On the reason behind the "Filipino" word, the simple answer is I am Filipino Dad. I cannot speak in behalf of the rest of the nationalities. Fatherhood however is a universal calling.
But why only about raising boys? Why not write something about raising girls? The simple answer is that the word "Boys" refers to the Dads of today and tomorrow. Even if I would want to, I could not talk about motherhood, much less address girls on how to become mothers in the future.
Through this blog I wish to contribute something to re-emphasize the role of Dads in raising kids and building the family.
The Boys
The poem by William Wordsworth (1770-1850) may explain the point better than I can:
We had a passionate discussion in our English literature class back in high school. It focused on the seventh line above--The Child is father of the Man. That discussion stuck in my psyche til now.MY HEART LEAPS UP
My heart leaps up when I beholdA rainbow in the sky:So was it when my life began;So is it now I am a man;So be it when I shall grow old,Or let me die!The Child is father of the Man;I could wish my days to beBound each to each by natural piety.
Who we are now is a product of how we've been formed as kids. That's true for everyone, including Dads who were boys once.
We want great Dads in the future, right? Let's raise these boys today.
- Many of them well become fathers — Filipino fathers — in the future
- We are a patriarchal society and our men need to be molded for that role, as early as possible
The Filipino
Once upon a time, the word "Filipino" refers to Spaniards born in the Philippine Islands or Las Islas Filipinas. These were the islands discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 and named after King Philip II (1554-1598) of Spain.
So, believe it or not, the image of a "Filipino" in colonial times was that of a Spaniard, a European, a Caucasian.
Spain colonized the islands for 377 years. In 1898, they lost against the United States in the Battle of Manila Bay. That same year, General Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence of the Philippines from Spanish rule. But this was a short-lived declaration. The Americans quickly captured Aguinaldo after the defeat of General Gregorio del Pilar in the Battle of Tirad Pass. Yet what both the Spaniards and the Americans could not stop at that time was assumption of the word "Filipino" by the natives.
Today, the image of a "Filipino" is no longer that of a Caucasian, but of an Asian who speaks the languages and adopts the customs of both east and west.
Filipinos are a mix, in blood and influence, of the east and the west. Even so, Filipinos have maintained through the centuries its core character of hospitality and adaptability, respect for elders and love for family. Filipinos all over the world are known for their strong family-orientation.
The Family is a universal passion. It has a special place in the heart of every culture. As a Filipino, I would wish to dedicate this blog to all the families of the world.
