It’s been a while since my last post. And in-between, many things happened. One of these is playing a host to a visitor from the United States.
Our visitor is a black American girl aging 14 years old. Her mother, also a black American, was born in the Philippines but speaks Tagalog fluently. Siyempre, to break the ice, the usual questions about herself including whether or not understands and speaks the Filipino. Her response was on the negative. A result of recklessness or for lack of something to say I asked, “But I heard your mother speak in Tagalog …” And before I added “didn’t she teach you?” she cut my question and said “I am not my mom”.
Tama naman. Why should we look for the mother in the person of her child?
O siguro kitang mga Filipino, lalo na an mga Bicolano, arog lang talaga kaan. Hinihiling ta an gurang sa saiyang aki. Ini-expect ta na mahiro an aki base sa mga nahihiling ta sa saiyang magurang asin kun dai na iyan nakukua, frustrated kita. Garo su mga kasabihan kaito na “basta Polanguenia, salonera” o kaya basta hale sa Oas o kaya Bacacay, iniisip tulos na may tugang na padi. An apod kaan sa English, stereotyping.
The problem, such a culture stunts the personality and psychology of the children. Dai narerealizar kan aki an tunay niyang potensiyal dahil pirming hinahanap saiya an ladawan kan saiyang ama o ina. An siring man na kultura igwa man na epekto sa kagabsan lalo na sa komunidad. Dai mina-asenso an komunidad dahil dai nabibilog an self-confidence kan aki. Bako arog kaitong bisita mi na very proud pa na sabihon na “I am not my mom” and by implication garo man sana sinasabi niya na “so what kung tatao siya magtagalog ako dai?”.
This is just some sort of a reflection. Sana makatabang sa mga tugang niyato na maisip man na an mga aki na nahihiling ninda bako an saindang mga magurang.
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