From Nationalism to A Neo-Liberal Turn in

Philippine Popular Music

The Case of Noel Cabangon’s “Ako’y Isang Mabuting Pilipino” (2010)

presented by:FLORENTINO A. INIEGO, JR.

U.P. Diliman 20 November 2014 1

There is no doubt that nationalism has became a potent force in uniting the people in its struggle against colonial oppression.

As a phenomenon, nationalism creates a movement that toppled down colonialist and imperialist control among countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

As an ideology, in the formation of nation-states it develops a continuing reaction to the remnants of colonial domination and subsequent westernization.

“Wika, Nasyunalismo, at Ideolohiya,” nasa Pamela Constantino at Monico Atienza (mga editor), Wika at Lipunan, (Quezon City: U.P. Press, 1996), p. 12.

NATIONALISM

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Nationalism takes various forms. It may be more rhetoric than substance; it may project the cultural aspect to camouflage the fact that the economy is being delivered to the transnational. It may be the nationalism of the deprived local entrepreneurs and the discontented local partners of global corporations, or it may be the nationalism of wider sections of the masses who see in imperialist dictation and transnational control the source of their poverty. The latter is the decisive form of nationalism in the overall transformation of the neo-colonial system into a social order which will truly serve the needs of the majority of the peoples of the Third World.

Renato Constantino, The Nationalist Alternative, (Quezon City: Foundation for Nationalist Studies, 1984), p. 6.

NATIONALISM

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Nationalism and Popular Music in the Philippines

Popular music has become an effective medium in the spread of nationalism in the Philippines. In the 1920s, the rising nationalist movement focused on the fight against American imperialism and persistence of feudalism.

American recording companies like Victor Records and Columbia Records were attracted to record popular kundiman and sarswela songs, such as Francisco Santiago’s “ Anak-Dalita ” (Child of Woe) -1917, Nicanor S. Abelardo’s “Mutya ng Pasig” (Muse of Pasig), 1924, and “Nasaan Ka Irog” (Where Are You, Love?), 1926, and Constancio de Guzman’s “Bayan Ko” (My Country), 1928.

. After WW II, local artists projected various issues critical to the existing government's anti-people and anti-democratic policies -- e.g. anti-US bases, graft and corruption, militarization, human rights violations.

Teresita G. Maceda, “Pop Music,” CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, Volume VI (Manila: CCP 1996).

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BAYAN KO (1928)

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Bayan ko (My Beloved Country)Ang bayan kong Pilipinas

Lupain ng ginto’t

bulaklak

Pag-ibig ang sa kanyang

palad

Nag-alay ng ganda’t

dilag

At sa kanyang yumi at

ganda

Dayuhan ay nahalina

Bayan ko!

Binihag ka nasadlak sa

dusa.

As a poem written in 1928, it narrates the struggle of the Filipino people colonized for over 400 years. First as a colony of Spain and then of the United States.

The poet compared the Motherland to a bird, encaged by the foreigners, and then liberated by its people.

It became the “national anthem” of the protests movement nationwide.

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Ako’y Isang Pinoy (1977)

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Ako’y Isang Pinoy

Si Gat Jose Rizal nuo’y nagwika

Siya ang nagpangaral sa ating

bansa

Ang hindi raw magmahal

sa sariling wika

Ay higit pa ang amoy sa

mabahong isda.

Wikang pambansa ang gamit

kong salita

Bayan kong sinilangan

Hangad kong lagi ang kalayaan

Inspired by the writings our national hero, this song advocates the use and propagation of the National Language (Filipino).

Those who discarded the use national language were associated with the bad smell of a decaying fish.

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Tayo’y mga Pinoy

BANYUHAY NI HEBER

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Tayo’y mga Pinoy, tayo’y hindi kano

‘Wag kang mahihiya kung ang

ilong mo ay pango

Dito sa silangan ako isinilang

Kung saan nagmumula ang sikat ng

araw

Ako ay may sariling kulay-

kayumanggi

Ngunit ‘di ko maipakita, tunay na

sarili

Kung ating hahanapin ay

matatagpuan

Tayo ay may kakanyahang dapat na

hangaan

Subalit nasaan ang sikat ng araw

Ba’t tayo ang humahanga doon sa

kanluran?

The song is a critique on the Filipino colonial mentality:

Praising the physical features of the Americans:

Tall, white, sharped-nose, blonde-haired, speaks English While lambasting fellow Filipinos:

short, brown-colored, , snub-nose, black-haired, speaks Tagalog and the vernaculars

Tayo’y mga Pinoy (1978)

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Neoliberalism… Neoliberalism is in the first instance a theory of political economic

practices that proposes that human well-being can best be advanced by liberating individual economic and entrepreneurial freedoms and skills within an institutional framework characterized by strong private property rights, free markets, and free trade.

The role of the state is to create and preserve an institutional framework appropriate to such practices.

The state has to guarantee, for example, the quality and integrity of money. It must also set up those military, defence, police, and legal structures and functions required to secure private property rights and to guarantee, by force if need be, the proper functioning of the markets.

Furthermore, if markets do not exist (in areas such as land, water, education, health care, social security, or environmental pollution) then they must be created, by state action, if necessary. But beyond these tasks, the state should not venture. State interventions in markets (once created) must be kept to a bare minimum.

(David Harvey, A Brief History of Neoliberalism, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.)

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Neo-liberalism - as an ideology of late capitalism or imperialist globalization Globalization of capital

(spread of capitalism to every corner of the world)

Economic policies in the name of “free trade” was dictated by GATT-WTO, APEC, NAFTA, and EU

Removal of regulations /restrictions to allow private corporations intrusion to the national economy

Reducing the powers of duly elected democratic govt. to a level of virtual powerlessness

GO/NGO/Private Sector Public-Private Partnership

- Resulting into nation-states as “client” states implementing the global policies of neoliberalism: - Liberalization- Privatization- Deregulation

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Neo-liberal Turn…An increasing

accommodation of socio-cultural policy to the values of free market economy

Social and moral action is determined by the marketplace

Commodification of social relations

Socio-cultural movements trended toward a depoliticized vision of citizenship

Political conformism instead of social activism

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Neoliberal Turn…- Social movements retreated away

from the more class-based and social justice -oriented demands

- Social action was invoked as “corrective measures” to restore faith in the institutions of govt.

- Socio-cultural themes: unity-in-diversity (cum sports), renewal of faith, peaceful and non-violent engagements, and be a globally competitive-world class citizen

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Revalorization of individualismIdentity is constructed thru

consumption activityIndividual acts as a consumer

and his/her experience and lifestyle is identified thru the “brand” he/she consumes

Emery Hyslop-Margison and Alan M. Sears, Neo-Liberalism, Globalization and Human Capital Learning. Springer 2006.

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Mga Kababayan Ko (1990)Francis M.

Francis "Kiko" Magalona

Francis M, Master Rapper, The Man From Manila, Nationalist Rapper

Considered as the “King of Pinoy Rap”

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Mga kababayan ko

Dapat lang malaman

nyo

Bilib ako sa kulay ko

Ako ay Pilipino

Kung may itim o may

puti

Mayron namang

kayumanggi

Isipin mo na kaya

mong

Abutin ang iyong

minimithi

Filipinos should not be ashamed of being brown-colored.

If whites and blacks were proud of their heritage, Filipinos should do the same.

With this thinking, goals can be achieved,

Mga Kababayan Ko

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Noypi (2003) Bamboo

Bamboo – a Pinoy Alternative rock band formed in 2003.

Former lead singer of the band Rivermaya.

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NoypiHoy, Pinoy ako Buo ang aking loob May agimat ang

dugo koHoy, oh, Pinoy akoMay agimat ang

dugo ko

Oh, sabi nila may

anting-anting ako

Pero ‘di nila alam na

ang Diyos ang dahilan ko

Filipinos should be brave enough to face challenges in life.

Because a powerful charm (amulet) flows within our blood.

And this power is no other thanthe reaffirmation of our belief in God. .

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Pinoy Ako (2005)Orange and Lemon

Orange And Lemons broke into the in the music scene in December 2003, when they came out with their independently produced first album titled Love In The Land Of Rubber Shoes And Dirty Ice Cream under Terno Records. Being an underground album, the first outing did not receive any marketing blitz or airplay. Apparently, though, there was no need for these, as the group's live performances were enough to drum up listeners’ interest in the fresh act.20

Pinoy Ako

Pinoy ikaw ay Pinoy

Ipakita sa mundo

Kung ano ang kaya

mo

Ibang-iba ang pinoy

Wag kang matatakot

Ipagmalaki mo

Pinoy ako, Pinoy tayo.

o The official soundtrack of Pinoy

Big Brother in the Philipines (the

franchised version of reality TV

Big Brother).

o The tune and lyrics has an

“infectious beat” and “anthemic

melody” that’s it was considered as

the "national song“ of the country

in 2005.

o It became the “unofficial” theme

song of the Philippine team to the

Southeast Asian Games.

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Para sa Iyo ang Laban na ito (2006)Manny Pacquiao

Real name: Emmanuel Pacquiao Nickname:Pacman, The Destroyer Birth date: December 17, 1978 Birth place:Bukidnon, Philippines

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Para sa’yo

Ang laban na ‘to

Hindi ako susuko

Isisigaw ko sa

mundo

Pinoy ang lahi ko

Mahal ko ang

bayan ko

Para sa’yo

Ang laban na ‘to

Para sa’yo

Bayan ko

“When I fight I know I'm fighting not just for myself and my family but for all Filipinos. There is a lot of pressure on me to win. But it's a reality I have to face. I will always give my best because I'm fighting for my country”

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Ako’y Isang Mabuting Filipino (2010)• Noel Cabangon • -- a nationalist musician active in the

fight against

• the Marcos dicratorship in the 1980s

• -- “As an activist, you have to recognize

your role in society. Since ako ay isang musikero, that’s

• where I can share my part, through music…

• -- Maybe one of the reasons why they asked us to be an ambassador for a certain cause is because there are people who believe in us…

• -- One of the things I am looking into is that if we’re

the ambassadors, we’re not only going to connect with the people but also to the government.”

http://www.mb.com.ph/music-man/

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Ako’y isang mabuting PilipinoMinamahal ko ang Bayan koTinutupad ko ang aking mga tungkulinSinusunod ko ang kanyang mga alituntunin

Tumatawid ako sa tamang tawiranSumasakay ako sa tamang sakayanPumipila at hindi nakikipag-unahanAt ‘di ako pasiga-siga sa lansangan

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Bumababa at nagsasakay ako sa tamang sakayan‘Di na makahambalang parang walang pakialam.Pinagbibigyan ko ang mga tumatawid sa kalsadaHumihinto ako kapag ang ilaw ay pula.

‘Pagkat ako’y isang mabuting PilipinoMinamahal ko ang bayan koTinutupad ko ang aking mga tungkulinSinusunod ko ang kanyang mga alituntunin

‘Di ako nangongotong o nagbibigay ng lagayTiket lamang ang tinatangap kung binibigayAt ‘di nagtatago sa ilalim ng puno.

‘Di ako nagkakalat ng basura sa lansangan.‘Di bumubuga ng usok ang aking sasakyanInaayos ko ang mga kalat sa basurahanInaalagan ko ang aking kapaligiran

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Lagi akong nakikinig sa aking mga magulangKaya’t pag-aaral ay aking pinagbubutihan‘Di ako gumagamit ng bawal na gamotO kaya’y tumatambay at sa eskwela’y di pumapasok

Pingtatanggol ko ang aking karangalan‘Pagkat ito lamang ang tangi kong kayamanan‘Di ko binebenta ang aking kinabukasanAng boto ko’y aking pinahahalagahan.

‘Pagkat ako’y isang mabuting PilipinoMinamahal ko ang bayan koTinutupad ko ang aking mga tungkulinSinusunod ko ang kanyang mga alituntunin

Ako’y isang tapat at totoong lingkod ng bayanPabor o lagay ay ‘di ko pinapayaganTapat ang serbisyo ko sa mamamayan'Di ko binubulsa ang pera ng bayan

…21st century neoliberal individual A kind of citizen that does not encourage critical

participation crucial to democratic citizenship or social justice;

But rather focuses on being polite, docile, and maintaining social peace and order.

Appropriate citizen involvement is limited to “engaging” in current political and social structures but with the aim of enhancing rather than critiquing and challenging social and political institutions

A depoliticized citizen (Isang Mabuting Pilipino) deviating from social activism and embracing neoliberal doctrines :

…thoughtful graduates imbued with 1) values reflective of humanist orientation (e.g. fundamental respect for others as human beings with intrinsic rights, cultural rootedness, an avocation to serve)…that will enable them to live meaningfully in a rapidly changing and globalized world while engaging in their community and nation’s development issues and concerns. (CHED Memo Order # 20)

Emery Hyslop-Margison and Alan M. Sears, Neo-Liberalism, Globalization and Human Capital Learning . Springer 2006.

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CONCLUSION Nationalist songs has become a creative force that

deepened and tempered the Filipino peoples continuing struggle for freedom and democracy.

Its inclusion in the pop music market proved that commercialism and nationalism packaged together dutifully served the profit-making ventures of recording companies.

This nexus helps the cause of the nationalist movement to greatly infused its ideology to the collective consciousness of the people.

Some pop songs seemingly represent the desires and aspirations of the people; but actually they were imparting the commodifying practices/processes of enterprising neoliberal values.

In the era of imperialist globalization, there are some proliferating notions stating that nationalism has already passé – an outmoded and obsolete concept and movement.

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Mahalagang maitalaga sa kaisipan at praktika ng sambayanan ang nasyunalismo. Dahil isa itong sandatang mapanghahawakan natin upang harapin at salagin ang bigwas ng mapaminsalang kultura ng globalisasyon/neoliberalismo na sa kasalukuya’y hubad sa pagpapahalaga sa kasaysayan/pagmamahal sa bayan.

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Mahalagang mangingibabaw ang pagmamahal sa sariling wika at makabayang panitikan (partikular sa mga awit ) dahil ito ang nagpapaalala sa atin sa magiting na pakikibaka ng ating mga bayani na nagbuwis ng buhay para sa ating kalayaan at kasarinlan laban sa mga dayuhan.

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“The Filipino resistance to colonial oppression is the unifying thread of Philippine history.”

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