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"What Filipino looks like: Traditions and Beliefs"

Beliefs and traditions are a part of every culture and Filipinos are known for their rich culture and it serves as evidence that in some way or another, we still have the same standpoints, that we are united and free. These influence Filipino authors to relate their stories to our culture and beliefs.

Among the playwright I have read, “Sepang Loca” by Amelia Lapeña Bonifacio showed many Filipino beliefs and traditions when one has to dance and offer something to their patron in order to bear a child.

Filipinos by nature have a strong family bond. In the Philippines, it is the responsibility of the father to provide for the family. The playwright, “The World is an Apple” by Alberto S. Florentino illustrates a family who lacks financially, and Mario, a father who dreams of giving his daughter a good life has been mistreated by the society  because of one single apple and he lost his job. These were shown in these dialogues:

MARIO: I lost my job a week ago.

GLORIA: And you never even told me.

MARIO: I thought I could get another without making you worry.

GLORIA: Do you think you can get another within five months? It took you that long to get the last one?

MARIO: It won’t take me as long as to get another.

GLORIA: But how did you lose it?

MARIO: What’s the use of talking about it? That won’t bring it back.

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GLORIA: Filching an apple--- that’s too small a reason to kick a poor man out of work. You should ask them to give you a second chance, Mario.

MARIO: They won’t do that.

GLORIA: Why not?

MARIO: Can’t you see they had been waiting for me to make a slip like that? They’ve wanted to throw me out for any reason so that they may bring their own men in.

All he just wanted was to give his daughter an apple, but those cruel people didn’t give him a chance and even fired him. Because of this, he decided to meet with an old friend and a partner in crime, Pablo. This only show that Filipinos would do unacceptable things just to earn income and support their needs.

Filipinos are also known to be persistent in pursing their dreams. We want to have a bright future and to have the respect and admirations from others. In the story “New Yorker in Tondo”, a girl named Kikay left Philippines to study in New York. And when she gets back she totally became a new person and acted like a true New Yorker- the way she dress, speak and act. She didn’t even want to be called “Kikay” anymore, she said it must be “Francesca and the worst is she also forgot her responsibility before she went to New York and that is her engagement to Tony.

“I am a woman of the world, you are only a boy. I hate to hurt you Tony… but surely you see that there can be more talk of an engagement between us. And marriage between us would be a stark of miscegenation! Imagine a New Yorker marrying a Tondo boy?”

Those were the mortifying words told by Kikay to Tony. Fortunately, Kikay realized what she had done and eventually apologizes to her friends. At the end, she decided to bring herself back- the Old Kikay. Sometimes, we Filipinos let material things control and change us but we should not let this happen because it’ll only break us and hurt the people that we valued the most.

It is a part of our tradition that when our love ones died we should wear black clothes as a sign of our mornings and we also celebrate “Pasiyam” to offer prayers to his soul. And for an unknown reason, it is also believed that looking at the mirror is bad luck. These were shown in this dialogues:

Ursula: Mother I don’t like my black dress.

Cleta: Close your sinful mouth!

Old woman: It’s bad enough for her not to come to prayers these nine nights, and now for her to cast off mourning so soon.

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Ursula: She’s combing her hair before the looking glass!

Old woman: It’s bad omen to look into the glass, Cleta. This will be night of evil! Tell her to cover the glass.

Sabina, the lead character is a stubborn lady because she was so in love with Mr. George. Sadly, her family was against it, they even blame Mr. George for her mother’s death but Sabina didn’t listen to them instead she choose to be with Mr. George even if her mother had just died. When she get pregnant and told Mr. George about it, but the guy confesses that he’s already married. Filipinos believe they must live up to the accepted standards of behaviour and if they fail to do so they bring shame not only upon themselves, but also upon their family. This is the reason why Sabina decided to end her life. The story only show to us that we must not disobey our family because they know and want nothing but what’s best for us.

Filipinos believe in the sanctity of marriage and value relationship the most. Revenge, for Filipinos, is the wage of deceit depicting a Filipino national identity. When someone has wronged them, they would succumb to the idea of inflicting pain to others to feel relieved from anger and hurt.

“Your feelings are a matter of indifference' to me. Soon you're going to witness a crime. You're going to see your beloved-and my beloved friend-Adrian-die the death of a rat”

The lines of Gonzalo have given the viewers an idea on his burden of plotting a crime against his wife, Nita; and his best friend Adrian.

These are the selected playwrights that may reflect kind of citizen Filipinos are. We have exceptional beliefs and traditions that makes are culture rich and unique. It is not actually wrong to follow these traditions and beliefs but we have to follow it positively in order to carry good result.

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You

You, a light to my darkest night

You, the arm that will hold me tight

              You, the handkerchief to my tearful face

              You, the strength to my weakest state

Oh, I am very grateful of you

I thank God for He gave me you

In my heart, no one can replace you

In my life, no one is better than you

One promise from you I ask

Mama, please don’t leave this child

For you are the reason why I’m alive

Please stay with me to the never ending life

This time, as you grow old

I will be the light to your darkest night

I will be the arm that will hold you tight

I will be the handkerchief to your tearful face

I will be the strength to your weakest state