filipino down. It is a negative judgmental evaluation that we, in effect, stamp on the forehead of every Filipino, including ourselves, when we utter it. By force of habit, reiterated and replicated over centuries, many of us repeat and reinforce it, without thinking.

This need not be so. We can change it.

I submit the principle of duality can help us here. This principle says: “Everything is Dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled.” 4/ It explains that in everything there are two poles, or opposite aspects, and that “opposites” are really only the two extremes of the same thing, with many varying degrees between them. 5/

So in regard to expressions of perspectives on fellow Filipinos, we must be conscious that every time some internal urge surges within us to use the "kasi, eh" phrase, there is always its pair, its other pole, its identical opposite, which is: "Pilipino yata 'yan!" This statement is a positive judgmental evaluation indicating pride in the accomplishments of the fellow Filipino, showing acceptance of his/her being one of us, ipinag-wawagayway (waved like a flag to show honor and joy), and whatever other expression of acknowledgment, approval, esteem, glory, gratitude, respect and support for being Filipino.

Both expressions can only be translated into a neutral English phrase - unspoiled by valuation verbiage as good or bad, or by level of self-inflation as source of pride or humiliation – and the translation is: "Because he is Filipino!" Of course, this English phrase could have either shameful or prideful meaning depending on one's intonation and facial expression at the moment of utterance. But that would be unduly adding body language to the equation.

There are then sound and strong indications that from the principle of duality, the phrases "Pilipino kasi, eh!" and "Pilipino yata 'yan" both translated into English as "Because he is Filipino!" are simply the two extremes of the same thing: the range of attitudes on Filipino to Filipino relationship. 

And since, in the final analysis “nothing has meaning except the meaning we give it” 6/, we can always choose to embrace the meaning and the phrase that: (a) build up our own self-esteem as well as that of our “kapwa” (fellow, neighbor, equal, partner, comrade); and (b) mutually elevate the respect and regard of Filipinos for each other.

"Pilipino yata 'yan!" Marunong tayong pumili ng tama, ng nakakatulong at ng mabisa. (We know how to choose the right, the supportive and the effective) Talaga! (Truly!)   Remember, "Thought is action in rehearsal." 7/

Why don't we watch our TEAs as regards fellow Filipinos in the next 21 days, and every time our wayward minds and hearts start searching for reasons to say "Pilipino kasi, eh", we deliberately and consciously stop that stream of thought, and immediately start a search for reasons to say "Pilipino yata 'yan!" and then, with feeling and conviction in the belief that the Filipino is truly worthy of esteem, honor, regard, and respect, say: "Pilipino yata 'yan!"

Kung wala tayong sinasabi o sinusulat kundi panlalait lamang ng kapwa Pilipino, ang pupuwede lang mai-tawag sa atin ay “manlalait”. (If we have nothing to say or write but the denigration of fellow Filipinos, the only descriptive that can be used to call us is “denigrator”). The Tagalog term “lait”, in English, refers to such attempted provocations as: affront, belittling, blasphemy, causing offense, condescension, condemnation, contempt, contumely, criticism, curse, decrial, denigration, denunciation, deprecation, derision, derogation, disapproval, disdain, dislike, disparagement, disregard, disrespect, disruption, execration, frowning on, gibe, hatred, imprecation, injury, insult, lack of respect, letdown, loathing, looking down on, malediction, mocking, offense, outrage, ridicule, saddening/troubling comment, scorning, shocking, showing contempt, slighting, slurring, sneering at, spurning, taunting, tirade, wounding. 8/

If perchance we find ourselves doing any of these against fellow Filipinos, then we might as well be classed among those whom Dr. Rizal described as the “tyrants of tomorrow” – who are already present now – being so taken up with the erroneous presumption of superiority over fellow Filipinos that the words flowing out of our mouths and pens are nothing but tyrannous, like a despotic martinet decreeing that everyone else should follow; because we have entertained the wrong idea and have come to think, as the condescending colonizers did, that fellow Filipinos are devoid of the capacities to think and to act for themselves.

But we can change. We each have the God-given and God-respected power to choose, which makes us responsible for the consequences of our choices.

“… For from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” 9/

“An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.” 10/ We should consider this particularly applicable to any one claiming to be “kapwa” who deprecates the Filipino.

“Among a man's many good possessions, a good command of speech has no equal. Prosperity and ruin issue from the power of the tongue. Therefore, guard yourself against thoughtless speech.” 11/

When we each assume responsibility for the ideas and the thought-emotion clusters we broadcast about our people and our country, then we do some constructive part in helping to realize Dr. Jose Rizal’s “Dream of my life, my ardent, living, passion and rallying cry” [Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo],  which was to see his “jewel of the sea of the orient, the dark eyes dry, the smooth forehead held high unbent: without frown, without wrinkles, without stains of high color” [joya del mar de oriente, secos los negros ojos, alta la tersa frente, sin ceño, sin arrugas, sin manchas de rubor]. 12/ For we would, in effect, help build Filipino self-respect, Filipino mutual respect, and respect by others.

Rizal’s dream, after all, stated plainly, was to see (a) Inang Bayan standing strong with self-esteem and self-confidence, (b) Filipinos treating each other with high regard, and (c) our country and people respected by other peoples and nations because we are able to get our acts together and play as a formidable team.

As Socrates said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is a habit." Let us then, in turn, repeatedly and excellently build each other up, treat each other with high esteem, and play as a true team: trusting in and relying on each other as we choose to make our respective selves trustworthy and reliable.

Pilipino yata ‘yan!

Mabuhay po ang Pilipino! Mabuhay po ang Filipinas!

_______________________

Notes:

1/   Proverbs 23:7, KJV

2/   Buddha

3/   Mahatma Gandhi

4/   The Kybalion 

5/   http://enlightenedawareness.wetpaint.com/
      page/7+The+Principle+of+Duality

6/   T. Harve Eker, The Millionaire Mind

7/   Anonymous

8/   cf http://www.bansa.org/dictionaries/tgl/?dict
      lang=tgl&type=search& amp;type=
      search&am;data=panlalait 
      and Online Thesaurus

9/   Matthew 12:34-37, NABRE

10/ Buddhist Quote

11/ Tirukkural 65: 641-642, Hindu quote

12/ see below: Rizal's Untitled Last Poem