ArchiveThe physical characteristics of Filipinos
Written by Ranniel L. Zinampan Monday, 31 December 2001 00:00
Our bloody and often violent history has shown that only the strong survive, and that the weak ones died out a long time ago. Not only did our ancestors face countless foreign invaders, but they also had to face the ever changing unpredictable weather. The weather is responsible for our physical traits. The weather decides how we look, how dark or light we get, our sizes, and our survival. In the last 3 thousand years, the rugged landscape of the Philippines has change many times over. The climate became hotter and dyer because of the receding rain forest. The water level rose several times because of melting glaciers from the last Ice Age.
The Aetas, who are the very first FIlipino natives, are very scared of the sea. These archaic people say that the Philippines were plagued by a series of floods, that last for centuries at a time. 2 thousand years of migration by Indonesian and Malay tribes also supported this claim. The Riouw archipelago connected the Malay peninsula to Indonesia and the Philippines. These now sunken routes were the cradle of our society. One can only imagine what our ancestors went through as the water level rose dramaticly. We can assume that this was a major disaster in our early history.
When the floods came, many couldn't make it to higher grounds in time, thus many drowned. Still, these floods lasted for centuries at a time. I honestly believe that most of the fat and heavy people died out in just a few years. In times of tragedies, natural selection favors those who can adapt very quickly. In this case, one can imagine that short and thin people who can swim well must have survived. Being on the sea like today, would earn you a nice tan. In time as the weather became more pleasant, the survivors passed on their characteristics to their descendants.
In the rugged jungles and coast of the Philippines, short, thin, and dark people have a great advantage. They can run through the jungle much quicker, making them very good hunters. On the coast, they became expert swimmers, making them good seamen and fishermen. Their dark features provived protection from the sun. These traits led to higher reproductive rates. When the Spaniards arrived years later, they described the natives as being short, dark, and skinny. They called the natives, monkeys.
Many Filipinos picked up the habit of looking down on their brothers and sisters. Today, no matter how you look, you cannot deny that your ancestors had these physical characteristics. Many of you still have these traits. But to those who don't........Just because you think you look better doesn't give you the right to insult your own people.
When you disrespect the traits of your ancestors, you are only insulting yourself. Go visit your grandparents and tell them they are ugly because they are short, dark, and thin. Or at least try to learn more about yourself and your people. You will soon discover the cause of your ignorance. And to all the Filipinos who are ashamed of their features... Look deep inside and you will find a survivor. Underneath your superficial features, you will truly discover who you are. A person who deserves love, respect and understanding. Know who you are, where you came from, and where you're going. And regardless of all this, you are Filipino for life.
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