The University of San Francisco USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center Master's Theses Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects 2004 Text and Transformation: Refiguring Identity in ostcolonialP Phillipines R Edmund Lacson University of San Francisco Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.usfca.edu/thes Part of the Education Commons Recommended Citation Lacson, R Edmund, "Text and Transformation: Refiguring Identity in Postcolonial Phillipines" (2004). Master's Theses. 1215. https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/1215 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects at USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. For more information, please contact [email protected]. University of San Francisco Text and Transformation: Refiguring Identity in Postcolonial Philippines A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the School ofEducation Organization and Leadership Program With emphasis in Pacific Leadership International Studies In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education by R. Edmund J..,acson San Francisco May2004 This dissertation, written under the direction of the candidate's dissertation committee and approved by the members of the committee, has been presented to and accepted by the Faculty of the School of Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education. The content and research methodologies presented in this work represent the work of the candidate alone. ~ '3/, '2-0CJ.i Candidate Date 7)1 u.-cA. 3 i) 2 &rf 4 11 Acknowledgments Completing an academic program of this nature is always a group activity and never the result of one person's effort only. Many inspired me, and many helped me. Topping the list is my mother, Dr. Evangelina Hilario-Lacson, who never tired of encouraging me to enroll in a doctoral program of interest to me. Closely following her are Dr. L. Robert Kohls, and Dr. Mark W. Rosegrant. Both of them recommended to the University of San Francisco my acceptance to the Organization and Leadership (PLI) doctoral program. This dissertation could not have been completed without the participation of my research conversation partners. My thanks and appreciation go to four students, leaders in their own right, of the University ofthe Philippines: Khalim Buking Tangilag, Joanna Faith H. Villanueva, Maharlika Alonto, and Eunessa A. Baterina. No less than thanks and appreciation are due Arnold M. Azurin, Dr. Ma. Celeste T. Gonzalez, F. Sionil Jose, Josefina Padilla-Rufino, Dr. Perla Rizalina M. Tayko, and Conrad de Quiros. Were it not for their generosity in sharing their ideas and time with me, this study would not have been completed. The advice, counsel, and encouragement I received from my adviser Dr: Ellen A. Herda, I can only describe as invaluable. I found studying under her direction not only enlightening, but also enjoyable. To Ernesto "Butch" M. Hilario and to his wife, Chat Garcia, maraming salamat for inviting me to make their home my home during my stay in Manila. A special note of thanks is due Butch for introducing me to his friends Arnold M. Azurin, and Conrad de Quiros. lll Whenever research work was on the verge of overwhelming me, Pablo "Tito" and Bobbie Mercado were always available for pleasant company. They also made sure I was never inconvenienced for lack of a motor vehicle. This wonderful couple made certain I had reliable hatid/sundo service. A special note of gratitude is due my friend Ernest Rufino, who made certain I received all the books and other materials I requested sent from Manila. Also to Ranilo B. Hermida for sharing his understanding of the Spirit of 1896 with me. To the many other friends who helped make my stay in the city of my birth very pleasant, thank you all. I would have found doing my research to be very difficult were it not for Emma Evidente. She coordinated and assisted in numerous activities that had to do with my research in Manila. If only every researcher were as fortunate as I was in having someone like Emma help manage his or her activities with such efficiency. I cannot say thank you enough to Patricia F. Lacson, my friend and spouse. What I have accomplished I would not have been able to achieve were she absent. Errors and omissions, I do not share with anyone. I alone am responsible for them. IV Table of Contents Chapter One Description of the Research Introduction to Research Issue .................................................... 1 Background ofResearch Issue ..................................................... 3 Rizal's Vision of the Filipino Nation.......................................... 9 Rizal's El Sentimiento Nacional ................................................ 10 Significance of the Study......................................................... 13 Summary and Upcoming Text ................................................... 14 Chapter Two Background of Country Introduction ........................................................................ 16 Colonial Periods ................................................................... 18 From pre-Spanish Contact to the return of American rule in 1945 Colonial Discourse ................................................................ 29 From Imperialism to Neocolonialism ........................................... 31 Modernity and the Postcolonial Present ........................................ 34 Views on the Public Sphere, Politics, Society, the Economy, and the Postcolonial Present Postmodernity. 56 Summary and Upcoming Text................................................ 62 Chapter Three Review ofLiterature Introduction ........................................................................ 64 Origin of the Country ............................................................. 66 Colonization, Resistance, and Nationhood .................................... 67 Colonialism and Identity .......................................................... 7 4 Persistence ofRacial and Ethnic Stereotyping ................................ 80 Gathering Scattered Pieces, llluminating Traces ................... : .......... 84 Summary and Upcoming Text ................................................... 88 Chapter Four Description of the Research Process Introduction ........................................................................ 90 Theoretical Background .......................................................... 91 Mimesis1, Mimesis3, and Mimesis2 Entree ............................................................................... 98 Research Participants ............................................................. 99 Research Categories and Questions ............................................ 102 Journals ........................................................................... l 03 Data Collection and Analysis ................................................... 104 v / Research Focus .................................................................. 106 Research Timeline................................................ 107 Background of Researcher... 107 Summary and Upcoming Text ................................................. 109 Chapter Five Synopses and Analyses of Conversations Introduction ....................................................................... 111 Khalim Buking Tangilag ........................................................ 111 Joanna Faith H. Villanueva ..................................................... 116 Eunessa A. Baterina ............................................................. 123 Maharlika S. Alonto ............................................................. 124 Josefina Padilla-Rufino ......................................................... 127 Perla Rizalina M. Tayko ........................................................ 133 F. Sionil Jose ..................................................................... 137 Arnold M. Azurin... 142 Conrad de Quiros ................................................................ 146 Ma. Celeste T. Gonzalez ........................................................ 150 Gleanings from Conversations ................................................. 160 Summary and Upcoming Text ................................................. 165 Chapter Six Hermeneutics, History, and Issues from Conversations Introduction ....................................................................... 167 The Mimetic Functions Figuration, Reflection on, and Remembering of the Past (Mt) ................................................... 169 Reflection and Remembering ....................... 169 Memory, Identity, and the Other ................... 172 Refiguration and the Imagining of an Alternate World (M3) ...................................... 185 The First Spark. ....................................... 185 The Spirit of 1896 ........................... , ........ 188 What is Ideology? .................................... 189 Rizal' s Demands for Reform, Ideology and Concept of Social Ethics ............................. 190 Redemption in Dapitan, Betrayal in Manila ............................................... 201 Imagination and Potential for Action ........................ 202 Nineteenth Century and Twenty-First Century Problems ...................................