It wasn’t so much a genocide the Americans committed in the Philippines. More of a… degradation of the people. The Filipino people, the Americans saw it, were ‘barbaric and primitive’, and had to be ‘shown the ways of the world’. Filipino tribesmen, along with their wives and infant children, were brought to America. Displayed in human zoos.
Yes, they had human zoos. They also made cartoons, too, in which Filipino citizens were portrayed as whining, crying brown babies, about to be baptised in civilization by the benevolent American overlords. The whole thing was absolutely disgusting, degrading and dehumanizing.
There was also, in a sense, a cultural genocide. The Spanish started the forced conversion of Filipino natives to Christianity. The Americans just continued, with countless missionaries coming over to ‘spread the good word’. In some areas in the deepest, darkest corners of Luzon I have stayed, there are memories of the oldest locals about American missionaries coming over and converting the last of their remaining pagans to Christ. A beautiful and vibrant culture, erased. Broken down, collectively. Sometimes with force. Sometimes with ‘soft power’, with persuasion… but broken down all the same.
Filipinos used to have traditional names. Then, Spanish names. Now they all have English names. Biblical names. Dyed hair. Often the newest gadgets. But what of their spirit? In a way, it was crushed. Almost five hundred years of colonization will do that to a people.
There was also, in a sense, a cultural genocide. The Spanish started the forced conversion of Filipino natives to Christianity. The Americans just continued, with countless missionaries coming over to ‘spread the good word’. In some areas in the deepest, darkest corners of Luzon I have stayed, there are memories of the oldest locals about American missionaries coming over and converting the last of their remaining pagans to Christ. A beautiful and vibrant culture, erased. Broken down, collectively. Sometimes with force. Sometimes with ‘soft power’, with persuasion… but broken down all the same.
Filipinos used to have traditional names. Then, Spanish names. Now they all have English names. Biblical names. Dyed hair. Often the newest gadgets. But what of their spirit? In a way, it was crushed. Almost five hundred years of colonization will do that to a people.
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