COOPTION, ACCEPTANCE, and RESISTANCE
In making the poster, I decided to depict an encompassing portrayal of the responses of pre-colonial Filipinos and its consequences in our nation-building and in who we are as Filipinos. I focused primarily on the primary responses: cooption into Spanish rule, acceptance and syncretism of Christianity, and resistance against foreign intervention and colonialism.
COOPTION
As historians such as Resil Mojares have pointed out, Humabon acted as a local politico who, through sandugo, made allies with Magellan to further consolidate his rule over his constituents. He was far from the last, followed fifty years after by the native leadership (such as Matanda, Dula, and Sulayman of Manila), who became the principalia class.
Cooption led to our nation being infested by Filipino mendicant leaders highly dependent on the graces of their foreign masters.
ACCEPTANCE
Following Humabon’s cooption and baptism, the image of the Child Jesus was given to Hara Humanay, baptized as Reyna Juana. Just as how the Sugbuanons used the Sto. Nino, as anito post-1521, we syncretized the faith and made it our own. Resistance mixed with the Christian faith has been seen repeatedly, exemplified by Hermano Pule’s rebellion, the Secularization Movement, and the GomBurZa.
Hence, from a colonial tool of exploitation, the faith has become “the Eucharist of the Rice.”
RESISTANCE
Rooted from Lapulapu, the old chieftain of Mactan, revolts against foreign rule pestered the 333 years of the Spanish Empire. From early revolts such as Sultan Kudarat of Maguindanao and the nameless hero of the Battle of Bangkusay until Bonifacio and the Philippine Revolution of 1896, we Filipinos shared the struggles of our ancestors to fight for freedom against foreign intervention and oppression.
It is a reminder for us to learn from their responses and liberate ourselves from the shackles that have bound us for the past 500 years.
