Hi Readers,
I found another author ( and his literary works ) to explore, and according to Prof. C., Carlos Bulosan and his works are good departing points ( segue way into post-colonial theories ). Bulosan's works exemplified major themes commonly found in postcolonial literary works by Filipino writers (Fil-Am et. al): tutelage, education/formation, language, and literacy.
Tutelage under the Americans began as benevolent "assimilation." Americans were seen as the harbinger of Enlightenment. They liberated Filipinos from the dark ages of Spanish colonialism. Initial intentions of bringing democracy etc. were good, but "absolute power corrupts absolutely," before one knows about it, American colonialism blossomed.
Americans as teachers, Americans as role models would impart the democratic ideal ( the art of self government ) and bring "modernity" to the Philippines as part of her education/formation. And a way to achieve this was through the English language, its development and usage/function. English in comparison to Spanish was more democratic. Learning English was open to the mass ( contrary to learning Spanish, which was reserved for the Elite ).
As a matter of fact, Philippines became ( or is still ) the 3rd largest English speaking country ( population wise versus land mass ) in the world. At one point ( or maybe still current ), Filipinos were more familiar with the English grammar and the American culture than the citizens of the United States of America.
In addition to learning to read (literally), some Filipinos began to articulate a cultural literacy: awareness of inequality, segregation, designation as "little brown brothers," capitalist critique ( publish or perish, not necessarily so, just find an audience ), demystification, decolonization ( from Americans, whose heyday began with the conquest of the Philippines ), an "apprenticeship in disenchantment," linguistic displacement, etc. Grabe! Ang lalim naman, diba?
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