The week of June 12-19, 2004 saw the busiest for Filipino-Americans wanting to acquaint themselves with their heritage, and Filipinos longing to reconnect with memories of their old way of life. From the Philippine Independence Day celebrations, to the birthday bash for the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, festivities took place across the United States. And these events remind us of the subtleties of our Pinoy culture – some laudable, others embarrassing; but nonetheless amusing.
"Basilio? Crispin? Where are you, my sons?" Everyone was quiet as Filipino actress Gina Alajar’s voice broke into the chilly air. She performed a monologue of Sisa, the doting mother whose two sons, Basilio and Crispin, were detained upon accusation from Spanish friars that they stole money from the Church. The boys will eventually be punished to death, leaving Sisa alone and helpless. She refuses to believe that her sons are dead, despite seeing Basilio’s bloody garment torn to pieces near the friars’ house. Her hardships and confusion pushes her fragile mind to the limits.
We all know this scene is one of the famous chapters in a classic that reflected the social, political, and religious conditions in the Philippines during the second half of the 19th century. Noli Me Tangere was the first novel of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.
"If we focus on Rizal, his life and his works, we’ll have a great inspiration for the youth, especially the Filipino-Americans who are searching for roots," said Cora Pastrana, event chair of the Commemorative Celebration of the 143rd Birth Anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal.
Pastrana, a big fan of Rizal, also stressed that Filipinos are very lucky because Rizal was Filipino. She said even non-Filipinos honor Rizal for his intellect and "great love for the entire human race." She said we should be proud that even in Europe, there are shrines in honor of Rizal. The Spaniards were the ones who executed Rizal but they erected a shrine to honor him in the capital of Spain. In China, there now stands a huge Rizal monument, recognizing this brilliant doctor’s Chinese roots. His great-great grandfather was Chinese.
The birthday celebration of Rizal started with cocktails at the garden of Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, California, last June 18. Despite the 60-degree (Fahrenheit) weather, Filipino attendees of the event exuded warmth to their fellow kababayan and pride in the rich Filipino culture.
"We are very diverse. We are a very nice blend of the East and West. We want people to participate in defining their culture and not just absorbing what people say about them," said Rhona Lopez-Nath, president of Philippine Arts Council, Pacific Asia Museum.
About 50 guests showed up, dressed in traditional baro’t saya and barong Tagalog (Philippine costumes). The annual celebration promoted by the Philippine Consulate was started in 1996 to commemorate the centennial of the martyrdom of Rizal. Aside from the usual reading of poetry that Rizal penned, this year’s festivities were highlighted by the Sisa monologue.
Events like this keep the pride in our Filipino heritage. Those who grew up in the Philippines, who have a memory of what it is like to be Filipinos, are reminded. Those who grew up here, who have only heard stories from their parents, are acquainted. The unceasing search of Sisa for Basilio and Crispin is likened to the displaced Filipinos’ and Filipino-Americans’ search for their true heritage.
This was emphasized in The Debut, the first ever Filipino-American movie. The 98-minute feature was directed by Gene Cajayon, who struggled on a low-budget for eight years before he saw the finished product. But what made The Debut unique are its references to the Philippine culture. Cajayon, who wrote the screenplay with John Manal Castro, was born to Filipino parents here in America. He joins the 2,013,117 Filipino population in America, according to a report released by the US Census Bureau in 2000. The bulk of this figure are young Filipinos who are detached from the culture and traditions of their parents.
What is both interesting and entertaining are the nuances of the Filipino culture so subtly dropped throughout the flick. Filipino-Americans who don’t know much about their culture, will pick up some points here and there.
It was amusing to see the presence of two female characters who did nothing but talk about the private lives of other guests and bash what the others were wearing to the party. "Chismis" is not one of the good traits of Filipinos. There was also a male character who nonchalantly unzipped his fly at the parking lot and proceeded to take a leek by the tree. Another FOB (fresh off the boat) was having a hard time speaking English because of a "p" and "f" defect in his speech. In one scene he said, "Dat’s unpair!" He meant "unfair."
His friend replied, "Pear?! What does a fruit have to do with this?"
Those familiar with Filipino traditions and culture caught simple things like this. To us, the screen was nothing more than a huge mirror reflecting our own idiosyncrasies as Pinoy. To the others, it was an enriching experience of understanding another culture.