From indio to Filipino

BREAKTHROUGH - Elfren S. Cruz (The Philippine Star) - July 29, 2018 - 12:00am

One of the greatest homage ever made was when Ninoy Aquino proclaimed to the world: “The Filipino is worth dying for.” His
martyrdom proved that he was sincere. But we can also sincerely ask ourselves, who is this Filipino worth dying for? Surely it
cannot be those congressmen whose recent antics and machinations have been an international embarrassment. Neither can it
be the ruling economic and political elite that have ruled this country for generations. Nor can it be the rich who have made money
in this country; but, have spent it abroad rather than investing in their own country. Nor is it the countless politicians who parrot
the same promises election after election.
In searching for this Filipino, it is important to look back at history and remember that before the 1880s, the term “Filipino” actually
referred to the people of Spanish parentage born in the Philippines. The Malayan, native born inhabitants of the Philippine
islands were called “indio” or “indigenta.” This class or group occupied the lowest level in a highly stratified class society.
At the highest level were the “peninsular” who were of Spanish parentage and born in Spain. Then came the Filipino; next
the mestizo, mixed Spanish and native parentage; then the mestizo chino or mestizo de sangley; then the chino or
sangley. Considered as outsiders were the moro or Muslim; the isolated indigenous tribes in the mountains; and roving bands
of aetas.

It should be noted that the natives of these islands belonged to brown skinned peoples who arrived in Southeast Asia six millennia
ago and through migrations spread as far west as Madagascar and as far east as Polynesia. They populated what are known as
Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. According to historian Luis Francia: “ Human settlements known as barangays, after the
outriggered boats, were thus firmly in place in the Philippines well before the Spanish arrived, with a number of
larger barangays trading with foreign ships that plied Southeast Asian waters.” The pre-Spanish colonial natives had all the
characteristics of a civilization.

Unlike neighboring nations like China, Vietnam and Siam, the very nature of the archipelago, with more water than land, meant
the existence of numerous tribal groups with a few dominant ones – Tagalogs, Kapampangans, Ilocanos, Bikolanos, Cebuanos,
Ilonggos, Warays, and the Mindanao tribes. The term indios was used to refer collectively to the different tribes.

It was only in the late 1880s and 1890s that the term Filipino began to change to refer to “ people from the Philippines.” Historians
believe that this sense of being “ Filipino” emerged when the “peninsular” Spaniard failed to distinguish between the mestizo and
the indio. A group of young men who went to Europe to study also discovered that the racial and class distinctions that separated
them in the colony became less meaningful when they found themselves collectively alone across the oceans. In Europe and
elsewhere around the world, they started to refer to one another as being one people. While in Madrid, Jose Rizal wrote to a friend.
“...we call ourselves simply Filipinos.”

This is so reminiscent of the ten million Filipinos who live abroad and continue to somehow retain their Filipino identity. A generation
ago when the diaspora started, it was said that after one generation, the overseas Filipino would lose all sense of their national
identity. It has not happened and Filipino overseas communities are thriving.

The ruling class collaborated with the Spanish rulers and became more Hispanized. They acquired Spanish education, absorbed
Castilian culture and behaved like their colonial masters. They became more and more different and isolated from their
countrymen. The Americans ruled in the same way by using the ruling class. Instead of Spanish, they used English and
Americanized the ruling elite. However, the availability of education became a passport to middle class status and in rare cases
to become part of the elite. The burgeoning middle class was supposed to become the principal agent of change. Unfortunately,
the middle class in the Philippines remains an insignificant minority as the main bulk of its members – ten million – have sought
refuge in foreign countries leaving the Philippines with a ruling elite, a small middle class and a vast underclass.

Through all these centuries, the indio and now the Filipino, has shown time and again that they are capable of heroism and love
of nation. There were an estimated 300 revolutions against the Spanish invaders and another war for independence against the
Americans. The guerrilla movement against the Japanese invaders were primarily grassroots movements. This is a people that
have rallied to democracy at critical junctures in its history through leaders like Ramon Magsaysay and People Power Movements.
The economic and professional success of overseas Filipinos have shown their talents and professionalism when given the right
opportunities.

Read more at https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2018/07/29/1837622/indio-filipino#LiYZCd43X4VX1cVx.99