Module 1- Janelle Funtanilla

Summary:
Nailed- This film depicted how devoted some people in the Philippines are to their religion (Catholicism). It followed a festival during holy week where people take part in various festivities to celebrate their fate. An extreme example of this is when a young woman in the film is voluntarily nailed to a cross as a re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Other people participated in self-flagellation. There are also non-Christian related activities such as slaughtering of animals that occur during the festival.

Bontoc Eulogy- Tells the story of native Filipinos brought as an exhibit for the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. The narrator follows the story of Markod, who is an Igorot, who was brought to the fair. Many of the tribes met for the first time on fair grounds, and to keep them from fighting was an “army” of other Filipino men who dressed like and acted under the white men. Many “white” people came to see the Filipinos for they seemed exotic, yet they were ignorant to the fact that many were separated from their families.

Reaction:
Nailed- I thought it was really weird and could not understand why a person would volunteer to re-enact the crucifixion of Christ. However, I realized they do it because they are totally devoted to God. They do it to show their love for god. In the Philippines religion is a dominant aspect in the natives’ lifestyles. It isn’t regarded as irrelevant, and most people are totally devoted to their religion. Religion is definitely a part of their culture. Therefore, when living their lives they include their culture (religion) in it as much as possible. Celebrating festivals like the one shown in the film is as important to them as celebrating holidays here in the United States. They do not see their sacrifice as an extreme show of devotion as we do here in the United States. They see it as a necessary part of their culture.

Bontoc Eulogy- This is very unfortunate that people were exploited this way. It shows how ignorant the people were at the Worlds Fair. By putting people on display in “exhibits” lessens them from people to likening them to animals. This fair reminds me of zoos where animals are held in captivity for humans to gawk at. In my opinion it was very unethical use people as exhibits. No matter the need for learning about a certain people, people should not be subjected to that type of treatment. It was totally disrespectful to show case them like they are part of the circus. The fair was not done as a way to appreciate cultural differences but a way to display the extreme differences in the cultures of mankind.