Kim R.

Sanchez
11318546

August 16, 2016

KASPIL2 N74

Reaction Paper: Austronesian Migration, Babaylan, In Our Image: Colonial Days,

Batas Militar
My initial response to the short film entitled Austronesian Migration is
puzzlement because of the vast knowledge a nonnative had of our pre-historical days.
Peter Bellwood even disproved the theory of our ancestors using land bridges to travel
towards our territory; he said they traversed the waters through boats instead. This is
another case of our history changing through time. The sophisticated seafaring culture
they had back in the day is proof of the dauntless spirits of these Austronesians on their
quest to find new land. It was said that the boats and the sea played a central role in their
beliefs. Evidence shows in the artifact of the Manunggul Jar found in Palawan, that even
in their after life, a boat would still be their choice for mode of transportation. Due to the
archipelagic state of Philippines, water has been and always will be the center of our
lives. The Austronesian people had their own set of beliefs even before Hindu, Buddhist,
Islamic, or Western cultures came into the picture. It was no doubt that they had a strong
sense of self-identity and culture. The Austronesian people were not as primitive as some
perceived them to be, as commerce flourished between the Philippines and its neighbors.
Islands in Asia and the Pacific display similarities in their early architecture, traditions,
language, clothing, tools, and livelihood; indicating there was a singular origin of
heritage. We are not as distant as it seems, borders of each country bound us but we are
one people.
The Babaylan screening venue was packed with students, that particular day,
we were lucky to be in the presence of the director of the film. It was no typical Filipino
movie where some lost child happens to be a wealthy heir, nor some damsel in distress
girl falls for an affluent boy, in fact; the storyline was altogether interesting. Its epic
adventure theme is of a genre I am not often exposed to, making me hooked only at the
beginning. They did play some love interest between leading characters Lawrence and
Joyce, perhaps to add some modern flair and make it more relatable to the target
audience. I have to admit, at some points, their cheesy lines did make me laugh just a
little bit. Other than that, the rest of the movie was a no go, I felt like the unfolding of
events was dragging along too slowly. The film looked like it could have been made by
students for a class project, the aesthetic was terrible and you could tell they were on a
tight budget. Lighting was off and its effects reminded me of old school 90s telenovelas.
The people behind the film were not able to do justice to the enchanting story of the
Babaylan from a historical and cultural perspective.
In Our Image: Colonial Days exposes the truth behind what the Americans
claim to be a Benevolent Assimilation of the Philippines after they defeated the
Spanish in the naval Battle of Manila Bay. The Filipino-American relationship has been
deemed complicated as our view of their presence has shifted from enemy to ally in
recent years. Ive personally seen the benefits of being exposed to western culture and
being able to speak English fluently as it has made travelling internationally easier and

has also opened the Philippines to become a Business Process Outsourcing hub, but it too
has some adverse effects. Some of our countrymen tend to view Filipino as inferior,
whereas those who can speak English fluently are viewed as academics. I speak English
because it was the first language I learned whilst growing up but since I moved up north
to Manila, Ive come to love the Filipino language and learn something new about it
everyday. A story that comes to mind is one from about a year ago; as I was taking my
non-professional drivers license exam with ease, the Bisaya men beside me were
struggling to get past the first question. They had practiced driving and were aware of the
rules on the road but were not prepared to face the English questionnaire. These people
go through all the trouble to spend money on drug tests, medical check ups, practicing
how to drive then only to be let down by failing the English road rules and regulations
exam. I felt for them, it was unfair for that to happen. It was a heart-wrenching and eyeopening experience; I hope more people become aware of how important it is to uphold
the Filipino culture. Films like these remind us of what we have been through and what
we need to do as a country in order to move forward.
It has been almost 43 years since Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law on air,
undoubtedly one of the darkest days in Philippine history. I was not able to personally
experience the turmoil and terror in that age but I was able to understand the pain as my
parents recounted their stories vividly. It may seem quite distant, but much of our society
today is living in the remnants that the Marcoses left behind, a country terribly crippled in
debt and poverty. The succeeding presidents have done their best efforts to repair our
country, but unfortunately, we are still paying for the damages this one man started. Batas
Militar is an essential film to watch as it highlights the tragedy that was the Marcos
regime. These days, it seems like the Filipinos have forgotten about the ill-gotten wealth
Imelda and her cronies amassed, the thousands of innocent lives executed, the fear that
swept the Filipinos, and the oppression of human rights. Even incumbent president
Rodrigo Duterte is adamant on the burial of Marcos in the Libingan ng Bayan, a shame to
those who lost their lives to the Marcos stronghold. Families are still in search of their
loved ones who have gone missing, they have no body; no closure, while Marcos gets the
burial he absolutely does not deserve. Our country has become a laughing stock around
the world, the only one, probably, to honorably bury a man who has infamously exploited
his own people. Schools should definitely require all students to read thoroughly and
supplement these readings with materials that expose the truth behind this tragic era. To
the apologists, please dedicate an hour of your miserable lives to watch this film and open
your eyes to the reality of martial law. The progressive economy and vast infrastructures
are an illusion they are fazed with. My heart bled whilst listening to the testimonies of the
victims, I could only hope that no one else would ever have to go through that ever again.