 A Damaged Culture by James Fallows

In this article, James said that the Filipinos lack the trait of nationalism. As per him,
Nationalism is simply going beyond yourself and developing concern for the public good. I
believe him on this, many of us are very loyal to our families and the inner circle keeps
nationalism stunted. Many of us are encouraged to practice discipline inside our home but
outside our houses we tend to throw even the smallest trash that we have. I agree on Fallows
perception that many of us Filipinos, do not take responsibility for the public and that is just
one example of how we Filipinos lack the trait of nationalism. For me, we have to strengthen
our value or trait of nationalism for us to improve our country as well. For us to be a richer
country or for us to have a stronger economy we must value the trait of nationalism. We should
not only focus on our homes but also to our community as well. Nationalism takes practice and
effort. We should take each step in order to attain the change we want."
I agree to Fallow’s article that culture can explain a bit on our economic stagnation but
it doesn’t mean that culture is the only basis for the social and economic problems that our
country is facing today. I don’t even agree to the title of the article which is “A Damaged
Culture”. I don’t agree to this because I believe and in my own perception our culture, values
and traditions could be repaired and could be changed or improved through time.
According to the article there are barriers that affects our economic growth.
First, the culture of delicadeza, it is being careful in what we say or the avoidance of saying
unpleasant topics directly or indirectly. Filipinos like to save their faces from shame, we tend
to have these excuses for being like this or like that. Why can't we face the truth? Why can't
we be more open and just say what really is wrong? This Filipino ethic is a barrier to
our transparency.
Second, Filipinos being religious, we tend to leave things up to God. I know that we all
have faith in God and in His plans for us but we should not totally rely on Him. In a sense that
we don't do anything to change flaws.

This is how Fallows saw the Filipinos in Cory's Regime, and even though I wasn’t alive
during those times, I think this is true. It was the effect of having Marcos out of the
Government, so people started to think that Cory was the "annointed one" of God who saved
them from dictatorship. Cory didn't even do much work while in government. How blind were
the people then? Why did they let her be president when she wasn't really doing much.

Another point I would like to emphasize is that Filipinos are rapidly adapting the
white culture. As Mr. Fallows had asserted, Filipinos with fair skin and foreign accents are
given preference in society. This led me to a realization. If the white culture is where we’re
heading, our culture is not only damaged; it continues to die. Why are some Filipinos ashamed
of their nationality? And that many Filipinos struggle to go abroad at the cost of everything
they have? I think, They believe that the Philippines cannot give them the life they deserve.
Many Filipinos are qualified for white-collar jobs yet they work in Saudi as maids, apparently
because the Philippines cannot provide sufficient job opportunities for its people.

Lastly, Corruption is one of the reasons on why the Philippines become poorer and
the surrounding countries or the foreign countries are becoming richer. Corruption is present
before and up to the present. Imagine how billions of pesos are stolen from the projects for the
betterment of our country. Our government officials are well educated but they tend to even
steal money from the government. And this is an example that Filipinos lack the value of
nationalism. Government officials stole this big amount of money just for their own benefits.
They don’t even think for the future of our country. They don’t think on what the future
generations will experience. They don’t take responsibility for the public. And that’s one
reason why our country is becoming poorer through time.

Though I agree with Mr. Follows’ statement suggesting that the Philippines has no
sense of nationality, I beg to disagree with his assertion regarding the Filipinos having no
national pride. Many Filipinos, as individuals, have accomplished so much internationally. But
as a nation, the only “accomplishment” we’ve probably made is being one of the most corrupt
countries. Despite this degrading fact, we still have the Filipino artists, singers and athletes
who have worked their way up to worldwide fame to be proud of.

For many years, I have believed that nationalism was all about loving one’s country.
Let us be realistic, it is not. This phrase is simply a disguise, an illusion so that we won’t have
to face the fact that most of us simply do not care. Yes, we “love our country,” but what are
we doing for its well-being? Nothing. In actuality, we are contributing to its degradation. If
this is the case, we do not deserve to be called nationalistic. We barely even deserve the title
“Filipino.” or generations, we’ve been left with the notion that nationalism is naturally in the
hearts of the people when in fact, effort must be exerted to be nationalistic. We have to
prioritize our country’s interests and promote them. Rather, we are prioritizing our own
interests and promoting them. This is what we have done in the past and this is what we will
continue to do in the years to come.

Let me end this with a reminder that may awaken many of those who are still in denial.
We are Filipinos. Nothing we say or do can ever change what was ours by birth and blood.
Either we begin working now to achieve national pride and unity, or blindly sit while our nation
walks towards its worse possible state.
 Synthetic Culture and Development by Renato Constantino

Cultural Conditioning is a social process in which authority figures such as parents, priests,
professors and media define our cultural values, beliefs, ethical systems, and ultimately the
way we perceive ourselves in the world. A well-known feature of neocolonial stage of
capitalism is when the transnational corporations came. They produce a great portion of all
goods of the capitalist system and have command in the global financial network that controls
a huge amount of capital flow. The only role of the third world countries is to provide natural
resources, raw materials and cheap manpower to earn profits. The transnational banks also
provide the third world countries financial aid if needed. As per Constantino, Culture is a potent
tool for realizing this objective.

Culture is a widespread subtle force that would be the determinant or whether a third world
country will accept or reject an economic development policy imposed on them by advanced
capitalist states. These economic policies have profound cultural effects in the society.
Powerful institutions and economic forces in the advanced state understand the economics of
culture and use it for their own ends. They will present this culture to those they wish to
dominate simply as entertainment and aesthetic divorced from the material concerns of daily
life. Third world Countries should restore their consciousness to understand the link or
economics and culture and how can culture be used to deepen economic domination.

In many parts of the Third World, Cultural Values are imposed externally by ruling powers
over dominated nations in order to insure the continued rule of the former and the docility of
the latter. Values are being destroyed to a certain stage of pre-colonial society, If useful , It
will be forwarded to the objectives of the colonizers to blend it with new values. This deformed
culture of the colonized is called National Culture. Because of Neocolonial Propaganda,
Cultural Values promoted by the Neocolonialism have become a material force forming the
apparatus of dominance. The native elites have become the agents of westernization and
defenders of status quo. Consciousness remains imprisoned.

In the realm of Neocolonialism , There is an obvious presence of Trans-National

Corporations. The presence of TNCs in manufacturing sectors facilitates the transmission of
their “business culture”. The consumption patterns and general lifestyle of their managers
become models to be similar to local executives while suppliers and subcontractors must adjust
their production concepts and styles to TNCs priorities and standards.

The poor and undeveloped countries are victims of the change consumption patterns,
priorities and values by the TNCs.

According to Barnett & Mueller (1974) , The sales campaign of TNCs have resulted to the
increasing consumption of white bread , confections and soft drinks among the poorest people
in the world by convincing them the status, convenience and sweet taste is important than
nutrition. Then also embarked that foreign goods are superior. It drives on the dietary values
among rural Filipinos. Just like in Canned goods (mackerel, sardines, Vienna sausage) that
considered best to serve to visitors.

They just have not brainwashed the mindset of undeveloped countries but they also entered
in and monopolize the communication sector of every third world countries , especially the
Philippines. TNCs spend billions of dollars on advertising which result in their control over
the communications industry. Media can no longer exist without advertising; Policies and
decisions affecting media are in the hands of advertisers. Several industries giants have found
it useful to invest in communications industries as well. The increasing concentration of capital
which characterize free-enterprise systems has resulted in the centralization of the production
and distribution of informational and cultural commodities.

The trans nationalization of communications has almost completely shattered the cultural
defenses of developing nations. The very existence of indigenous cultures is threatened with
massive modifications as Western culture is presented, as the culture which every modernizing
state must emulate.

The invasion of Western informational and cultural commodities is constant and

widespread. They are also technologically superior, therefore admired and enjoyed.
Contemporary capitalism has fabricated a synthetic culture that has become the matrix of
perceptions and orientations of masses of people both in the industrial world and in the newly
independent states within the capitalist orbit. Perhaps the most important feature of this
synthetic culture is its consumerist ideology. That is not surprising since the capitalist dream
society is one where everybody buys everything.

The synthetic "mass culture" which is so much the product of the global
communications system and of the operations of transnational corporations must be
contradistinguished from people's culture. The latter is developed by the people themselves in
accordance with their daily needs and long-term aspirations. Committed organization must
explore alternative possibilities opened by new technologies. In short, efforts must be exerted
to pluralize sources. Attempts should likewise be made to widen exchanges with other Third
World countries. Whatever may be the chosen venue, it should be organized and patiently
sustained on a continuing basis. It can be to operate small radio stations or the use of Betamax,
Practice the freedom of press.

The struggle against the monopoly must start at home. Restoring the freedom of expression
is the beginning of the struggle of the monopolies. Communication must restore in its two way
original nature. We must not separate communications policies from the development
programs adopted by this country. They are part and parcel of a general plan conceived by
external forces which the communications system is trying to sell to its victims.

Lastly, The starting point must be an awareness of a separate identity, a recognition

that Filipino interests are not identical with those of the United States, that they are in fact
opposed to hers. The most effective way of exposing the myths about the United States is
through a re-study of history. Learning and teaching a decolonized history is therefore an
essential part of re-education. The content of education should be detached from its colonial
moorings and imbued with a Filipino outlook. The national language should be given more
solid emphasis as a medium of instruction. Books and other instructional materials should be
those written by Filipinos.
SUMMARY OF READINGS

(WEEKLY ASSIGNMENT)