Traditions: Never Ending Cycle of the Same Thing Over and Over

It's amazing how respectable traditions that preserve our cultural identity have gone to the dumps while traditions that undermine society linger.

Mano

While visiting family in Hawaii, I was rather taken aback when a young adult, whom I believe was raised as an American, suddenly took an elder's hand and pulled it to his forehead, a Filipino trait known as "pagmamano" or simply "mano." I felt ashamed even more when an adult took the elder's hand and did the same thing. At that time, I asked myself why of all things that need to die out, this treasured custom is fading away, even in my own ways.

Po

Another dying tradition I lament will soon be gone is the Tagalog's recognition of an elder's venerable status within the family and the community. "Po," "ho," and "opo" are, by far, some of the few words in the Tagalog lexicon worthy of continuing use and adherence; it is a distinctive feature unique even amongst other languages in the Philippines. It is of utmost importance that each of us endeavour to instill the use of these words in our children's daily diet of conversation.

Native Language

Last but not the least, given the age of English and Mandarin, it is of most pressing concern to teach younger generations the use of our native tongue and not sacrifice it for the sake of short-term expediency. Passing it down ensures the transfer of the unique ability to communicate our thoughts in our native tongue: a feat that enables the child to realize his ethnic heritage and thus, should be commended. I believe there are enough young Filipino-Americans here in Southern California whose manner of speech, behavior, and suggestive lifestyle testifies to the importance of having and practicing a native language.

But if we have traditions that needs to be preserved, are there any to the contrary? Of course we do. In fact, those traditions tend to last longer and survival seems to clearly favor these traditions vis-a-vis those aforementioned.

Family Politics

Although criticism should be laid on those who practice it, to say that the many who still subscribes to it are innocent is plain baloney. If we condone, support and sustain this practice, by what right do we complain of political dynasties controlling our lives?

The typical individual, whose complacent nature and desire to unburden himself from the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, surrenders his political life in exchange for a biological life fulfilled by family and material comfort. But in order to do so, they must first choose a benevolent leader, in the confucian fashion, who will be granted near absolute singular authority and eventually perpetuate his hold on power as the comfort of family and materialism do not satisfy himself once exposed thoroughly to power's embrace.

The people's desire to maintain material comfort for the family and their obsessive want to focus on material joy and its creation to achieve the former would discourage each to pursue vita activa in the public realm; it is no wonder why that men such as Peisistratus was allowed to exist in the very heart of ancient democracy.

Ampatuans, anyone?

Government of Men, not Laws

Once we "vote," we leave everything in the hands of our benevolent leaders without understanding that voting is one of the many duties of citizenship, not the only. We do not continually hold accountable those temporary delegates of the people and that is why one prolonged his rule for almost 20 years. We tend to go back to our old ways by voting on the same bloodstrain over and over and over even if they don't know anything about goodness according to the laws.

Hence, good is not about doing right based on the laws, but by what the leader believes to be good. Although there is no absolute good in the laws, arbitrary power starts when men define what is good, instead of the law defining what is good.

Please do not think of it as arrogance when I laugh as I observe. LOL

Mukha

We seem unperturbed when showing our likeness in the public realm without considering that public money is being spent. And even if public money is not spent, the fear of public acclamation does not make us pause and think twice even if it meant adoration amongst the many.

Praising a continual political bloodline, benign or not, should be a wake up call especially when that which the many proclaim to abhor is unmaliciously commended. Wait a minute, aren't we against political dynasties? Peisistratus's rule should not be cited as a good example.

When people support a candidate by acknowledging his family's charitable contributions, then it is time to ask those people not to vote for you because they are merely returning a debt of gratitude (utang na loob) as opposed to acknowledging your skills and acumen for governance.

More to come.
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