Imagined Communities and Filipinization

Vocabulary flashcards covering Benedict Anderson's 'Imagined Communities' and the historical definitions and social hierarchies of Filipinization in the Philippines.

Nation

A large community of people, united by common cultural, historical, or ethnic ties, who share identity and often a collective political aspiration.

Imagined (Anderson's Imagined Community)

It is "imagined" because members will never meet, know, or even hear of most of their fellow-members, yet "in the minds of each lives the image of their communion".

Limited (Anderson's Imagined Community)

The nation has "finite, if elastic, boundaries" beyond which other nations exist; no nation imagines itself as coextensive with all of humanity.

Community (Anderson's Imagined Community)

Regardless of actual inequality or exploitation, the nation is "always conceived as a deep, horizontal comradeship" or fraternity.

Filipinization (Political Definition)

The official US policy of gradually replacing American colonial officials with qualified Filipinos in the government to "train" them in the science of self-governance.

Filipinization (Cultural and Historical Definition)

The process of taking something foreign—a language, a religion, a political system, or an institution—and reshaping it to fit native Philippine values, culture, and control.

Las Islas Filipinas

The name given to the archipelago by Spain in honor of King Philip II.

Peninsulares

Pure Spanish born in Spain who held the highest power in the social hierarchy.

Filipinos (or Insulares)

During the first 300 years of Spanish rule, this term referred to pure Spanish born in the Philippines.

Mestizos

People of mixed Spanish-native or Chinese-native blood.

Indios

The indigenous, native people of the islands, representing the lowest class in the social hierarchy.

Ilustrados

The wealthy, educated elite class, such as Jose Rizal, who began calling themselves "Filipinos" in the 1800s.

Parochial privileges

Specific rights and status demanded from Spain by the Ilustrados and Mestizos (like Fr. Jose Burgos) to be recognized as equals to the Peninsulares.

Original "imagined Filipino community"

As noted by Hernandez (2019), it was an identity framed through Western colonial thinking by the elite, for the elite, to negotiate power with Spain.

Benedict Anderson's Concept of National Identity

Anderson's concept explores how national identity is imagined through shared culture, heritage, history, and collective memories among people who may never meet.

Indios

During the 1500s, the term used to refer to the indigenous people of the Philippines.

Filipino Identity

The term 'Filipino' began to be widely accepted after the revolution, particularly noted after the time of Andres Bonifacio.

Nation as Community

A nation is defined as a community sharing common culture, heritage, history, pain, and suffering through shared experiences.

Bicolano

An example of a sub-nation within the Philippines that shares a common ethnic style and language.

Nested Nations

The idea that within a nation, such as the Philippines, there are multiple ethnic groups and identities coexisting; all are considered Filipinos.

Imagined Community (Anderson)

The concept that being Filipino is a form of imagination because one cannot truly verify the identity of every Filipino they have not met.

Limited National Identity (Anderson)

National identities are finite and distinct, meaning that while people may share some similarities, their attitudes and experiences can differ significantly.

Community (Anderson)

Despite existing inequalities, the concept of national identity fosters a collective willingness to act for the benefit of the nation.

Filipinization (Term Origin)

The term 'Filipino' became prominent during the American colonial period, indicating a shift towards establishing a national identity.

American Period Influence

Americans sought to train Filipinos for independence, thus shaping the identity of Filipinos more formally during this time.

Rizal and Philippine Identity

Rizal, being part of the Principalia (elite class), believed in the benefits of remaining a province of Spain, reflecting the socio-political dynamics of the era.

Western Influence on Filipino Identity

Many aspects of Filipino identity and democracy were influenced by Western ideals, often romanticized and disconnected from native origins.

Inclusivity of Filipino Identity during Rizal's Time

During Rizal's time, the notion of being Filipino was seen as exclusive and not inclusive.