>Very true, but although colonization is at the root of the
>problem our own neglect of our culture will slowly cause it to
>fade. They might have almost wiped out our culture but if we
>don't take it upon ourselves to educate and spread what little
>knowledge we have left of it then who will? I'm not blaming us
>(present day Fil-Ams), but ignoring our history doesn't
>exactly help - our neglect didn't cause the problem, but it
>will finish it. And I honestly don't believe that enough of
>us hunger to learn about our pre-colonization
>history/culture.

Co-sign. Although I would knock out the "pre-colonization" specific and just leave it as "history" in general. I'm guessing that there's not a plethora of community groups/classes dedicated to education in Chicago?

>"...The fact that there were so many separate groups
>illustrates why there would be a lack of information. Even if
>we did have that history, it wouldn't necessarily be MY
>history...yenno?"
>
>Very true as well, but this tends to illustrate my example
>about how some Filipinos do not even consider themselves
>Asian. We need to take ownership of our people as a whole -
>it's like those certain Filipinos who don't consider their
>"darker mountain Filipino" counterparts a part of their race.
>I think we all know about the unspoken view by most Filipinos
>that lighter skin is better (ever have family members complain
>that you're getting too dark?)
>You don't see too many African Americans denying their
>Egyptian heritage because they didn't live in Egypt do you?
>Or the Japanese denying they're Japanese and claiming
>allegiance in accordance to which island they live on? I'm an
>American and a "Chicagoan," but I'm not saying parts of US
>history don’t apply to me just because it didn't happen in
>Illinois you know?

Hmm...Let me try again. My point about all the different tribes was really just asking the question, "Where does Philippine history start?". Since the unification of all those different groups was the result of colonialism, it would seem to make the most sense (for educational purposes)to start the history there. Otherwise, how far back do we go? Back to Adam and Eve? Back to Lumawig?

I think the example about America and Chicago (I don't really know about African or Japanese history) doesn't really fly because Chicago was the result of America, not the other way around. Therefore other parts would apply to you because you were a part of that history. These tribes have established their own unique identities prior to colonization. Just look at the differences in language in the Philippines to show you how unique these tribes were.

It would be nice to be able to accept it as a whole and have a cookie cutter take on Philippine history, but I don't think that it can be oversimplified as just a matter of geography.

This isn't to say that the little we do know about pre-colonization history is worthless. Fuck yeah we should be teaching it and educating one another. But I can understand how some people wouldn't see it as relevant.

>We need to celebrate and spread our culture as a whole, as a
>race. We can't keep separating ourselves by provinces or
>tribes, and it'd be damn near impossible to pinpoint our
>individual tribes anyways (shit, I probably have too much
>Chinese/Japanese/Spanish/Malaysian blood down the line to do
>that for myself.)

If we don't separate ourselves by provinces and tribes then we'll lose that history as well. No?

>I'm proud to call myself an American, a
>Filipino AND Asian. This is Filipino History Month, so let's
>celebrate ALL our history as a people.
>Peace Unity and Respect to all.
>(*excuse the cheese)

Next time make sure that cheese is on some hot pan de sal, or in ice cream with corn. Mais con queso ice cream is THAT shit!