Specifically, how do you, my fellow Boholanos and Filipinos feel about the position of the Philippines after post-colonialism? I attended a historical forum debate earlier this week at Pennsylvania State University, Erie County Campus. The topic that was discussed was "South East Asia after European Colonization: Pros and Cons". One of the major subtopics that was discussed by the Historians and Professors in the forum debate was the Philippines. Particularly in relation to the Kingdom of Spain. I wish I videotaped the discussion and conversations in the forum to share on youtube, however, we were prevented from doing so. One of the professors in the forum was an individual by the name of Dr. Emilio del Valle Escalante, who is an Associate Professor of History in the University of Pittsburgh Graduate Studies Program. Dr. Emilio del Valle Escalante pointed out the transgressions the United States instilled in the Philippines regarding the predisposed Hispanic Culture that blossomed in the Philippine Archipelago for almost 4 centuries. Dr. Emilio del Valle Escalante pointed out that even to this day in Spain, the government refuses to accept the Spanish-American War as a legitimate conflict, and points out that the conservative parties in the Spanish Cortes still urge the Cortes Real to include the Philippines in the map of Spanish territories, claiming that the Philippines is a lost territory and one that needs to be
united.
Hearing such words as 'united' and Spanish territorial right somewhat sent chills down my spine. No doubt I have a strong sense of love and adoration for Spain, as they provided the basis for the unification of the local Malay population under the veneer and auspices of a
Republica Filipina, as well as provided our people with European thought, per se Christian morality, Roman law, agricultural revolution, and the stewarding towards an urban concept. Despite these influences, that does not give the Spanish the right to claim the Philippines as a territory, particularly after a century of Hispanic absence.
My question to you are as follows:1.
Do you think the Spaniards, though only a several few conservative rightists hold this view, have the right to regard the Philippines as a ‘lost territory’ a ‘lost Eden’? 2.
Do you think it would have been better had the Philippines remain independent without American patronage, per se, do you think that the country would have been better off had the United States not invaded the Philippines during the Philippine-American War? 3.
The concept of colonial mentality, in which the inhabitants of a particular former territory idolize the colonizer’s culture, physical phenotype, holding them in superior regard compared to the indigenous people, was a phenomenon brought about during the Spanish Colonial Era or during the Era of American Protectorateship? Note, that the Philippines is not limited to colonial mentality concept; the citizens of present day India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, parts of coastal China (Macao, Hong Kong) have this societal phenomenon as well
Looking forward to reading your answers.
The following video was composed and made by a Spanish Historian, in regards to the 'Yankee-fication' of the 'Spanish Bastion in the Orient' a.k.a The Philippines.
Perhaps this video can better give an illustrative picture of the Colonizer's point of view and justification.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Oj5lCeTN_qc&watch_responseLinkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=8891.0