A PATHOLOGY IN OUR FILIPINO IDENTITY

A Disease That Decayed the Archipelago’s Freedom and Prosperity(2011)

Despite many discussions about the exact definition, myriad countries around the world adopted the idea of a nation. In his book Imagined Communities, Benedict Anderson quoted quite a good number of authors who failed to provide a proper definition. Anderson concludes that the notion can only be understood through historical analysis.

Let us take a quick glance at some significant parts of our own history to understand the development of the archipelago into a nation.

The Exogenous Factor: The Evil Empire from the West

The menace of expansionist policies from the West changed the lives of our ancestors forever. The consequences of these changes still determine our lives today: poverty, ignorance, subjugation, political marginalization, loss of identity and self-determination, resource degradation.

Ferdinand Magellan kept his word to King Charles I of Spain, passed the great American continent, and indeed opened a new route to the Spice Islands. The galleon Trinidadreached first Limasawa, then Cebu.

Lapu-Lapu’s uncompromising attitude against the Spaniards proved to be right, and Rajah Humabon’s hostile behavior toward them later might indicate his realization about the diabolic intentions of these newcomers.

The Spanish government sent more expeditions between 1525 and 1542. The one of Miguel López de Legaspi was the breakthrough. Upon receiving orders from the Audencia of Mexico, four ships carrying 350 men sailed off to the archipelago and successfully captured Cebu, and later Manila and its surrounding provinces.