A Filipino Heritage Revolution

New Path for Our Roots

Our home, the Philippines, has a long and rich history. But for over 500 years, that history has been buried. The stories of our ancestors, their art, and their ways of life were pushed aside by Spanish and American colonizers. The lie we've been told is that our true history began when they arrived. We are here to say that's not true.

We believe that our pre-colonial past is not dead, but simply forgotten. It’s like a seed waiting to grow again. The goal of this movement is to remember and honor our roots, not just as a history lesson, but as a living part of who we are today.

The Past Is Not Just the Past

For too long, our culture has been treated as a simple curiosity or something old-fashioned. Traditional writing systems were burned, sacred statues were destroyed, and beautiful art was dismissed. This was a deliberate act to erase our identity and replace it with someone else's.

Today, we see the results of this in our schools, museums, and even in our own minds. We are often taught to feel shame about our indigenous practices, and our ancient knowledge is seen as less important than Western ideas. This is the lasting poison of colonialism, and we must work to flush it out.

We Are Reclaiming Our Culture

We are not looking to go back in time. We are looking to bring the wisdom of our ancestors into the present. This effort runs parallel to movements like the Kutbayin Art Movement, which was started by the artist Fred DeAsis. The movement takes the ancient Baybayin script and makes it a living part of modern art. It shows how we can respect our past while creating something new and powerful for the future.

Here's how we'll do it:

Learn from our elders:

We will seek out the stories, traditions, and knowledge that still exist in our communities. We will listen to the people who hold on to these practices and learn from them.

Create new art from old wisdom:

We'll encourage artists to study the principles and philosophies behind our pre-colonial art forms. Instead of just copying old designs, they can use that knowledge to create new work that speaks to today's world.

Practice our traditions openly:

Our culture is not just for museums. It is for our everyday lives. We will create spaces where indigenous languages and rituals can be used without apology. We will show that our traditions are not relics, but a powerful part of our identity.

We refuse to let our culture be defined by others. The beauty, wisdom, and strength of our ancestors stand on their own. We will honor them by bringing their spirit into our lives today. We are not just preserving our past; we are building our future.

by Arte Libre