Heritage

Aside from politics, which unfortunately never seems to take a break, heritage is hot news these days. Debate is still raging over the now-halted high-rise condo photo-bombing the Rizal monument and violating the integrity of the sight line of the city’s icon. The STAR ran a photo – provided by the developer – on the front page last Tuesday that was a rendering of the Rizal monument against an evening backdrop of high-rises all lit up, leading some to quip that it’s now the Rizal monument that is the photo bomb! The next day, the condo’s developer ran a full-page ad explaining points raised against it, and claiming that heritage and progress can go together.

There is no arguing that our heritage – as a nation, as a people – must be respected, and protected. Intangible heritage like art forms and languages and traditions must be preserved and, where possible, propagated, as these represent the soul and continuing lifeblood of us as a nation, enriching our collective identity. Tangible heritage like monuments and structures serve as milestones on our journey, reminders of what we had achieved and of moments that defined or changed us. As we grow and develop we build on and add to this heritage.

But heritage should not paralyze us, or hold us prisoners of the past. We cannot cling to every remnant of our past and seek to have them stand forever, for if we did where would we place the new structures that would one day become part of our heritage? Hysteria and irrational outbursts are not going to resolve the current controversy. So do we demolish the building or turn the monument around?

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As our representatives appear this week before the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague for oral arguments on our claim against China in the West Philippine Sea, voices have been raised asking where lies the loyalty of the Tsinoys. I do not want to exacerbate whatever insecurities some people may have about this issue, so let me just say this and get any confusion out of the way from the get-go: we are Tsinoy  – Tsinong-Pinoy or Chinese-Filipino. The noun is Pinoy or Filipino, and the adjective is Tsino or Chinese. In any form that requires nationality, the answer is Filipino. Some have even asked that in the event of a shooting war – which is really far-fetched – on which side will the Tsinoys fight. Does anyone really think there will be a mass exodus from Binondo to enlist in the People’s Liberation Army? And does anyone really believe that the PLA will accept these characters? That may be hyperbole, but this whole insecurity is difficult to take seriously, and frankly, it’s getting a bit tedious.

I am secure enough in my Pinoy-ness to bask in my pagka-singkit (poems have been written about my eyes, mind you), to eat machang and laing anytime I feel like it, to proclaim my Chinese heritage here in the Philippines and not be paralyzed or held prisoner by it.

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Starting this month, STARweek will be published every first and third Sunday.