Description
INSULAR YET GLOBAL: Selected Essays of Fernando Zialcita
Fernando N. Zialcita
For our Austronesian ancestors, the sea surrounding their islands did not confine them but rather connected them to new lands, new experiences, and new possibilities. Even as an island may be a point of origin for such journeys, it can yet remain the place to which seafarers return with new learnings to apply at home. In Insular Yet Global: Selected Essays by Fernando Zialcita, one of the country’s most distinguished anthropologists embarks on an exploration of the archipelagic character of Filipino identity.
In this collection of essays—written over two decades and compiled and curated at the suggestion of Dr. Jorge Mojarro of the University of Santo Tomas—the author delves into how the Philippines, despite its geographical isolation, has continuously engaged with and adapted to external influences, creating a unique cultural milieu. His nuanced approach argues against the notion that embracing globalization means discarding local heritage, or the tendency to view all forms of Hispanic influence as something to be rejected in favor of a “pure” Filipino culture.
Insular Yet Global: Selected Essays by Fernando Zialcita encapsulates the dual nature of the Philippines’ cultural experience: insular due to its geography, yet global due to its history.
Insular Yet Global: Selected Essays by Fernando Zialcita encapsulates over five decades of Dr. Fernando N. Zialcita’s distinguished career as an anthropologist, professor, cultural advocate, and philosopher. Organized around themes of apparent contradictions—self and other, indigenous and foreign, local and global—the essays explore a wide array of topics, from the concept of private ownership to reflections on cultural identity, and delve into the global histories of indigenous products.
Dr. Zialcita, a master of interdisciplinary thought and writing, crafts a fluid and cohesive narrative that invites readers to deeply contemplate the complexities of Filipino identity across different periods and contexts. The essays seamlessly intertwine Philippine culture, history, and what it truly means to be Filipino.
More importantly, it is Dr. Zialcita’s deep dedication and love for his work that is evident in this collection of essays. The book not only looks back at his past contributions but also serves as a forward-looking guide, offering hope and direction for the future of interdisciplinary Philippine cultural studies.
—Dr. Olivia Anne M. Habana
Department of History, School of Social Sciences,
Ateneo de Manila University
Content
Foreword
Preface
FOR MYSELF AND FOR OTHERS
What is Communal Ownership? Clarifying a Much-Used Term
Self-Expression and Mutual Sympathy in Farming Villages
Broadening the Communal Sense by “Lifting Up” Values
HISPANISM OR FILIPINISM?
Hispanism or Filipinism? Nick Joaquin’s Misunderstood Nationalism
We Became the Philippines On Board the Galleon
Weaving an Identity from Diversity: Reflections on Horacio de la Costa
Are We Crippling Our Own Identity?
INTERPLAYS: SPACE VS. TIME, LOCAL VS. GLOBAL
Chanted Landscapes: Internalizing the Tangible
Time Compresses Space: The Textile Exchange Via the Galleons (1767–1797)
The Black Christ: Defining the Sacred Across Three Continents
The Southeast Asian House’s Multiple Meanings: An Outlier’s Perspective
The Plaza Can Affirm Local Identity
Countering the Global with the Local by Savoring Our Food
Image Credits
Index
About the Author
Fernando Nakpil-Zialcita obtained his MA in Philosophy at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), MA in Anthropology, and PhD in Anthropology at the University of Hawai’i. At the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, ADMU, he is a professor emeritus and directs the Cultural Heritage Studies Program. Part of his advocacy has focused on architectural heritage and cultural identity. Hence, his books: Philippine Ancestral Houses (1800–1930), coauthored with Martin I. Tinio Jr., and Vol. 1 of Endangered Splendor: Manila’s Architectural Heritage 1571–1960, coauthored with Erik Akpedonu and Victor Venida. He also highlights food heritage because the culinary experience is better understood by most people. In his Authentic Though Not Exotic: Essays on Filipino Identity, he analyzes culinary experiences as metaphors for broader cultural issues. Aside from writing for publication, he has actively participated in efforts to conserve and promote various forms of cultural heritage in Vigan, Tayabas, Taal, and in his native Manila.
Academica Filipina +
Copyright © 2024 by Fernando N. Zialcita and Vibal Foundation, Inc.
320 pages; 15.24 x 22.86 cm.