What the Filipino is Like: Beliefs and Traditions in Selected Philippine Plays Folk beliefs, otherwise known as “superstitious beliefs”, form part of a people’s value system and culture. They basically reflect the customs, traditions, and mores or customs of a group, which may be based on religious beliefs, opinions, old or popular practices. They also tell of how a people view the unknown and the means to appease the gods that control the future.
For us Filipinos, we have a number of beliefs and traditions about life, family, luck, wealth, etc. The Tagalog terms for folk beliefs and superstitions are: paniniwala for beliefs, kasabihan ng mga matatanda for what the old people say and pamahiin for superstitions. In our classes in Philippine Literature, I was able to observe these. I was able to see that it really came far from our past. On Florentino’s The World is an Apple, I was able to observe how a Filipino is like when it comes to family especially the father. A father will do his very best just to provide the basic needs of his family.
And I was able to find out that no parent would like to see his child suffer from sickness. He will surely do everything just for his child to get well even if crossing the line is done. As for poverty, it is a societal problem that affected so many families since far past of our lives. It can make someone out of his mind if poverty strikes. It can even push someone to do something against his will. On Agana’s New Yorker in Tondo, I was able to observe here a Filipino from the past of having been able to make her dreams come true which is to go to abroad and adopt the ways of New Yorkers.
It was Kikay from Tondo, the daughter of Aling Atang. She was able to pursue her dream of going to New York and imitated the ways of New Yorkers. It was uneasy for her mother to accept what Kikay had done. The drama was also able to show the reality of how Filipinos love others and when love emerges, they will do everything just for the sake of their loved ones. As for the Filipino trait, it only proves in this drama that there is no other place like home. On Guerrero’s Three Rats, there were these couple and a friend who exhibited the essence of having proper lifestyle when married.
It is important to make sure that you provide time for your partner and not to cheat or make something that can destroy marriage. Consideration and understanding are values embedded in this drama. It’s important for you to consider the things and understand the things that your partner does for you. On Montano’s Sabina, the tradition here was all about the family and a girl who was betrayed by an American trader who was Mr. George who went to the Philippines. Sabina fell in love for Mr. George but then Mr.
George is married so Sabina, since that she cannot accept the truth, she committed suicide which some Filipinos might engage in when having troublesome situations. On Bonifcaio’s Seapng Loca, it was about a woman who was sexually abused and bore a child. It was then that she fell on a well and then her child was alive. For me, the tradition here is that dance made on Obando for a couple to have a child when they are having hard time making one. On Tan’s The Husband of Mrs. Cruz, the tradition present here as all about the elections made in the Philippines.
It is usual that every election, there are controversies and illegal actions made by some parties just to win the position. It is also present here that some would pretend to be someone else or lie to escape such situations like paying for debts and other payments. It was such a good thing to have these superstitions and beliefs. It made the lives of Filipinos colourful especially for our ancestors. It also made me realize that without these, it would not make us unique from other races.
