Pliant Like a Bamboo

I.V. Mallari likened the Filipino people to the bamboo in his poem "Pliant Like the
Bamboo."

The Filipino character is similar to the bamboo because it has flexibility, endurance, and
harmony with nature. It bends with the wind but can survive a storm. Just like the bamboo,
the Filipino nation goes along with the forces of nature and politics. It copes with "fate"
rather than fights against it. The Filipino mind is pliant in the sense that it is open to new
ideas. Although the Filipino is trusting, he is also capable of standing up for his own
beliefs. He will not tolerate betrayal and oppression. Filipinos in general are protective of
their hard-won independence, and they will fight for their freedom at all costs.