The only cure for the Colonial Mentality syndrome is to take a dose of pride in who and what we are. We can take conscious steps in instilling to the future generation of Filipino Americans this pride by teaching them where their roots came from. Teach them their language. I doubt if this will lessen their chances in the American rat race. I suppose it should enhance it. I’ve often heard parents say that they do not teach their kids Tagalog for fear that their children will do poorly in school. Bear in mind that in the Philippines, where Filipino dialect is the main language, English is the medium in school. In some colleges where Tagalog is offered as an elective, urge your children to take that class. Parents can even home school their kids on Pilipino. Books on the Filipino language are available at Borders and Barnes and Nobles. The Internet offers information of Philippine History as well.
The means and method are readily available here in the States. There are no excuses, other than apathy or laziness, or that you are suffering from Colonial Mentality Syndrome. Still not sure, or worse yet, in denial? Ask yourself this, when among Filipinos do I speak in Tagalog? If you have children, do your kids even at least understand the language? If the answer is no, uh-oh. You test positive.
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