The Formation of Identity, Nan Tawid Mi (Our Heritage)
Culture plays an important role in the foundation of a person's identity. Wars have been fought. Empires have risen and fallen. But culture will forever remain. It is the mark of a nation's greatness or a reminder of what was.
The Latin word colere, which means enrichment, is the root word of culture. Thus the birth of culture beca,e the basi of a civilization. (Wikipedia, 2006) The Philippines during the Spanish era, is an example of this context equation. Pigafetta and his chronicles of Magellan's voyages emphasized the absence of a unifying culture depicted the lack of civilization.
In this time and age, culture is valued in studies because it gives identity to a nation and its a people. It is a great influence in one's formation of his personality. It is a force that dictates right from wrong since a person's whole being swims in culture. It encompasses history, values, customs and traditions in a specific time and place. As a person necomes immersed in culture, he starts a journey of discovery towards his own identity. It starts with knowing his personal history and the domains of his ancestors. Along with this discovery of identity is the freedom of a individual to accept or reject what he has found. Since nobody can impose identity to a person he or she has the freedom to choose the identiy he or she wants.(Villalon, 2005)
In the Cordilleran comunity, identity is incorporated in culture. Since culture is regarded as an inheritance from the elder generation, so is his identity. This is his heritage, his tawid.
Tawid is an Ilocano/Cordilleran term meaning gift. For the Cordilleran family, this is the process of passing or handing down tradition, culture, practices, ideas, beliefs, and material possession to the next generation. (Villalon, 2005)
The elders (apos or the lallakays) are in charge of the passing down of traditions and beliefs to the youth of the community. Thus idenity formation is a very important process since the existence of the Cordilleran culture depends on it.
The identity can be associated to the building of a traditional house. The most important part is the ecology that includes the land. It is owned by the whole community and defines culture and life. The land become the foundation of the houseand also the foundation where the community begins its legend.
The post of the house represents the customs and traditions that is the binding force that holds the Cordillerans together. The stairs symbolizes language. Speaking one's language is the entrance to be accepted in a community thus into a house and culture. This part of identity includes the family and relatives in the learning process because they teach the language.
Inside the house, one can see the effort and hardship that has been given to build the house. It is a symbol of the importance they give to work. The great detail that the workers give to building the house shows the great value they have for the importance of the home.
The structure of the house is also a symbol. It compares to the heirarchial structure of the home wherein the father is the head of the home.
The floor or the papag is the representation of their history. It is the foundation of knowledge and support of the Cordillerans.
The walls of the house where decorations are hanged symbolizes the aesthetical value of music, arts and literature in the Cordillerans. They acknowledge the fact that the walls are replaced through time and it also accepted that the arts also change.
As they gaze out the windows, other houses can be seen. Their relationship is bonded by the view. The door is an open welcome to their fellow Cordillerans.
The last part of the house is the roof. It represents the spiritual life of the Cordillerans. It is their beliefs and their acknowledgement of a higher power.
In this light, identity can come from various aspects of life, not only in culture. Identity is freely chosen but culture can be rejected. The existence of culture is dependent on the acceptance and enrichment of those who are privileged to own it. When one seeks out his identity he or she can leave his or her tawid behind and create his own.
When one chooses not to accept his tawid we can never say that he is no longer himself. Although I hope that when one rejects he should never forget.
The Latin word colere, which means enrichment, is the root word of culture. Thus the birth of culture beca,e the basi of a civilization. (Wikipedia, 2006) The Philippines during the Spanish era, is an example of this context equation. Pigafetta and his chronicles of Magellan's voyages emphasized the absence of a unifying culture depicted the lack of civilization.
In this time and age, culture is valued in studies because it gives identity to a nation and its a people. It is a great influence in one's formation of his personality. It is a force that dictates right from wrong since a person's whole being swims in culture. It encompasses history, values, customs and traditions in a specific time and place. As a person necomes immersed in culture, he starts a journey of discovery towards his own identity. It starts with knowing his personal history and the domains of his ancestors. Along with this discovery of identity is the freedom of a individual to accept or reject what he has found. Since nobody can impose identity to a person he or she has the freedom to choose the identiy he or she wants.(Villalon, 2005)
In the Cordilleran comunity, identity is incorporated in culture. Since culture is regarded as an inheritance from the elder generation, so is his identity. This is his heritage, his tawid.
Tawid is an Ilocano/Cordilleran term meaning gift. For the Cordilleran family, this is the process of passing or handing down tradition, culture, practices, ideas, beliefs, and material possession to the next generation. (Villalon, 2005)
The elders (apos or the lallakays) are in charge of the passing down of traditions and beliefs to the youth of the community. Thus idenity formation is a very important process since the existence of the Cordilleran culture depends on it.
The identity can be associated to the building of a traditional house. The most important part is the ecology that includes the land. It is owned by the whole community and defines culture and life. The land become the foundation of the houseand also the foundation where the community begins its legend.
The post of the house represents the customs and traditions that is the binding force that holds the Cordillerans together. The stairs symbolizes language. Speaking one's language is the entrance to be accepted in a community thus into a house and culture. This part of identity includes the family and relatives in the learning process because they teach the language.
Inside the house, one can see the effort and hardship that has been given to build the house. It is a symbol of the importance they give to work. The great detail that the workers give to building the house shows the great value they have for the importance of the home.
The structure of the house is also a symbol. It compares to the heirarchial structure of the home wherein the father is the head of the home.
The floor or the papag is the representation of their history. It is the foundation of knowledge and support of the Cordillerans.
The walls of the house where decorations are hanged symbolizes the aesthetical value of music, arts and literature in the Cordillerans. They acknowledge the fact that the walls are replaced through time and it also accepted that the arts also change.
As they gaze out the windows, other houses can be seen. Their relationship is bonded by the view. The door is an open welcome to their fellow Cordillerans.
The last part of the house is the roof. It represents the spiritual life of the Cordillerans. It is their beliefs and their acknowledgement of a higher power.
In this light, identity can come from various aspects of life, not only in culture. Identity is freely chosen but culture can be rejected. The existence of culture is dependent on the acceptance and enrichment of those who are privileged to own it. When one seeks out his identity he or she can leave his or her tawid behind and create his own.
When one chooses not to accept his tawid we can never say that he is no longer himself. Although I hope that when one rejects he should never forget.
posted by marianne | 4:18 AM
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