LOOKING FOR JUAN
Juan was born abroad. Both his parents are Filipinos working overseas.
Now, for the first time in his life, Juan is visiting the Philippines. While he’s here, he wants to learn as much about the country as he can. Let’s help him understand
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FILIPINO
Juan’s parents are both Filipinos, but they all live in England. Juan’s Mama works as a software engineer while his Papa is a nurse. They both work in London.
His parents have always told him about the Philippines, its culture, history, stories and traditions. But Juan has never been to the Philippines.
Until now.
For the first time in his life, Juan is visiting the Philippines.
While he’s here, he wants to learn as much about the Philippines as he can. He wants to understand what it means to be Filipino.
how many words can you form from the letters of the word “BALIKBAYAN?”
Juan’s first stop is his Lola’s dress shop. It is a modest business, and with the help of Tita Nita, Lola has been able to keep it running for more than 55 years now.
On the weekend, Juan visits his Tito Bert. Tito Bert says there is a carnival or perya that Juan ought to see. There are many flashing lights, rickety rides, shooting and dart games, prizes, and snacks.
Throughout the fair grounds, there were SEVEN cats. Can you find them?
Juan’s cousins arrive and invite him to a game of basketball. Juan later finds out that basketball is really popular in the Philippines. There are basketball courts in all towns, on the streets, in backyards, and even in cemeteries! They’re everywhere!
The Philippines has some fantastic beaches. Juan went to as many beaches as he could hoping to see the beautiful marine animals that the Philippines has up close, and maybe even swim side-by-side with a whale shark.
If it rains on a sunny day, a tikbalang is being wed, goes a folk saying.
Several mythological creatures – duwendes, diwatas, a kapre, manananggals, and even an aswang in the form of a wolf – are at this tikbalang wedding.
DO YOU SEE ALL THESE MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES?
Ancient Filipinos believed that Bathala created seven moons to light up the sky. The Bakunawa, a serpent-like dragon, was attracted by the moons. It rose up from the ocean and swallowed the moons one by one, until there was only one moon left.
Bathala found out just as the Bakunawa was about to eat the last moon. He was so angry that he banished the Bakunawa from its home in the sea.
It is now said that eclipses happen because the Bakunawa keeps trying to return and eat the last moon. Fortunately, Bathala is always there to stop the Bakunawa.
The flag is the country's most important symbol. It is the symbol of independence and of love of country.
In the picture, you can see different versions that served as the flag at one time or another in our history.
In the picture, you can see different versions that served as the flag at one time or another in our history.
Can you match the written description with the correct flag?
FLAG 1. Gregoria de Jesús, wife of Andres Bonifacio designed the first flag of the Katipunan. She made it a simple red flag with three white Ks in the center.
FLAG 2. Other Katipunan members modified the flag like the one that had the three white Ks arranged to form a triangle.
FLAG 3. Still others tried to make it simpler - just a red flag with only one K in the center.
FLAG 4. The flag of General Mariano Llanera in Nueva Ecija was interesting. It was a black flag with a white letter K and a white skull with crossed bones on the right.
FLAG 5. General Pio del Pilar's flag was different. It was a red flag that had a white triangle on one side. On each corner of the triangle was a red K and in the center was a sun rising behind a mountain.
FLAG 6. The flag used for the first time during the Cry of Pugadlawin was a red flag with a white sun and the three Ks underneath.
FLAG 7. The Magdalo faction of the Katipunan, led by General Emilio Aguinaldo, was a red flag. In the center was a white sun, and in the center of the sun was the letter K written in alibata, the ancient Filipino alphabet.
FLAG 8. The flag of the Republic of Biak-na-Bato was again a red flag, but this time with a white sun with a face. It is also known as the Sun of Liberty Flag.
FLAG 9. General Gregorio del Pilar's flag was the first one with three colors - red, blue and black. It was last used in the Battle of Tirad Pass.
FLAG 10. The national flag today has two equal bands of blue and red, and a white triangle on the side. There is a yellow star on each corner of the triangle, and at its center sits a yellow sun with eight rays.
Juan begins to understand that he is not alone. There are many Filipinos like him who live, work, or grew up in other countries.
In fact, more than ten million Filipinos live or work abroad. They send tens of billions of dollars back to the Philippines, to help loved ones with household expenses and their education.
Finally, it is time for Juan to go back to England.
As he leaves the Philippines, Juan asks himself,
“What makes a someone a Filipino?”
Is one a Filipino simply because his or her parents are Filipino?
Is one a Filipino because he or she likes to play basketball and other Philippine games?
Are Filipinos defined by tightly knit families, and how family members help each other to succeed no matter where they are.
It could also be the stories, legends, and dreams we tell each other.
Maybe it’s the pride we feel when we see our flag, or when we swim in our beautiful beaches.
Or maybe it’s all these and more…
One thing is sure. Juan is a little more Filipino now than when he first arrived.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
John Paul Antido, or Japs for short, hails from Antipolo and studied painting at the University of the Philippines’ College of Fine Arts in Diliman. Impressionistic and Van Gogh-esque, Japs’ works are lively in color and movement. By mixing traditional and modern symbols — fiestas and “natives” wearing Rolling Stones t-shirts — he is able to succinctly capture the vibrancy of Filipino culture, its hybridity and ever-changing nature. Japs has received praise and awards for his work — grand prize in the 2005 Art Petron 5th National Student Art Competition, shortlisted in the 2011 Philip Morris Philippine Art Awards, the 2008 Metrobank Art and Design Excellence National Competition, the 2nd GSIS Annual Painting Competition in 2005, just to name a few. He has also exhibited in Laos, Singapore, Malaysia, and Denmark.