The Philippines and Mexico: Identity, Cultural Similarities, and Personal Differences
Whenever Filipinos think of vacation spots, we instantly think of the United States, Japan, Korea, or countries within the European Union. We usually never think of places considered as ‘off the beaten paths’ just like Mexico or Colombia or Peru or, frankly, any other Latin American countries. But why is that the case?
I came to Mexico in October 2019 with only three things I knew about the country: they spoke Spanish, they were a previous colony of Spain, and the street food culture in this country is massive. Well, that was about it. Usually whenever I travel, I tend to not really look things up about the places that I will be going to. Because I like to be surprised, but not to the point where I am completely clueless. Just the right amount of knowledge blended with the right amount of chance and the right amount of surprise.
I had previously seen the film ‘Coco’, and so I wanted to be in Mexico for ‘Dia de los Muertos’. This is the holiday they considered as Halloween. But it is not Halloween at all. They paint their faces and dress up as ‘catrinas’, they spread marigold around their houses and the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried, and they spend time with their families. Dia de los Muertos is every bit of a family affair, as it is a touristic one. People go to the cemeteries to put their loved one’s favourite food, drinks, and what-not, so their deceased loved one’s spirits can take it back with them into the other world. Weirdly, we somewhat do this too in the Philippines. Well, we really do not put on a ‘show’ nor paint our faces like skeletons. But during Halloween, we also visit our deceased loved one’s grave, and spend time there with our living relatives. Weirdly enough, we eat a lot of food, play a lot of outdoor games, and just light a lot of candles. We do this for about two to three days out of the holiday, then we go home, as if nothing had happened — then we wait for another year to do it all again.
When I came to Mexico, I was surprised. Not because of the beauty of the country. That was something that I already knew. I was surprised to see how similar it resembled my motherland, the Philippines.
Whenever I would write my proper name, people will look at me funny because I, very much, look Asian with my almond eyes, tan skin, and broken Spanish. But then again, I do have a Spanish name.
They would confusingly ask me, “Are you Latina?”
I, then, would smile, “No. Not really.”
But am I really not?
How Latino can we actually consider Filipinos to be?
Do I say yes or no?
The Philippines and Mexico have a fairly similar history. From having a very rich aboriginal culture; with pyramids in Mexico, and rice terraces in the Philippines, to being colonised by Spanish conquistadors and being forced into Catholicism. Both countries have suffered the same tragedies under the rule of Spain and its terrible King Philip II. In the Philippines we tend to forget the tragedies we have endured, even though our land bears the name of the person who caused us all of our troubles. Both countries were forced to forget their native heritage in favour of the more European lifestyle that the Spanish brought with them. With siestas, fiestas, and everything in between. Was it worth it? I guess we will never know.
Whenever my friends from either the United States or Europe would go to the local markets, they would bring back a lot of vegetables that seem very ‘foreign’ to them. Then they would let everyone taste it, then they would come to me, and I would just say, “I know what that tastes like. We have that in the Philippines too.”
Some of these products would include sayote, atis, mangoes, mangosteen, and a lot of different varieties of fruits and vegetables that I grew up eating in the Philippines. I read once that all mangoes in Latin America came from the Philippines. The Spanish brought it to Mexico during the galleon trades, and I think that that is a very fascinating fact. In the Philippines, I grew up harvesting mangoes from an early age because my family used to have a mango farm in Bulacan. It was very mind boggling to me that a seed from this part of the world can be transferred and planted into a land so far away from here, and still grow. I consider that one of the magics of this world.
This can also be explained because during the galleon trades, Spanish chroniclers wanted to find an easier route in the Pacific before they went back to what they called ‘New Spain’ then, and Mexico now. Back then, the Philippines was considered the southernmost part of Asia, since most of the Indonesian islands were not yet considered to be parts of Asia during that time. The three biggest ports were Malacca (in Malaysia), Brunei, and the Philippines. The Spanish chose the Philippines and so most of the tradings would be done here before they would go back to Mexico. I guess that part was pivotal into bringing different seeds and spices from this part of the world and into Latin America. I guess, that was why everything on that part of the world was so familiar to me.
In Manila, we have this walled city called ‘Intramuros’. Whenever I am in the Philippines, I would make it a point to go there once or twice because it just feels so nice to be immersed in your own history. Obviously, it is a conquistador’s history but it is still part of the rich culture we share in this country. Yes, I am dork, and if you know me personally, then you already know that.
Intramuros is a walled city where the Spanish used to reside here in Manila. It is filled with cobble stoned roads, old Spanish houses, and horse-drawn carriages. Vaguely, it would remind you of Spain or the entirety of Europe. But now, it reminds me of Mexico. Imagine the whole country is like Intramuros, but cleaner, more well-preserved, and just more appreciated by the public. Can you imagine that? If yes, then that is Mexico. Especially in different Zocalos in different cities in Mexico, it would remind you of Europe, or in our case, a more beautiful Intramuros.
An old blockmate from university asked me a few days ago what Mexico was like. I told her it was just like the Philippines, but better.
You see, in the Philippines there are so many malls. I am pretty sure that not many people can go to that many malls in their lifetime, but I guess, here we are. The art scene in Manila is thriving, but dying at the same time. The government does not support the arts as much as it would support sports or massive corporations or medicine. If you are an artist in the Philippines, well, good luck. Museums in Manila are mostly free to encourage young Filipinos to enjoy and explore the arts. But more often than not, people will come to just take photographs for Instagram and not look at the actual ‘art’. That makes me so sad.
What about Mexico? There are so many museums in Mexico that you can go to one or two every single day for a month and still have enough to see. Mall culture is not really a thing in Mexico, especially not in Mexico City. You know where people go to hangout? The park. There are so many parks in Mexico City alone, and people go to parks to hangout, to play football, to train their dogs, to people-watch, and to simply hangout with friends or family. Park culture in Mexico is so prominent, that in the neighbourhood that I used to live in, there were two parks within ten minute walking distance from each other. The art scene in Mexico City was thriving and living and continuing to breathe, and I hope for the same for the art scene in Manila. Because we deserve it. We really do.
You know, I think the Philippines has the same potential to be as beautiful as Mexico, culture-wise. I mean, when it comes to playas, it is a sure win for the Philippines. But when it comes to culture, then it is a sure win for Mexico. Both countries have the same history and I am astounded that the Philippines did not embrace this culture change as much as Mexico did.
When Mexico was liberated in 1821, Mexicans struggled a lot but they eventually found their footing. They, so desperately, wanted to be freed from the bondage of the Spanish Regime that they really fought hard to find their own identity as a free country. From being known as New Spain, to being what we know Mexico to be at this present age. They really put the hard work into obtaining independence and learning who they are as a country and as independent people. I really do think that that is impeccable. I really do.
When the Philippines was liberated in 1898, we were never really liberated when you come to think of it. Because that only meant the end of the Spanish Regime in the Philippines, but it was also the start of a new attack on the empire. We were then sold to and colonised by the United States of America. From struggling to find our identity as a Spanish colony and into being forced to submit into American authorities, we were never really liberated. Hence, us not being able to change our country name after the war. To this day, we still struggle to find our footing and our own identity as a nation. We never really spoke Spanish properly, and most Westerners wonder why we all speak English so well. I mean, people need to brush up on their history knowledge, but I do get where the confusion is coming from. It really was one coloniser after the other, and this really made everyone confused. Do we speak Spanish? Do we speak English? Do we speak Tagalog? Que triste, but this is our reality.
I am not saying that we should embrace the colonial mentality that came with the colonisation, but we ought to embrace the change that all these colonisers have impacted on us. Because it is now part of our so-called identity, and whether we like it or not, this is now who we are.
