This is a question and answer writeup, done in October 2004, and emailed back to Melinda de Jesus, editor of Pinay Power: Peminist Critical Theory:
Hey Melinda! …thanks for stimulating some activity from my head to my hands… i took some of the answers from something else I am writing to answer some of your questions. and than took the new answers to your questions that I wrote and added them into that thing i am writing… chuckle. got some work done with your help.
I discovered this word doc in a backup hard drive and just edited today February 23, 2012.
I can only answer these questions from a personal perspective.
My path has NOT been to articulate [these things] in an academic way, but rather to discover and experience it working in web publishing and thus in a creative way and an activist way.
1. How do we define PINAY POWER? Who has it?
The basic difference between women power and that of pinay power or power of a Filipina, is the story and legacy(past, present and future) that goes with the Filipino woman. And so Pinay Power comes from a woman who consciously (not necessarily vocally) identifies being Filipina and taps into being Filipino for powers of strength, inspiration, courage that come from valuing her heritage, culture, family, ancestry, etc.
Such potential power can be used for the good—growth, healing, harmony— on several levels of relationships—personal, family, mates, local community/ies, global communities.
All Filipinas, Fil-Fils, Fil-Ams, and all Fils-abroad have the potential for tapping into their stories and their inner selves, although some are not aware of it, some are still becoming aware of it. Even Filipina mestizas have it— the genes of their ancestors are within them, and in spirit, ancestors will always watch over us and hope and wonder if me, you, are that one, will be a descendant who awakens to the totality of who they are.
But those who are actively discovering their identity and finding their inner power and also exerting it in their relationships with others and the world… they are wielding their power.
In the Philippines, there has been a rise in the consciousness of Filipino identity for decades now. I studied at University of the Philippines, Diliman(a university known for student activism) and remember how my years there awakened my consciousness for me and how much more expanded I began to think outside of my own little life. There, Filipino identity was set against the forces of colonialism and colonial mentality. I knew that discovering that identity was a journey towards Pinoy Power. For me, People Power of 1986 was a climactic point in finding Pinoy Power in spirit and identity and so it wasn’t just a political event for me.
When coming to the states, pinay identity consciousness is enhanced more for a Filipino-American woman or a Filipina in America, than let’s say, when a Filipina might be in the Philippines where a woman would simply identify herself as a “woman” or “female.” Pinay identity would come into a heightened consciousness when a Pinay is placed in any geographical or cultural setting where there are other cultures.
How is it different/same than other forms of feminist thought?
I cannot answer on the level of academes.
Isolating a concept and compartmentalizing it, being objective and scientific(5-sensory) is in fact a patriarchal institutional practice! I think we need to expand our perceptions of pinay power not just as a subset of feminist thought but also as a something more widely experienced. And so I’d like to be both objective and subjective when considering pinay power and when articulating it.
Let’s do this by first viewing feminism as a form of power and energy, that exists and manifests on both individual and collective levels of interaction. Then objectively(5-sensory), speaking, the only true difference between American, Pinay and/or other national forms of feminism are the different stories and settings (cultural, social, political, etc). that go with the experiences of discovering, cultivating and expressing inner power and community power.
On a subjective, multi-sensory level, Pinay power as an Energy, as experienced by individuals and collectives, overlaps with both women power and Pinoy power and humanity’s power. It energizes and is energized by both.
In the bigger picture than, the feminist movement is not just a story of individuals finding themselves and coming into their own, it is not just the stories of groups of women around the globe making a difference in their communities or even their countries, it is not just a story of women reaching out to each other in order to release and wield power, it is the story of humanity and it’s development and growth over eons of civilization.
Is it important to carve out a distinct space for Filipina/American feminism rather than emphasizing its place as part of global feminism?
I think both are important and that there should be an acceptance of both even if one is focusing on articulating one or the other or not working in either. If your focus is different from another’s, yours does not necessarily negate other peoples’ work and vice versa. But some people do operate that way. This competitive mentality is again a patriarchal institutional energy that has to do with the energy of battle/conquering/domination. One must be aware of the competitive energies within themselves—using it for accomplishing their work, but, not annihilating and/or reducing the importance of others’ works in an attempt to establish status and rank in some invisible hierarchy of value and privilege—again another patriarchal mindset. Pinay’s who are raising their consciousness must also include an awareness and skill of balancing applications of competitiveness and institutionalized processes vs compassion and subjectiveness.
I know that there are people who are working on various focuses. Their various backgrounds have put them on paths to the work that they are passionate about today.
My path has not been to articulate it in an academic way, but rather to discover and experience it working in web publishing and thus in a creative way and an activist way.
There is a point in coming to a higher consciousness, and we are all on journey’s towards that, that we find that all inner power, everyone’s lakas ng loob is the same, universal and is interconnected (pakikipagkapwa)
The biggest thing about a Pinay’s discovering her inner power (lakas ng loob) and going out there in the world, to interact in community and society, is that they then will come to experience pakikipagkapwa and interrelatedness with others who they have things in common with. And they may very well come upon others who are coming or have come into their own inner power. Following that experience is the realization that even those who on the surface are not they same as them, are in fact on the inside and that indeed everyone is interconnected. They then understand that lakas ng loob is in fact inner power which is a Universal thing AND vice versa.
2. Given the importance of decolonization and anti-imperialist thought in Filipino American cultural studies today, how do we address the impact of globalization and global capital in relation to definitions of FilipinoAmerican “success”?
Decolonizaton and anti-imperialism seek to deconstruct a world paradigm of a patriarchal hierarchy. This paradigm is based on an invisible, but very strong worldview that prestige and value exist on a structured, well-defined, scientific compartmentalization from the top down—God, Humans, Animals, Plants, Minerals, Earth. Within the level of Humans, there is a sub-hierarchy of Man, Woman, Child(gender and age), and then further sub-hierarchies based on race, culture, educational attainment, material goods, etc. Societies based on this worldview thus view “success” on the material accumulation of resources and acceptance from various groups within the sub-hierarchies of the Human strata.
This worldview also justifies domination and power structures based on the accumulation of resources and validates the exploitation of people and environmental resources, the use of violence to control others, and the reasoning of behind going to war.
We must learn to understand this worldview and learn to live within it. But at the same time, we must transcend our definition of happiness and success and the “American dream” as the mere accumulation of money, prestige and material things. We must expand to experiencing success as the allocation of resources—acquiring resources AND also giving them back, putting resources back out there. Filipinos would describe this as receiving blessings and sharing them. We must also include in our experiences of success non-material things—such as learning, self-knowledge, expanded awareness, social and environmental consciousness, creative fulfillment, community interaction, spiritual growth, inner peace and world peace.
(This is not my original idea, btw. I got this insight from Lynne Twist who co-founded The Pachamama Alliance, Turning Tide Coalition, and The Hunger Project[1] when she talked about “The Soul of Money.” She suggested that we have to change our perception of money as not just a material form that is a key to success and power, but rather as a resource, an energy form.)
I think that we have to be aware of our personal actions and that we have to be more conscious of the issues. We have to be aware that we are not just American citizens, pinoy citizens, or have double citizenships… we have to move up to the next level of being global citizens—human beings sharing one world.
We have to come to realize that we are not in fact isolated from the world even if we isolate our thoughts from the world. What happens in the United States affects the Philippines, affects the rest of the world. And that what happens in the rest of the world affects us no matter where we are. We just can’t think only in terms of our own personal success anymore. We have to think of how whatever we gain can not just be accumulated but also allocated. Many Filipinos already have this practice to a certain extent, whereby they work hard to accumulate resources and then share those resources with their family, including those back in the Philippines… But we must also extend out that capability and willingness to the larger community when we can.
We must remember that to see the changes that we want in the world, we must first be those changes in ourselves.
3. What are the cultural and spiritual bases for Filipina American theory and activism? How might they evolve over time?
The actual experience of Pinay Power for me comes from a cultural and spiritual basis and it is also a hybrid of Filipino and American influences. I feel that because of where I grow up and how I grew up in the U.S. I experienced it as global village, so my experience of coming to a stronger identity has been influenced by various world cultures and spiritual traditions.
I think I have been able to sort through my Philippine and American heritages for the best and strongest values. For example, I have replaced the Filipino philosophy of “utang ng loob” with an American influence that has recently been articulated as “pay it forward.” At the same time, I cannot forsake a Filipino tribal value of respecting, loving and heeding the wisdom of our elders and let it be replaced by an American pop-media perception that old people are fuddy-duddies, have no fun, are not interesting, and not of value anymore.
I have benefited from U.S. multicultural environments and centers such as New York City. I have also benefited from the U.S. opportunity for exploring other world cultures and spiritual traditions. In the U.S., I have learned that the basic values and highest hopes and aspirations of Filipinos and Americans and all nationalities are in fact the same. It is only the story’s geographical, racial, cultural, educational settings that might be different. But the loob, the important inside stuff, is the same. My experience here in America has helped me experienced pakikipagkapwa and understand better what global unity might be.
I was raised first in the U.S. and then in the Philippines, and then returned to the states. My mother, to an extent, Americanized while she was in the U.S. between ages 23 and 36, endowed my young mind with the desire to be open-minded. My grandmother, whom I met when our family returned to live in the Philippines as balikbayans in 1974, endowed me with an open-hearted attitude towards people and Life. Both my mom and Lola, and all the woman in my family gave me inspiration and cause to be spiritual, confident and loving.
The background experience of strength and wisdom of womanhood I witnessed came from my very own family of strong and admirable women. The primary American influence of women power came in with the idea, not of bra-burning, but rather, of being in charge of one’s own destiny.
I think that because I grew up first here in the U.S. and then in the Philippines and then returned back to the states that I have been able to gain a desire of being broadminded and encompassing of both old and new ways. I want to be conscious of choosing ways of thinking that make up a sensible whole and of what really, really works for personal growth and inner strength.
What I have learned too, is that the wisest and most valuable beliefs of any nation, from Filipino to European to Native American, or religion, , from Folk Catholic to Muslim to buddhist, turn out to be the same as other cultures and spiritual traditions—dedication to loved-ones, compassion, kindness, self-less service, goodness, diligence, belief in something Greater, love for God…
4. Given the patriarchal and racist nature of US culture itself, what Filipino American cultural norms prevent/inhibit Pinays from taking on leadership roles in the community, in business, etc?
One of the primary hindrances to any Pinay’s taking leadership roles is the belief that they must bow down and concede to established norms and traditions, to more powerful people, to authority. A colonized, genderized mentality continues to uphold the worldview of patriarchal hierarchy.
I think that these norms and social rules have become sets of voices in our minds, forms of social mind control. Some of them chant these self-negations:
· “Don’t rock the boat.”
· “Only men should be concerned with politics.”
· “Keep your opinions to yourself.”
· “Don’t question or contradict authority.”
· “Men work and women belong in the home.”
· “Concern yourself only with your family—getting married, having children—being a good wife and a good mother.”
· “Don’t cause any conflict and confrontation.”
· “Don’t get involved.”
· “Blend in. Don’t stand out.”
· “Stick to the rules and you will be accepted. Acceptance equals value equals love.”
I think that when most people, Filipinos, Filipinas, women, youth, hear these things in their environments when growing up in family and schools, then they eventually always hear them inside their heads, to the point that they are not even conscious of those thoughts anymore and it has become so ingrained and part of their subconscious thinking.
What can be done to address this?
Many of us who are going to be at the conference [FWN Leadership Summit in SF, October 2004] have definitely struggled with these shackling beliefs, may have become conscious of them and finally found the strength and courage to throw them out of their lifes. At the same time we may still listen to a lot of these limiting beliefs in our heads and thus they hold us back. We must release these limiting mantras to become better leaders. And we must find ways to teach our youth, our future leaders to no longer chant those silent chains to themselves.
How do we release and let go of such programming inside of our psyches. This has not been an easy task for most of us. Many of us were not even aware that we even went through such a process. But most of us have learned to break those rules, break away from those invisible shackles.
Developing a strong sense of self comes form learning the difference between our own inner voice, intuition, wisdom, and that of outside forces that they we can’t make anything of ourselves.
I firmly believe in adopting affirmations. I also believe in practices of meditation and contemplation and other spiritual practices and self-help activities that increase self-awareness and self-knowledge.
I have witnessed one very Filipino cultural norm and that is to “give in” or to “give way” to the man of the house. To the point of servitude and subservience, it is almost ridiculous. The shakling beliefs that we must give in to the person who is whiter, earns more money, smarter, more highly educated, has bigger or more guns, speaks with a purer accent, is the one who is more privileged and powerful than us.
If we can live without subscribing to the world view of privilege and hierarchy of a patriarchal society based on race and color (Caucasianhood or mestizohood), maleness, age, and biological classification (man, woman, child, animal, plant, mineral kingdom), and see rather from an ancient wisdom standpoint, that is we are all connected and we are all the same in Creation… Switching your worldview from one that is hierarchy oriented to interconnectedness oriented empowers you and frees you from limiting beliefs.
5. How might we best reach out to young Pinays to encourage their interest in leadership?
Opening the heart of the youth to learn to love where they come from and possibilities of interaction within fil-am and multi-cultural contexts. Encouraging them to create their identity from the best of their Filipino, American and other heritages. Helping them to believe that there is potential in each and everyone of them. Teaching them to discern choices, make decisions and own the consequences of their choices, and to not use blame or denial. Helping them believe that there is good in them and that they in fact have an inner radar and they can listen to their own inner guidance system.
· Help cultivate in our youth the belief that in their heritage is a great source of personal power. Also to cultivate in them the belief that there is something good in them and if they let it out through their creativity, intelligence and talents, they can help others.
· Helping the youth to learn to love where they come from and become aware of various possibilities and choices of interaction within fil-am and multi-cultural contexts.
· Encouraging them to create their identity from the best of their Filipino, American and other heritages.
· Helping them to believe that there is potential in each and everyone of them.
· Teaching them to discern choices, make decisions and own the consequences of their choices, and to not use blame or denial.
· Helping them believe that there is good in them and that they in fact have an inner radar and they can listen to their own inner guidance system.
· Teaching them the difference in general on a multicultural and universal level.
· Cultivating courageand eliminating fears. Help youth recognize two paradigms of leaderships—one that comes from ambition and self-aggrandizement and another that comes from compassion and self-less service. And then tying into the latter type of leadership with the talent, intelligence and skills that they have.
· Enumerating various fields where leadership is found—not just in politics and activism, but also in the arts, in ideas, in vision, in community activities, in schools, in families…
· Help youth understand what wisdom and clarity mean and how that applies to their passions and their personal fulfillment of their own creativities. How does talent lead one to become a leadership—it is a combination of passion, new ideas, breaking new ground, being daring and not being afraid to break the rules or do what everybody else won’t do… being daring doesn’t necessarily mean being flippant, careless, heartless.
· Not being afraid to break the rules doesn’t mean being a rebel without a cause and disrespectful to other people…
6. How might we best translate academically-generated theories of Filipina American feminism to Pinays outside of the academy?
Melinda de Jesus’ anthology book on Pinay Power is actually the start! And since it is the first of its time I am looking forward to seeing more work like hers come out… because that book is going to give ideas, insights and inspire others to do their own thing in their own way to express their power and in turn again get others to do the same.
I want to see more projects that cite women manifesting in various forms their Pinay Power. These projects can be in the form of anthologies and also other forms of media such as film documentaries, calendars, coffee books… Maybe creativity workshops or classes can be developed that discuss Pinay power, its past and present manifestations (organizations, activists, politicians, literature and the arts, music, movies, music videos, novels, books, fashion) and how the energy can be created into other forms. In such settings, women and men can brainstorm how they can further tell the story of Filipino men and women via old and new mediums.
[1] Lynne Twist co-founded The Pachamama Alliance, an organization dedicated to preserving the earth’s tropical rainforests by empowering the indigenous people who are its natural caretakers. She is president of the Turning Tide Coalition, a gathering of like-minded global organizations committed to inspiring a worldwide conversation for global sustainability. She was an executive with The Hunger Project
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