What if the Philippines Colonized Other Countries..?
By ratyz5
@ratyz5 (7808)
Philippines
March 4, 2009 2:02am CST
Well, this really just struck me out of nowhere as I was looking for discussions under the Philippines interest.
So, as the title would ask, what if the Philippines Colonized Other Countries?
I mean, in reality, we were the ones that got colonized by other countries in our history but, just try to imagine what kind of cultural influences the Philippines would've given to other possible countries if the Philippines were able to colonize other countries?
Be it good or bad influences, wouldn't it be interesting to see an african child asking for the hand of elder relatives and place their foreheads onto them to give their respects? How about an caucasian business tycoon pointing directions with his lips? Of course, nothing has to be accurate since certain mannerisms from the Philippines also came from other countries as well.
Not really trying to ridicule anyone here, just thinking of 'what if?'
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9 responses
@rogerfederer (81)
•
5 Mar 09
Lapu-Lapu was sent to Mactan island by the Sultan of Borneo to watch on how Rajah Humabon was conducting his governance of the Visayas area and for him to report to Sultan why taxes from this area were steadily dwindling. Historians like respected Rolando Simbulan of the University of the Phlippines write that the more "war-like" tribes are the ones who often take control of far-away lands because of their capacity to wage war.
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@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
7 Mar 09
I remember Screaming Monkeys during my college days. (^_^ )
I guess globalization of things known and popular would eventually make not only filipinos but, any nationality with meager capability to claim any desirable interests, aspire or at least obtain items that would alleviate their realities. Then these green pastures has always been conceptualized from the current state that lack what they think they need but, really want out of being unsatisfying desired that are most probably fueled by commercials that they could see in any medium available.
Nationalism in the country.. its unfortunately dormant..
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
4 Mar 09
I actually thought about that when i was still teaching Philippine history... what if the Philippines was a colonizer in the past... our country and the world would have been so different... but i can't imagine how... since i always believed that we are a nation of peace loving people... so this belief would contradict the colonizing other countries thingy...
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@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
4 Mar 09
Hmm, so its not possible that other countries would enact some practices we have here in our country?
Couldn't our country colonize other countries with peaceful intentions?
Oh well, what am I saying, the term colonize would always have a bad connotation.. (-_-")
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@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
5 Mar 09
Seems like this thread is focusing more on the title than the actual content of the discussion (^_^")
Well, doing that ponzi scheme would seem unlikely to be accomplished with current situation that the government has at the moment to elude any suspicion from such countries that it wants to include in such a scheme.. (^_^")
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@bjcyrix (6901)
• Philippines
20 Nov 09
I think that would depend upon the timeline. If the countries were switched in history(Philippines colonizing Spain, US, and Japan instead of the other way around) at the time that it happened, then I think in terms of religion, Filipinos will spread the influence of nature worshipping instead of the practice of Christianity. Hunting-gathering techniques as well as battle techniques using seemingly unorthodox weapons like a huge yoyo and wooden sticks will bring huge influence. The planting irrigation of the Banaue Rice Terraces will be more prominent in some agricultural parts of the countries colonized will be seen throughout.
As for social graces, if pointing with the lips and greeting with the eyebrows have been a habit of the Filipinos even before colonization then that could be another another point of influence. Add to that the traditional way of eating with the hands instead of cutlery or chopsticks.
Tattoos and piercings could possibly be one of those things as well. Since these are rites of passage of some sort, and sometimes shows the social standing or authority of the individual.
Those are the only things that I could think of at the moment.^_^
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@bjcyrix (6901)
• Philippines
1 Dec 09
It seems so.. I have considered reality in thinking of a response for this. But your topic was a hypothetical question, so I just responded accordingly. However, upon reading the other responses, I was kinda surprised that they seemed to have a strong passion about the points they were trying to make. ..That's kinda why I asked if I was deteriorating in any way.
You are always welcome.
@semicolonp (518)
• Philippines
7 Mar 09
what kind of cultural influences the Philippines would've given to other possible countries if the Philippines were able to colonize other countries?
- I don't know if it'll be a good thing if the Philippines colonized other countries. The state of our own country is already so badly managed; imagine if we have a colony to add to the equation? (not to mention our tendencies to... well, as Rizal so eloquently put: the slaves of today...)
But since this is a hypothetical scenario with a focus on passing on cultural influences, hmmm... I'm kinda torn about it. I don't know what era this Philippines having colonized other countries is in, so my answer is being clouded by this country's current state and what that would imply if we did have a colonized country under our hands. I'd like to think we have a lot of good qualities to pass, just as previous posters have stated; but at the same time, I sort of think colonization brings out the worst in people, so would it do the same to us? There is a lot of power imbalance in it, and since we've been under so many colonizers in the past, I feel us being colonizers ourselves will bring about the, "Now it's time for us to fill in the blank!" mentality. Which is... not a good thing in the least.
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@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
7 Mar 09
Your drive a very good point there, semicolonp (^_^")
Though as hyphothetical as the idea was suggested, it does also suggest the possibility of any country, that would and had colonized other countries, on being its worst state of manipulative authority.
It now got me thinking that filipinos who colonized foreign lands could have also applied their judicial system as well as punishments, like tying the convicted to a tree and having large red ants over his body, boiling the hands of those who got caught stealing or I think there was also a punishment for stealing a carabao but, not really sure anymore..
We did have different kinds of slaves after all.. how would it have worked out or those kinds of slaves would have also revolted perhaps..
It is indeed mind bending to think of what kind of mentality would the Philippines have colonized other countries.. would it be the opposite wherein they would prefer average height, 'well-done' complexion, short dark and curly hair.. and I guess the era does imply the kinds of influences the country would be imparting.. lioncloth and warrior tatoos.. since our traditional clothes were only present during the colonization period..
@oyenkai (4394)
• Philippines
9 Mar 09
I think we would be awful tyrants. Well not "we" as in you and me in particular but the "guys up there" who are actually "running the country" (though not particularly well since we're in some deep sh*t because of corruption and all that crap that they throw at us). If they treat their fellow Filipinos so miserably, how do you think they'd treat their colonies? Slavery would be rampant!
Thanks for the response on my discussion!
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@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
9 Mar 09
Another realistic perspective on this hypothetical idea.. hmmm~ we really can't deny the possibility since other countries that colonized before have already established their disappointing image to the countries that they have colonized..
Thanks for posting on my mine as well (^_^ )
@aisaellis22 (6445)
• United States
4 Mar 09
Hello ratyz5! If ever the Philippines would colonized other country, it would be a good influence. We have many good traits here that other countries don't have. Like respecting elders, close family ties, conservativism, hospitable and sensitive towards the feelings of others.
@jlamela (4898)
• Philippines
2 Dec 09
This is just my honest opinion, based on history, I don't think colonization thing can bring good to the image of the Philippines, granting other powerful nations already gave freedom to their colonized nations, the last thing a third world country like the Philippines will do to improve its stature in the United Nations' security council is to make a drastic move in colonizing countries.
But of course the above situation is just an illusion.lol!
It is very impossible for our country Philippines to colonize other countries because , first we are not a powerful nation with highly innovative military equipments, second we are not well-off to finance the invasion, third we are struggling to improve our economy. So that's it, hehehhe.
@Ritchelle (3790)
• Philippines
5 Mar 09
then, i wouldn't wonder how come the mestizas here still appear dark onscreen. we would've been rich and we could have had adjusted the camera lens' color so that it would fare us better :)
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