My Thoughts About Colonial Mentality

Filipinos are tagged as having a colonial mentality? That we are not as patriotic as other countries (our neighboring countries)? That we entertain other country's trends (music,entertainment,product)? That it becomes the reason why we progress slow because we tend to embrace other country's? I think no one has a right to blame and point somebody for this.  They said that  different colonizers (Chinese, Arabs, Spaniards, Americans,Japanese,etc) of our country influences this kind of mentality. Perhaps, yes? But there are still another factor. I have my own thoughts for this. 

 For me, it is because we are English speaking country. In fact, English is our 2nd national language.  Every Filipino is quite proud of that.  English is a universal language. Its an instrument to reach out people & culture abroad. The eagerness of learning this language increases. I don't have a survey to support this but hey, don't you see it? English tutorials & class are offered almost anywhere in the country. We are receiving foreign students who are willing to be taught English by our fellow Filipino. (because they said its cheaper to learn English here) 

I consider English as a reason because we have knowledge about it. We can understand & relate English. Of course, you will not be itching to read a certain book if you don't understand the language used. So a competition between Filipino works & foreign works is quite high. It is because there is a wider options every Filipino citizen can choose. Whereas for a somebody who is unilingual (conducted in, concerned with, or speaking only one language), he will have fewer options. He will surely choose the book written in their own language. Their authors are somewhat made exclusively for them. There is a kind of 'assurance' that anything made by their fellow citizen will be patronized. 

For entertainment, our support is really divided between Filipino artists & foreign artists (Hollywood) It is because again, we can understand & relate to them.(Kpop/Jpop is another story) We don't need translations because everything is understandable. When it comes to products, if it is endorsed by Hollywood celeb, there is a tendency we follow them because we understand what they endorse. We know how 'big' a certain celeb is. When a certain song is released, it reaches to our country fast because again, we can effortlessly understand & perhaps relate. (Think: Taylor Swift's songs) 

It is not wrong to explore, support, and be updated to other country's works. let's just be happy that there are lots of options and availability for our needs (books,etc) and wants (movie,etc). Anyway if you will be super patronizing your very own works and if this will apply to all, then importing & exporting will be valued less. Its good to make use the skills & ideas from different people from different part of the world. In the end, every skill & idea is given from one and only: up above.