Critical Commentary for Postcolonial Theoretical Tradition

           

            Colonialism has created a sense of division and alienation in the self-identity of the non-white groups. The history, culture, language, customs and beliefs of the white colonizers are to be considered as universal, normative and superior to the local indigenous culture of the colonized. Because of this, impacts on these white colonizers’ “other” are felt. Taking Philippines as an example, alarming effects on the colonized have been experienced. One of which is our sense of inferiority. Since the occupation has greatly contributed to the whole picture of the Philippine society, the feeling of being subordinates overpower the minds of the public, resulting to adaptation of the footsteps they have left for the colonized.  Moreover, it creates a divided sense of self considering as well as having a sense of alienation from the traditional considering that our own culture is bombarded with different ideas and commodities which are of Western construct.

            It has already been years when the last colonizers had occupied our territory. It cannot be denied that we have established an identity composed of the two, the influence the “other” has embedded on us and the traditional. Eradicating it will not be an instant. However, if we keep on influencing the whole Filipino community to make the production of our own flourish, it could be possible. The concepts of hybridity, ethnicity and location are the three areas of this theory which emphasize the diversity of postcolonial cultural identity. As the present offers us, patterns of migration have become the trend since people are now taking practicality into consideration. This, in turn, accords to the combination of the current culture they are in and the old norm they practice. This is evident nowadays. In addition, the idea of ethnicity also has given the theory a notion of how a group of people is portrayed in terms of the physical appearances, whether they are marginalized or considered as dominant. Because of this, it came to be a point of analysis in the postcolonial perspective. Furthermore, it recognizes the social, cultural and religious practices which help to make up one’s cultural identity and is less reductive than the more physically based concept of race.

            Postcolonialism has taught the society to be knowledgeable of the possible reasons why a country’s own culture is a mixture. It will not be asked to return to its original phase in a short period of time. It takes the community to embrace the traditions more as well as choosing the local over the imported ones. If executed, this could be a stepping stone towards the purity of the Filipino identity.