The gender-fluid history of the Philippines | France Villarta 

Reymax Arca re:pronouns

Ang ganda diba? You will appreciate filipino language

Hence, whenever I write a poetry in English, I just use the word, "You" cos it's neutral sounding like our very own Siya..

Yes, napakaganda

Lol funnily enough mu name is Siya I'm born male but I often get mistaken as female . I have an androgynous vibe to me as well

Technically, Ate, Kuya, Binibining, Ginoong, and Ginang aren’t gender neutral. But in general, it is.

@@goldenwarrior1186 Ate and Kuya were derived from Chinese word.

Ginoo is gender neutral. "Aba ginoong Maria"

Unfortunately, language does not always reflect cultural norms. Turkish is quite a gender binary country but there is no gender distinction in the pronouns.

@@georgesaad9870 Because of Arab influenced the Tengrism or Pre Islamic religion of Turkey I believe there's no homophobia.

It is. Up until I conducted my thesis, I didn't know that our ancestors viewed gender very differently than we do today. As someone who identifies as 'bakla' (gay), it's just empowering.

One very important thing that the past europeans destroyed in our culture.

More like same with Thais

Epal yung Christians.

Every indigenous culture in fact! Before the coming of Christianity the world was a much more tolerant place in regards to genders and sexuality. Religious brainwash and propaganda has made people forget this important human mindset, and tradition. 3rd gender isn't new nor a lefties trend claimed by prejudice conservative religious people, and some cultures had up to 7-8 genders. Others didn't divide by set gender like in western cultures. We used to be shamans, holy people, and the keepers and protectors of culture and traditions.

Unfortunately, a lot of Filipinos never moved on from that mentality.

@@Anxiou5Panda I agree and some are even proud that we're colonized.

He left out the surrounding cultures and tribes. His theory is quiiiiiite a stretch. No books, no peer reviews. Take this video with a spoonful of salt.

That would explain why colonial mentality wouldn't stop spreading to next generations......

@@hellobello3153 Everything he said, I learned in my college history class and books. I don't know what more evidences do you need when even institutions agree with these facts.

but we still need to improve. for example the 12 yrs old as age of consent which is the lowest in asia and also the lack of education regarding sexual health.

@@spongemon1 sweet piss nuggets dude relax

@@spongemon1 Filipino language have basic structure though. And using loanwords isn't only something that has happened after European colonialism. English is overloaded with loanwords from French and even French borrowed a lot from Latin.

@@spongemon1 okay, troll

@@dirtpillow5073 Yup. One example is piñata.

social construction at its finest

IS biology is a social construct lets see how good you are in basic science

@@EnigmazGuide I don't quite understand what you mean.

@@user-sb8ks1ij7b his saying in biology there can and always been man and woman, one having a pipi and the other a second lip.

​@@EnigmazGuideFunny. Using biology against gays while ignoring the fact that biologists have observed homosexual behaviors in animal kingdom

@papasrod you are the one who needs it

@由 You're only hateful because you're in the closet. lol

@由 why???? You're the one who clearly needs it

@由 I think you liked your own comment because you're the only one who agrees with what you said

Why does it have to be a fence though?

No it doesn't

There is no side of the fence. Side of what?

well prepared for degenerates

@Sandcastle • thanks man, glad that see that you proudly identify as a 'sandcastle'

"Don't break. I see you. My ancestors see you."

Yeah me too. I wish I was the Queen of Butuan and I will subject my Kingdom to Siam or Sukkhothai so that I will preserve the Hindu Buddhist heritage of Maritime Southeast Asia to prevent conversion to Islam or Christianity. Just like Nakhon Si Thammarat it's actually an Tanah Melayu or Malay land the Malay people called it Ligor or Negara Sri Dharmaraja but they subject themselves to Ayutthaya or Sukkhothai so that they won't become Islamize.

Tas mag tiktok ka.

You would find it uncomfortable living through that timei guess

@@creestee08 real

Only if you're a man. Women barely had any rights in that era, they can act around but with limits. However the Babaylan seemed to have exceptions so if you would time travel in pre-colonial, you'd wish to be Babaylan.

like my mom lmao

@@razzyromeo make sure to not become one with your future kids

😂

True Filipino's Dislike this video Lady regardless of Faith.

@@weynnerguillen9533 nope. pre-colonial tribes back then in the Philippines were LGBT friendly.. lol

Better topic actually But yeah food there is pretty good (Just don't try the balut)

Yup. Every provinces has their own kind of delicacies. Must try

@@theconductoresplin8092 *laughs in frog*

Yah, balut

That's true. And the exotic ones are worth a try at least once in a lifetime.

I can get on with that

A summary i can root for

Apparently that is just way way way too hard for some people. Way harder than a Math exam

its hard to be nice when your religion shoves to your throat the fairytale that gays are sinners and abomination.. especially those radical ones

Wow...Filipinos are writing here that they didn't learn it in school. Me neither. Which University is that? Thumbs up to that university.

Create happiness with Olga we did actually, in grade school it was mentioned, and then I learned it in detail during my history class in college. I’m from the University of the Philippines.

I also read from r/Philippines subreddit that purity wasn't a valued thing for pre-colonial Filipino women. Apparently there was even a job of sorts where a man was tasked to 'get rid' of a woman's vcard if you know what I mean.

Back then, sexual gratification was a mutual goal. Men even had to pierce their genitals to please their partners. Even Miguel de Legazpi noted that Filipinas were treated well by their husbands. You can read more about this in the book written by Luis H. Francia entitled, "A History of the Philippines: From Indios Bravos to Filipinos."

Women and gays

Hi, I am born and raised in PH and have lived here all my life. I understand your outsider's perspectives but that is exactly that, outsider. You really have to understand our culture better and what has transpired over the last 30+ years for you to understand why majority of the people picked a populous leader like Duterte. How the western media portrays him lacks context and understanding of what the culture is from the South of the Philippines. People who supports him do not expect him to be perfect but to instill the discipline and political will that's been mostly lacking in so many years and has contributed to a lot of the problems normal Filipinos face on a daily basis. If you ask an ordinary millennial Filipino today who grew up not with privilege but really in as normal individuals taking public transportation and etc. They would tell you safety has increased a lot. The youths of today do not know that. The media writing about the Philippines to the international audience either grew up abroad and or came from privilege and would never understand that local sentiment on the ground. Sometimes, as an outsider like yourself, you have to be careful with applying your lenses of western ideology to a country like the Philippines. Filipinos still continue to be welcoming but also many are waking up from their colonial mentality and have realized that the USA has not really done them any better than just positive propaganda. The country remained poor for many years because of many years of bad economic planning and a very restrictive 1986 constitution. He isn't consolidating power, he is reacting to the US based of his experience with the CIA when he was a Mayor. He isn't a fan of the US and has highlighted the hypocrisy of the US many times and I know, they came out like rants full of curses. But he isn't exactly wrong. We've been a US ally since the US colonized us and yet after the damage of the was that was brought by being allies with the US, we've been left behind among our neighbouring countries. Being allies with the US hasn't really benefit us other than brought us more colonial mentality. There is nothing wrong with seeking other allies like China and Russia who are much more closer. I would rather our country go neutral than pick any sides.

If that's how you see us, please rethink your ideals. We were never a "lover" nor was "hate" so strong it caused us to loot our neighbors shops. From my perspective the people wanted the change, from ignorant and manipulated to knowledgeable and confident. We are in a transitional state. We used to "love" because we didn't know any better, and we "hate" because we finally caught up to the schemes and manipulation behind it. I don't particularly love or hate our current president but one thing is for sure, I respect the fact that he gave a platform and voice to the people who were unheard for a long time. And I despise that violence was one of our most drastic options. He was a spark that made the populace rediscover and redefine our identity even if it meant to disagree with allies that don't have respect for our sovereignty when worst are happening in their own country.

@UCITyZx8j8kDBmCyfRtcotXw "We all get the discipline part of your argument." -No, you do not, you picked one specific point that I did not even focus on and you dismissed everything else. "...but to be absolutely frank, you don't actually need to be a born and raised local to understand what is truly going on here in the Philippines." -Of course you would need to be born and raised here otherwise your perspective would be superficial just like those of Maria Ressa and Heydarian alike, both staunch anti-Duterte who shares mostly negative news about the Philippines to their international audience, both grew up outside of the Philippines, both having western-based mindsets, both hated by many locals. Do you know who labeled Mindanao as a war-torn area? What do you think was the impact on that? "This narrative you people keep pushing "people lack discipline" is such a backwards statement that doesn't actually zero in on the true problem.Lack of discipline is just the excuse to implement unjust and questionable methods of upholding the law. The true crime here is people like you, who stay blind from unthinkable mistakes and pass it up as "nobodys perfect" why dont you keep that same energy to your own people? You are aware of the ongoing corruption here in the philippines, correct?" -How convenient for you to accuse me when you yourself are very shortsighted with the whole problem. How much do you really understand the whole picture? How much do you really understand the culture from north to south? How much do you know of the attitudes of the people and how corruption has been enabled from the tiniest things starting from school organizations to Barangays? Those people will eventually carry that to their offices or to the Government agencies they served. Can you say for sure everyone in your clan is never guilty of any minor corruption? Do you think the problems can be fixed by a saintly person? Your idealism is cute but you need more books to read and less self-righteousness. You want to fix corruption? Help the Philippines shift to a parliamentary system where politicians can easily be accountable. Are you doing that? "I would assume that corruption within the govt has already been a problem way before you were born. Maybe you should shift your attention from the less fortunate and disadvantaged people to those who are in power.” -So, who do you think are the ones who are truly in power? Do you actually know? Have you done your part to really do your research, to dig deeper? Your projection and self-righteousness are really cute. "Have you seen the state of public versus private schools? The difference is lightyears. How do we keep children in school when we cannot even prioritize funds to improve the standard of comfort in public schools? Even if public school children get to finish their primary and secondary studies most couldnt even afford to continue in the collegiate level.” -Depends on the region. Actually, provincial public schools are performing better than those from NCR. Why do you think that is? "So, they work minimum wage jobs that you know damn well cant sustain a household of 2 or more people. So most blame them for not actually succeeding in life given the circumstances they deal with, shouldn't the blame go to the who run and control the system? Not the people.” -Nobody is blaming them for not actually succeeding in life and you can not depend on the Government to always spoon-feed you. There are several factors that contribute to the lack of discipline. 1.) The feeling of resignation that one is so little to change the outcome of their situation and their environment, hence the “Bahala na" attitude is rampant. 2.) The colonial mentality that breeds inferiority and a constant desire to be validated by outsiders, so, they focus on looking outside and devalues everything on the inside. 3.) The decades' impact of dumbing down the populace by the media. Again, who really runs the whole system? Do you really know? And do you know why I approved of ABS-CBN’s contract being discontinued? Why is Vietnam’s economy gaining speed recently but not ours? "No wonder most protesters are "spoiled rich kids" and "snowflakes" just to be labeled disruptors, terrorists and what not, when they are fighting for the wellbeing of the poor and unfortunate. Gising din.” -Yes, most protestors don’t know any better and a lot of them making noise is just that, making noise, they have not actually changed anything other than band-aid solutions, most of them are actually influenced by NPA ideology, which many from NCR dismiss because again, they don’t know any better and they don’t know what’s happening on the ground in the provinces with their Manila centric NCR based views/media. And yes, many spoiled rich kids are impressionable, just write an article about a farmer supposedly killed by the army and they believe it when it fact farmer was killed by private armies or NPA themselves. Yes, you don’t know how much of our media is infiltrated by NPA sympathizers and you do not know the impact of their destabilization on our country for many decades. Actually, the problem here is people like you who like to open your mouth but do not actually take the time to dig deep into the whole systemic problem. Take the time to dig deep instead of projecting your frustrations on me. We can agree that we both want the same thing for the Philippines, that we want the poverty gap closed and people to enjoy a great quality of life. There are many things the country needs to fix, first one is security, those rebels need to go, you can’t educate people when security is always at risk. Our restricted FDI’s are not allowing more investors to our country. Our Government system is limiting the provinces to improve as they always have to wait for their National budget, hence a Parliament Federal Government would be better for the Philippines to allow provinces to develop their areas and lessen the number of people flocking NCR. And lastly, this colonial mentality needs to go, Filipinos need a strong identity by knowing their true history, not the whitewashed history fed to us by our colonizers or those by NED/CIA or western-based media. That’s the best way you can uplift people. So, ikaw, gising ka ba tagala?

@UCYBX4xFue6K_ej16vjSEVuA Well, if your religion constantly tells you that it's a sin and constantly threatens to exclude you from your church community/society and guilts you about it since birth, that would not be surprising. Some people can't handle cognitive dissonance and can't get out of the religious brainwashing. Blame the religion that was forced upon the people, not the people themselves.

@Octavia Maligning me as a white, imperialistic, American is such a sleazy means of not arguing the facts, especially when you are vehemently defending a man who has publicly endorsed the summary execution of suspected or alleged rebels and/or drug dealers - an extreme violation of human rights - is grounds to reject your defense of this murderer in its totality. The absurdity of your ad homenin attack is that I prefaced my criticism of your President by acknowledging my opposition to American hegemony and in no way criticized China. What I did imply is that your President is using the Phillipines' position in-between a rock and a hard place as the means of striking fear in the hearts of Filipino people and the means to consolidate his power. The irony is that my brief note of more than a year ago was a statement of soldarity with the people of the Philippines in this time of transition and turmoil.

I agree. It's amazing how he delivered it.

This is a meaningless comment.

I agree... Ted Talk needs more Filipino speaker, because they are really authentic.

Same with Native tribes in the U.S. Before colonialism multiple genders were recognized

🤔

Would you expand on your comment? Thanks.

@@JohnHlavaty in reference to the talked, he mentioned that the Philippines has no written history not until it was discovered by the Spaniards. Spanish historians started describing how gender neutral the first settlers in the Island. In Spanish record few male settlers would wear what Spaniards describe as feminine clothing and there are also males who performs female jobs and treated as female individuals. In persuit of colonization, Spaniards started imposing what gender should be in accordance to their norm. So the gender in the Philippines is more likely imposed rather than constructed. The infos (historical references) was based from the video.

Self righteois Religious people

@@rainb5987 fr, it sucks

listen to what? idiocracy?

Of you're interested. I suggest you study about the precolonial Filipinos and how the Spanish government changed them

@@engr.nemuelobas4923 Do you have any recommended resources?

👍

That's deep afk

Part of the story was actually the explanation, why Filipinas are on top 10 or 20(It depends which year) in gender equality. Top 1 in Asia. Before the Spaniards came, women were on the same level as men.

Being proud of your race doesn't make sense. What you should be proud of are your achievements. Is being born in your race your achievement? Did you have control over it?

It's more like being proud to continue the traditions and way of life and values upheld by your people in the past. It is about keeping history alive in yourself.

@@Xtoffer87 filipino is a nationality not race as that would be asian. Either way, nothing wrong with being proud with it as well as ashamed of it depending on the situation.

For me, I am not proud anymore. Yes, I am proud of who we were. In today's time? Nahhhh. Since many rich people want to take control of the country, many thirst for power, not minding why they are in their position, some are taking it as an advantage. Kahit noon pa sa panahon ni Rizal, wala tayong pagkakaisa. Katulad tayo ng ating mga isla, watak-watak. At dahil doon, kahit kaunti lang ang presensya ng mga kastila, nahimok parin nila tayong kontrolin ng tatlong daan talumpu't tatlong taon. Isa sa mga hangad ni Rizal ay alalahanin sana natin kung sino tayo, yung mga Pilipino na masisipag, matalino, hindi uto-uto, matapang. Pero wala eh. Sarili lang ang iniisip natin.

@@engr.nemuelobas4923 ganoon talaga ang tao kahit saang bansa ka pumunta. May varying shades of greed be it good or bad. Even with the current situation, I am thankful that we only have a fewer cases than some 1st world countries and fewer deaths compared to our population density.

www.glaad.org/blog/glaads-2018-accelerating-acceptance-report-shows-alarming-decline-lgbtq-acceptance

they're at odds with themselves

@@NockyBoober lol gotta love the irony, also I wonder if the op noticed thier own hypocrisy?.

@Scribbli Chheery This is often said in response to "homophobia", too, but it's not merely "dislike" if your concern with it extends beyond yourself. I'm sure there are many things that you "dislike" but make no effort to attack, bully, or even have a public opinion about. Trans/homophobia is often the irrational fear that it "spreads" like a disease, that acceptance will make it more common. Homophobes, for instance, often claim that children who see it on TV will decide that they can also be homosexual -- though one wonders why this doesn't work with seeing heterosexuality on TV. It's both irrational and a fear.

@@Starcrash6984 I don't believe that's the case. In their battle (an unfortunate word, but accurate enough) for acceptance they instigate resistance. They don't ask or argue to be accepted, they demand it, sometimes by actual force. They know the reality in which they live, how saturated it is with religion and steeped in close-mindedness. This is not a climate for war, this is a climate for dialog. Not for the rape and pillage of cultural icons as the canvas of their message, but for the display of their virtue through compassion. Think Ghandi, not Geghis Khan. I believe their cause will be much better felt and accepted this way, rather than the unfortunate way they have chosen.

shucks binilang mo? 👍

gender fluid, as in they kill all no matter the gender Duterte answe to coffee, "shoot them dead"

Why are you gay?

@Herr Reid's Underling • 69 years ago ok boomer

Why are there people, who think that being themselves is not revolutionary. - I bet they want to be somebody else 🙄 What a...

Filipino woman

@@barnobarno5403 You need to ask yourself why you're triggered. lol

Yes we certainly do

same

Baka emosyonal kang tao

coz u gay, bruh

You aren't a race, you are a country!

@@caitgems1 i meant. the malay race where filipinos belong

@@caitgems1 and our country is the philippines btw

@@jonpadrejuan5357 The inhabitants/citizens of the Philippines do not belong to a specifically exclusive race. Even before malays/austronesians migrated to the Philippines, there are already a wide variety of ethnic groups and races living in the Philippines islands.

@@tropturd6458 and it is definitely a race and not a country. thanks for sharing.

Close-minded people. 🤷🏽‍♀️

cerrrrtain demographic gets their jimmies rustled merely by the mentioning of such words as "gender-fluid" xd :/

Because it's gay

@@barnobarno5403 Lol, found the hater.

@@shivatrashakti9419 nah, you just find a Guy who hasn't lost his Common Sense

Hi may ask if you did a reflection paper?

Uh huh. cars, internet, skyscrapers at eroplano ganern?

@@creestee08 Are you an ìdìot? Of course, he was referring to gender equality because that's the topic being discussed in the video.

True we were colonized by dilawans. During Marcos era we were rich after that wala na

@@wooeidikd9412 According to golden kuhol?

@@rainb5987 Marcos era was the golden era and they also respected the LGBT. Even the whole Marcos family supports the LGBT. It was the fault of Cory Aquino that LGBT became stigmatized :(.

Yes, although I’m personally trying to figure out what the difference was. My current theory is that masculinity is defined by hunting/fighting and providing immediate needs while femininity is defined by wisdom, spirituality, and making wise decisions about how those resources provided by men should be allocated/used (women were often more trade savvy). What seemed to be praised was flexibility because of our creation myth being bamboo centric (bamboo is flexible; bends but doesn’t break; it survives the hottest of droughts and harshest of typhoons; it stands proud and tall but when the wind blows it bows down) men and women were created when a giant bird, Bathala, split bamboo. One side emerged man, the other side woman. Feminine men were celebrated fs (but I’d assume the same of masculine women) I assume because they were flexible and had the traits of both genders. What this video does miss is that male/trans fem babaylan wielded swords even though they didn’t fight.

It's fluid. It means you can be either masculine, feminine or in between. You can even change the mixture (80% masc and 20% fem) or even change it during your lifetime. In short, it's not rigid.

* Comments 3 minutes after the video was uploaded *

Cause idea of video is stupid and doesn't match TED format?

@@VytautasLDK how so?

For the same reason a bunch of idiots downvoted this.

@@VytautasLDK Or, alternately, you're stupid.

they were oddities? OUUCHHHHHH MAY GOOOOOOD AAAAAAAAAAHH OOOOH MY GOOOOD

I agree. They interpret it according to their beliefs and agenda.

Hope the Philippines won't go w0ke. A man is a man, a woman is a woman. It's in your DNA. You can identify as whatever you like but you can't change biology. More importantly don't force people to participate in your delusions.

Um, they're all dead by now. Hate to break it to ya.

@@GhastlyCretin traditions and values are still alive among some, maybe many as a part of their culture. the speaker is one example (sigh)

@@spotlessmind7681 Sure, all traditions from the ancient world like child sacrifice are awesome and should be kept alive and considered holy because... old.

@@GhastlyCretin off topic

@@spotlessmind7681 No it's not.

Inclusive meaning kahit yung ayaw sa lgbt e kasama pa rin?

English is taught in many Filipino schools. I went when I was fourteen and my younger cousins spoke a lot of english, with some accent, but wide vocabulary.

the language also reflects gender fluidity. It always fascinated me that all our pronouns are neutral and you have to emphasize the gender if you need to.

> I wish this was much longer. I bet you get told that alot

It should be both LGBT and women since babaylan represents both feminism and lgbt movement.