FILIPINO PHILOSOPHY BLOG #1
Beyond the Colonial Grip
The grip of the colonizers on the Filipino mentality is very evident. It is noticeable with how we live—with the products we patronize, the artists we idolize, and the hobbies we do. Despite the many ‘enculturated’ practices that we have, we still cannot deny the fact that the foreigners have strong influence over us. The phenomenon such as this may spark questions on our identity as Filipinos. How, then, could we find our unique identity even with the seeming amalgamation of different identities due to years of colonization? Is it even possible to find that ‘pure’ identity? In answering such query, we may find some valuable insights from a Filipino thinker in the name of Dr. Rolando Gripaldo.
In his paper entitled “Filipino Philosophy: A Western Tradition in an Eastern Setting” (2013), he accepts the fact that the colonial past could never be erased in our history. But, he argues, we can transcend the “colonial hangover” by making it obsolete in the minds of Filipinos. He did this by “letting the colonial past subsist and by letting the present and the future stand out—to make a difference (p. 21).” He considers himself to be a “circumstantialist.”
Gripaldo distinguishes between two meanings of the word "circumstance" in regard to the decision-making. The scenario as a whole is the first impression. It is this sense where the choosing agent feels the total situation compels him or her to choose one option rather than the others: "Under the circumstance, I have no choice but to leave you." The second sense merely means a situational condition among many such situational conditions that lead to a person's choice. Here, the choosing agent feels free to select option A rather than B or C: "Given the options, I will select option A."
In his paper entitled “Filipino Philosophy: A Western Tradition in an Eastern Setting” (2013), he accepts the fact that the colonial past could never be erased in our history. But, he argues, we can transcend the “colonial hangover” by making it obsolete in the minds of Filipinos. He did this by “letting the colonial past subsist and by letting the present and the future stand out—to make a difference (p. 21).” He considers himself to be a “circumstantialist.”
Gripaldo distinguishes between two meanings of the word "circumstance" in regard to the decision-making. The scenario as a whole is the first impression. It is this sense where the choosing agent feels the total situation compels him or her to choose one option rather than the others: "Under the circumstance, I have no choice but to leave you." The second sense merely means a situational condition among many such situational conditions that lead to a person's choice. Here, the choosing agent feels free to select option A rather than B or C: "Given the options, I will select option A."