Colonization and Its Negative Impact on Filipino Consciousness

Histo-Traumatization of the Philippines, Reconnection from
the Trauma of Colonization and Its Implication to Peacebuilding


ABSTRACT

This exploratory paper provides a glimpse of the trauma which the Filipinos experienced during the colonization. It also explains the extent to which the occupation of Spain, Britain, U.S.A. and Japan had shaped the consciousness of the Filipino people. Unfortunately, the colonization had shattered the entire nation because of the setbacks which this piece of history had left. On the other hand, this presents a lesson on the implication of violence inflicted upon a nation.

This research also presents a structure in understanding a trauma as experienced by a nation. It likewise asserts that the damage which the colonization had caused is multi-faceted. Hence, it points out the areas where recovery, reconnection, and healing could be directed. But according to the findings, since the time immemorial, Philippines had not started its recovery process yet. This only means that the Philippines still suffer from the trauma of its past. Aside from this, the colonizers had not done anything to repair the systemic damage it had caused the Filipinos. The study asserts that the birth and development of corruption, abuse of power, inequality, violence, terrorism, and ecological imbalance could be traced in the colonization period.

Beyond laying down the elements by which the history of Philippine traumatization could be understood, this paper also attempted to describe a process of healing the national trauma – the community and history reconnection. This paper shows that this concept could be concretized through pintakasi process. The author discovered this community process when he immersed for three years in Kalamansig, a community in Mindanao. In a very important sense he explored this phenomenon with the community. Apparently, with the community, the author discovered that pintakasi could be utilized to reconnect the community and reawaken positive relationship to respond to a very important concern- the armed conflict.

The research assumes that pintakasi is one among the many community practices that was fossilized by the colonization. The author asserts that pintakasi holds a promise in uniting the people to benefit the community. But on the other hand, pintakasi is only one among the many resources which needed to be unraveled to benefit the communities of the Philippines.

The author also found out that reconnecting to history is part of the recovery process. Although this still needs further validation, retelling the history of colonization in the traumatization context provided a deeper understanding of the past. This process also provides understanding of the present struggle of the Filipino people.

When the entire Philippine system is controlled by the values of the colonization, the peace building effort is also tainted by its impact. In this case, peacebuilding had to be reevaluated. Hence, study proposes a framework on peacebuilding that is based on community and history reconnection. Hence, it asserts that peacebuilding could be understood better when reviewed in the context of community and in the context of the history of trauma from the colonization.

This paper also presents a challenge to Filipino psychologist to undergo the process of reconnection to rediscover the relevance of the practice of psychology in a nation that was shattered by colonization. The psychologists have to rediscover the Philippine “psychological” processes that were fossilized by the colonization. On the other hand it also challenges all the Filipinos who are searching for meaning in this world to reconnect to the community and its history.

Third World Psychology

Majority of the Filipinos, the poor, are surviving a difficult life. But there is more than meeting a day just to survive. The poor Filipinos need to awaken their consciousness that there is a life better than just trying to survive.

This blog hopes to be a space where persons' mind and heart could meet to serve the interest of the majority, the poor. Hence, this is not only for the Filipino psychologists. This is also for all the Filipinos who intend to make a difference for the Filipino nation.

This blog will open up psychological processes and ideas that may be relevant to the struggles of the poor. Hopefully, at the end of the day, concrete solutions may be discovered that will help the poor empower themselves. The fact is that most of the solutions are sporadic in nature and indignifying in process.

Filipinos need a sense of connection to different aspect of national and community development. It is only when a Filipino begins to think beyond the self and personal survival that change could take place.

Let this attempt begin.