My Impossible Fantastic Wish: Filipino History from the Eyes of a Filipino

We became independent in 1946. Filipino history books of the 40s to the 60s were made by Filipino historians (ages 30 to 60) who grew up mentally conditioned by 2 foreign cultures: Spanish and American. Instead of writing from the eyes of a Filipino, their American training (PHDs, MAs) and Spanish tradition (noche buena, Semana Santa, fiestas) showed in the way they described the events. They disregarded Asian/Filipino nationalism and pride and focused more from the eyes of unknowingly of Spanish and U.S.

The way a historical event is depicted shows the bias and prejudice of the author. Thus, the records of the Spanish government about the garroting of Filipino priests Gomez, Burgos and Zamora, the shooting of Rizal had the same theme: they were dangerous trouble makers who incited innocent loyal Filipinos to fight for political, social and religious reform which were unnecessary and would badly divide the natives possibly leading to anarchy and revolution. Filipino Katipuneros who did not surrender attacked and killed American soldiers in Samar.

Americans retaliated by killing scores of civilians (old, young, men and women) in the town of Balenciaga. The American press even in the 1890s was not a government lapdog and printed a lot about the Balenciaga massacre and other abuses during the Filipino American war of 1898. From the eyes of the colonialist, the Filipino victims were terrorists, assassins. A Filipino historian infected with the nationalist streak of Recto, Laurel Sr., Mabini, Ricarte, Taruc would say that GomBurZa, Rizal, the Katipuneros who were tortured and murdered during the Fil-Spanish (1896-98) and the Fil-Am wars (1898-1902) were freedom fighters in the great tradition of Washington, Adams, Franklin etc. during the 1776 American war for independence. He would say that the 19th century was bringing a wind of change. Freedom indeed came to Asian and African colonies in the 1940s. We became the first colony in Asia or Africa to be freed after world war (1946) yet this is not given importance. I wish to change some historical viewpoints:

1. It is hard for an Asian nationalist to say that Magellan discovered the Philippines in 1521. We discovered Europe and West in 1521. Magellan got lost looking for the spice islands and accidentally landed here. We knew where we were all the time. He did not know where he was.
2. The first Asian freedom fighter versus the West was Datu Lapu-Lapu. (April 27, 1521 battle of Mactan).
3. The first Asian traitor (collaborating with the West) was Rajah Humabon when he entered into a blood compact (April 1, 1521) with Spain.
4. In Asia’s list of great nationalist leaders, Dr. Jose Rizal should be number one because of his intellect and he was the first to be murdered (India’s Gandhi 1947 was second). Lapu-Lapu should be included in all listings of Asia’s greatest heroes because he was the first to fight the whites in 1521 and the first to win among Asian freedom fighters.
5. The role of the Filipina in the fight for freedom symbolized by Princessa Urduja, Gabriela Silang should be played up.
6. Sisa is the dalagang Filipina. She carried the family cross because the husband was a lazy, jobless, drunkard, gambler, womanizer, wife and child beater. She loved her children and became insane when she lost sons Crispin and Basilio to Spanish cruelty. Hers was a glorious sacrifice.
7. Maria Clara was a bastard daughter and a half breed. She was vain, spoiled, naughty and impertinent. She did not know how to cook, sew, laundry, was lazy, relied on her muchachas for everything and never knew pain, fear and sorrow until the last days of her life.
8. Think of the Filipina virtues of love, tenderness, humility, kindness, patience, and concern for others. Lamdag sa pinuy-anan, linaw sa kagul-anan, gibuhat nga maantuson, hiyas nga Pilipinhon, kini si Sisa. (Dili lagi si Maria Clara!)