MADRONIO, MARK STEPHEN P.

BSEE-2C SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

WHO IS THE FILIPINO?

After I watched the film “Ganito kami noon, Paano kayo ngayon?” I came to realize that this was
one of the times where I truly think of the Filipinos in the recent times. The story was set in the times of
Spaniards’ rule and Filipino revolutions. It followed the life of Kulas, who was asked to find the son of
Padre Gil named Bindoy. On his way he met Diding, his love, a Chinese merchant named Lim, and Don
Tibor whom is a lawyer. The film revolves on the question, who is the Filipino? As the main character
experience events and to the point that answered who he truly is.

If the characters were a depiction of a Filipino in those times, Kulas, the main character would
be the typical Filipino character which was passive and resilient. He took the problems and events as
they came, until he was pushed to a point where he need to man up and do the right thing. It is quite a
representation of the Filipinos’ situation in those times where we were ruled for 300 years and more
until we stand up and fight for our own. Lim was like those Filipinos who died for what they were
fighting for. Despite being Chinese and telling everyone he is one, he still acted as a Filipino and died as a
Filipino. Diding was a woman who would do anything for what she truly wants. I think she symbolizes
those Filipinos who would sacrifice their dignity and conscience for something, and in some point would
result in their own demise. As for Don Tibor, despite saying he was truly a Filipino, based from his acts
he would represent those who are in sheep’s clothing. Those who take advantage of people just for their
own benefits disregarding everything was a representation of Filipinos having power and being blinded
by it and by their own greed.

If I would be deciding who the Filipino in today society is, I think it is the one who is just being
himself and doing what is right and what is beneficial for not just himself but also for the people around
him. I know they’re really many types of Filipino, but what really define a Filipino for me is them being
true to themselves, taking those hardships and problems as they came and unconsciously affects those
around them with positivity and hopefulness. In times of hardships, we are still able to smile. Despite
the journey would be bleak and dark, we are still able smile. Trust, truthfulness, positivity, and
hopefulness are what really define who is a Filipino, even if full-blooded or not. I think there were not
really a change in a definition of a Filipino, we were just like those Filipinos in those times of ousider’s
rule and what had really differs us from the past was the generation we live in and the mindset built
upon this new society.

In these times, amidst the pandemic, the strong personality of Filipinos still flows in our veins.
Frontliners doing their best to be true to their responsibilities and doing everything for their fellows.
Many Filipinos donating and helping those in dire situations and in need of help. Many Filipinos despite
experiencing hardships and trials still manage to smile while those tears might flow and can still find
ways to help themselves and their families.

We experience hardships today but we still move forward with the hopefulness of the future
that we would win and the hope that this would end already as part of our memories, as part of the
Filipino history.