Philippines today is attacked by different phenomena—that, in all senses, tell us that our cultures and beliefs are also threatened. With the Filipino’s ambitious goal for global competence and inclusion, a barrier between preserving what’s purely and rightfully Filipino and what is an influence by foreign domination is created. Such stimulates the issue of identity versus inclusion.
For most, the easiest option would likely be to choose inclusivity. With the demand and pressures for globalization and keeping up with our neighboring countries in the region, Philippines always aimed at levelling with international economic giants. Different cultures that are not our own seem to overtake the Filipino identity and replace it with a completely foreign individuality.
I am amongst those remaining few that stand for the preservation of our country’s long-fought ideals for sovereignty and identity.
The emergence of numerous foreign culture is quite eminent in its rampage. Foods, fashion, music, tradition, and even our living are being discarded for the sake of mere inclusion. In a directive say, invasion is gradually devouring us. We patronize others rather than favoring what’s ours. You hold the grip of their pole and that’s the time we forfeit who we really are. We forget our identification and embrace other’s identity and persistently saddens those who still have the nationalistic ideals of remaining as Filipino-culture-loving-Filipinos.
What really is the connotation of our identity? How does it work and how is it manifested?
Identity is tantamount to an understanding of one’s self.
According to Gerty Lensevelt-Mulders, our identity is who we are at the very core and that‘s more than just the sum of our characteristics. Our culture, traditions, and heritage define us. With identity, we are identified as people of a certain nation. With identity, we are built by its blocks, because that is what we are made of.
Benchmarking national policies, copying cultural advantages and continuously disregarding the potential of our own culture would instantly kill the identity of our country.
Furthermore, identity is our distinction. Identity makes us different. We can be distinguished and not to be a mere imitation. Through identity, we can have our trademark that makes us who we are. Not just a replica but an identity of our own.
Inclusion is good but at the end of the day we must come to a realization that not all innovations made by other countries apply to ours. Benchmarking national policies, copying cultural advantages and continuously disregarding the potential of our own culture would instantly kill the identity of our country. Without our identity, we can no longer call Philippines our own.
In denouement, saving identity shall prevail at all costs. It is our prerogative to be identified by way of knowing our identity. Losing it is tantamount of losing everything our forefathers ever fought for.
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