Filipino Roots

This video clip by YouTube comedian Mikey Bustos offers an amusing way to learn the 81 provinces of the Philippines.

When most people think of the Philippines, they usually don't know much about the country (at least that's my personal experience). Even less does anyone associate the Philippines with their indigenous people - the Aeta. The Aeta are known to be probably the first inhabitants of the Philippine islands, even before the Austronesian peoples populated the land.  I want to share these stunning performances with the world to spread the wonderful culture of the indigenous Filipino people and let them see and hear their beauty.  Tribal dance: And here another one, same song as the first, at the Caragan Festival:

The Aeta people are the indigenous people of the Philippines and belong to the Negritos of Southeast Asia. Anthropologists assume that the Aeta were the first inhabitants of the Philippine islands prior to Austronesian immigration. Today, they are predominantly resident in the Northern regions of Luzon. Aeta people suffer from racial discrimination in the Philippines. As the video below reveals, employment is barely offered to people of color and curled hair (in Tagalog, the term kulot is used for people of curled hair, which also literally means the latter). Therefore, it is especially Aeta women who use alleged skin whiteners, such as papaya soap, with hopes to achieve a brighter skin color, but also due to random offensive remarks by non-Aeta citizens who believe darker people to be "dirty" and "malodorous." The reason for this discrimination against Aeta people is rooted in the colonial era. Due to Spanish and American colonization, white imperialist...

The documentary shows WWII veteran Leon Cooper returning to the Philippines at the age of 94 in order to urge the Philippine and American government to investigate in finding the MIA soldiers who fought under MacArthur in World War II. Mr. Cooper takes us with him on his journey in interrogating without restraint and outspokenly, criticizing government and military, and meeting Filipino veterans who are not forgotten in Return to the Philippines: The Leon Cooper Story . The film is provided as a free online documentary by SnagFilms on their website or via YouTube. Here:  http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/return_to_the_philippines Or below:

Another fabulous Filipino folk song by the most famous Kundiman singer, Sylvia La Torre, also later performed by Eva Eugenio, is titled "Katakataka". The song is representative for the colonial character of the Philippines for it has Spanish influences to it, yet its very own Filipino flair. The lyrics in original and translated are as follows: Sylvia La Torre - Katakataka (original words) Katakatakang mahibang ang katulad ko sa iyo Biru-biro ang simula ang wakas pala ay ano? Aayaw-ayaw na ako ngunit 'yan ay di totoo Dahil sa iyo puso kong ito'y binihag mo (Repeat) Alaala ka maging gabi't araw Alipinin mo't walang kailangan Marinig ko lang sa labi mo, hirang Na ako'y iibigin lagi habang buhay. Katakataka (translated) How remarkable my preference for you is insane, Joking about the start, it's the end, what? I don't want it, because it's not true. Because of you, my heart has become your prisnoer. I think of you every night and...

It was originally sung in Visayan language, but due to popularity issues, it had to be translated into Tagalog in the 1970s. Sung by Pilita Corrales, it is probably the best-known Filipino folk song performed and interpreted by choirs worldwide. The meaning differs in the interpreted version, but since I do not speak the Visayan dialect, I tried to translate the Tagalog version instead. Below, there will be a short description of the original meaning which I found in various comment sections on YouTube. Be prepared for metaphorical poetry galore about the beauty of a woman. Rosas Pandan , Tagalog version: Dalaga ay parang rosas Bumabango 'pag namumukadkad Habang hinahagkan ng araw Lalong gumaganda ang kulay. At ang ngumingiting talulot Nilalapitan ng mga bubuyog Ang mutyang iyong nililiyag Ay tulad din pala ng rosas. Kahit na umula't kumidlat Kay ganda rin ng rosas Lalong sumasariwa Sa tubig ng paglingap. Nguni't pag binagyo't ununos Ang rosas ng pag-irog Sawi an...