MODULE 17: ADDRESSING & REDRESSING AN ICEBERG: IDENTIFYING

EXAMPLES OF COLONIAL MENTALITY AND THINKING OF WAYS TO

RECTIFY OR REMEDY THEM

INTRODUCTION:

"Colonial mentality is the internalized attitude of ethnic or cultural inferiority felt by

people as a result of colonization ... It corresponds with the belief that the cultural values
of the colonizer are inherently superior to one's own. The term has been used by
postcolonial scholars to discuss the trans-generational effects of colonialism present in
former colonies following decolonization. It is commonly used as an operational concept
for framing ideological domination in historical colonial experiences. In psychology
colonial mentality has been used to explain instances of collective depression, anxiety,
and other widespread mental health issues in populations that have experienced
colonization."(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_mentality#:~:text=A%20colonial%20
mentality%20is%20the,inherently%20superior%20to%20one's%20own.)
 In the case of most Filipinos at present, colonial mentality is the feeling, thinking,
and acting inferior in different ways and to varying degrees vis-a-vis anything North
American - its people, its language, its values, its cultural appurtenances, and others.
Politically speaking, the country’s sovereignty is negated as governmental policies are
attune with that of the North American government and decision-making by Filipino
officials, internally and externally, are pegged to what North American officials want to
the detriment of the country.

Due to the implementation of Free Trade, Parity Rights, and the Laurel-Langley
Agreement, Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000, and other neo-liberal policies
governing the global economy at present since the creation of the United Nations, the
Philippine economy became attached to the economic interests and needs of North
America. This made the Philippines the producer of raw materials for rich countries, the
market for foreign manufactured goods, and at present a source of cheap labor..

Through the imposition of English as the medium of instruction, declaring it as

the official language of the government, the popular language in the media, lingua
franca throughout the archipelago, Filipinos became ashamed of how they look, their
indigenous culture, and their way of life.
 Given the resurgence of nationalism, the spread of education throughout the
archipelago, and access to anything global through travel, the internet, and interactions
with foreign people and their culture since WWII, Filipinos started to become proud of
their indigenousness and became aware of the need to redress many aspects and
characteristics of their colonial mentality like what we are doing in this class.

Thus, the application of the Iceberg Learning and Teaching Strategy in this
module goes beyond identifying factors behind the emergence of colonial mentality
among Filipinos, but redressing aspects or characteristics of it that you have or practice
based upon sharing and discussion of this matter in class and references or readings
cited below in this module.

REFERENCES:

Baylo, E. (2020, January 7). Steps to Healing a Colonial Mentality. [Blog post].
Retrieved from https://sparks.fuller.edu/centered/2020/01/07/steps-to-healing-a-
 colonial-mentality/

Colonial Mentality. (2020, September 13). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Colonial_mentality#:~:text=A%20colonial%20mentality%20is%20the,inherently
%20superior%20to%20one's%20own.

David, E. (2017, November 2). Filipinos, Colonial Mentality, and Mental Health: A
psychological exploration of the effects of colonialism among Filipinos. [Blog
post]. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unseen-
and-unheard/201711/filipinos-colonial-mentality-and-mental-health

IBON Media & Communications. (2016, November 14). Then and now: US economic
intervention in the Philippines. Retrieved from https://www.ibon.org/then-
and-now-us-economic-intervention-in-the-philippines/

Mille Team. (2020, July 1). 7 Signs You Have Colonial Mentality: How centuries of
colonialism has shaped how we see ourselves. [Blog post]. Retrieved from
https://www.milleworld.com/signs-of-colonial-mentality/

Navarro, K. (2016, September 8). Colonial Mentality & Colorism: What the Filipino
Community Needs to Talk About. [Blog post]. Retrieved from
https://medium.com/@karendn/colonial-mentality-colorism-5c9c7a00a012

UNTV News and Rescue. (2015, July 14). How colonial mentality influences Filipino
businesses [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-UkXDI231E

PROCEDURE:

1. Read and study the ppt in this class on The Philippines under North American
Colonial Rule, The Philippines under Japanese Occupation during WW11, and
The Third Republic as well as references on Colonial Mentality cited above;

2. List down 5 DIFFERENT aspects or characteristics of colonial mentality that you

have or practice and think of ways/suggestions for you to stop or remedy each
one of them in two to three sentences;

3. Please write your answers below the line of the sea level in the diagram of the
Iceberg in the answer sheet ;
4. Modify the diagram of the Iceberg as you wish; and

5. Submit your answer sheet in the Classwork folder for this module.