Exploring Vietnamese and Filipino Language of Self: In Search of a Shared Identity within an Imagined ASEAN Community

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a group of ten nations in the Southeast Asian region, is building a strong socio-cultural community that aims to unite 650 million people under one regional identity. While this endeavor continues to remain a dream rather than a reality, the organization...

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Main Author: Rayhan Khayr Hamad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: College of Liberal Arts, San Beda College 2022-03-01
Series:Scientia
Subjects:
Online Access:https://scientia-sanbeda.org/index.php/scientia/article/view/8
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author Rayhan Khayr Hamad
author_facet Rayhan Khayr Hamad
author_sort Rayhan Khayr Hamad
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description The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a group of ten nations in the Southeast Asian region, is building a strong socio-cultural community that aims to unite 650 million people under one regional identity. While this endeavor continues to remain a dream rather than a reality, the organization is working hard to ensure its success. At the moment, institutional markers, blueprints, and policies symbolize the existence of the ASEAN identity. But beyond that, it is still hard to see how the myriad of people living in this diverse region can begin to identify themselves as ASEAN citizens. The path to making this dream a reality is still a work in progress. And although its success is uncertain, one thing remains true - the millions of people living in this part of the world cannot be simply coerced to assume an identity through policies and mere symbols. This article aims to contribute to the discourse on ASEAN identity by exploring an area that could potentially provide the impetus for Filipinos and Vietnamese to begin seeing each other as part of the same social group. The Philippines and Vietnam are two countries which at first glance seem to lack many cultural and social commonalities. For that reason, the language of “self” in both countries will be explored to establish a shared identity between Filipinos and Vietnamese. This will not only strengthen mutual understanding of cultures but also provide a starting point upon which we can reexamine our connections within the region. Although our ASEAN is but an imagined community, the acceptance of shared identities among its diverse population can be the glue that will bind us into one collective identity. Similar research undertakings exploring not so salient topics can enhance the discourse on ASEAN identity and help us move beyond the current conundrum in establishing our regional identity.   References Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. Verso, 1991. ASEAN Secretariat. The ASEAN Charter, 2008. ASEAN Secretariat. “Understanding How Young People See ASEAN, Awareness, Values and Identity.” (2021). https://asean.org/book/understanding-how-young-people-see-asean-awareness-values-and-identity-full-version/. Archaya, Amitav. The Making of Southeast Asia, International Relations of a Region. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (2012). Archaya, A. “The Evolution and Limitations of ASEAN Identity.” Building ASEAN Community: Political–Security and Socio-Cultural Reflections, (2017). https://www.eria.org/ASEAN_at_50_Vol_4_Full_Report.pdf. Accessed 5 Dec. 2021. Aquino, Clemen. “Mula sa Kinaroroonan: Kapwa, Kapatiran and Bayan in Philippine Social Science.” Asian Journal of Social Science, vol. 32, no.1 (2004). 105–139. Dela Cruz, Luisito. “The Language of the Self: A Critical Assessment of Filipino Philosophy.” Scientia, vol. 4.2 (2015). 144–171. Đoàn Cẩm Thi. “Expressions of the Self in Vietnam: Usage of ‘I’ throughout Literature in nôm and in quốc ngữ.” SOJOURN: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia, Vol. 36, No. 1 (2021). 40–67. Hà Văn Tấn. "Reflections on Vietnamese History and Systems of Thought." Half a Century of Vietnamese Studies: Spiritual Life, special issue of Vietnamese Studies, vol. 200, no. 2 (2016). 7-15. (First published in Vietnamese Studies, no. 94, 1989), Hữu Ngọc. "Ho Chi Minh and Western Cultural Values." Half a Century of Vietnamese Studies: Spiritual Life, special issue of Vietnamese Studies, vol. 200, no. 2, 2016, pp. 102-112. (First published in Vietnamese Studies, no. 71, 1983). Marr, David. “Concepts of 'Individual' and 'Self' in Twentieth-Century Vietnam.” Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 34, no. 4 (2000). 769-796. Neville, Fergus G., et al. “Shared Social Identity Transforms Social Relations in Imaginary Crowds.” Group Processes and Intergroup Relations (2020). 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430220936759. Nguyễn Khắc Viện. "National Traditions and Revolutionary Struggle in Viet Nam." Half a Century of Vietnamese Studies, special issue of Vietnamese Studies, vol. 199, no. 1 (2016) 29-34. (First published in Vietnamese Studies, No.21, 1968). Nguyễn Thanh Huyền, "A Typical Characteristic of the Vietnamese People’s Psychic Life." Half a Century of Vietnamese Studies, special issue of Vietnamese Studies, vol. 199, no. 1 (2016). 59-83. (first published in Vietnamese Studies, No. 113, 1994). Pe-Pua Rogelia and Elizabeth Protacio-Marcelino. “Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino Psychology): A legacy of Virgilio G. Enriquez.” Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 3 (2000). 49-71. Stanley R., and James Lawton Collins. Allied Participation in Vietnam. Dept. of the Army, 1975. The Philippines’ Relationship with ASEAN. ASEAN Briefing, https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/philippines-relationship-asean/ Thế Hùng. "Thien Buddhism." Half a Century of Vietnamese Studies: Spiritual Life, special issue of Vietnamese Studies, vol. 200, no. 2 (2016) 54-77. (First published in Vietnamese Studies, no. 56, 1979). Toshifumi, Hirata. “Citizenship Education in Member Countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.” Regional Contexts and Citizenship Education in Asian and Europe, edited by Kerry Kennedy and Andreas Brunold, Routledge, New York (2016). 89–106. Vietnam Welcomes 'South China Sea' Ruling.” VNExpress International, July 12, 2016, https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vietnam-welcomes-south-china-sea-ruling-3435294.html.
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spelling doaj.art-77821648d35d4adf81e02b50ed1f681e2022-12-22T02:23:29ZengCollege of Liberal Arts, San Beda CollegeScientia2546-194X2022-03-0111110.57106/scientia.v11i1.8Exploring Vietnamese and Filipino Language of Self: In Search of a Shared Identity within an Imagined ASEAN CommunityRayhan Khayr Hamad The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a group of ten nations in the Southeast Asian region, is building a strong socio-cultural community that aims to unite 650 million people under one regional identity. While this endeavor continues to remain a dream rather than a reality, the organization is working hard to ensure its success. At the moment, institutional markers, blueprints, and policies symbolize the existence of the ASEAN identity. But beyond that, it is still hard to see how the myriad of people living in this diverse region can begin to identify themselves as ASEAN citizens. The path to making this dream a reality is still a work in progress. And although its success is uncertain, one thing remains true - the millions of people living in this part of the world cannot be simply coerced to assume an identity through policies and mere symbols. This article aims to contribute to the discourse on ASEAN identity by exploring an area that could potentially provide the impetus for Filipinos and Vietnamese to begin seeing each other as part of the same social group. The Philippines and Vietnam are two countries which at first glance seem to lack many cultural and social commonalities. For that reason, the language of “self” in both countries will be explored to establish a shared identity between Filipinos and Vietnamese. This will not only strengthen mutual understanding of cultures but also provide a starting point upon which we can reexamine our connections within the region. Although our ASEAN is but an imagined community, the acceptance of shared identities among its diverse population can be the glue that will bind us into one collective identity. Similar research undertakings exploring not so salient topics can enhance the discourse on ASEAN identity and help us move beyond the current conundrum in establishing our regional identity.   References Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. Verso, 1991. ASEAN Secretariat. The ASEAN Charter, 2008. ASEAN Secretariat. “Understanding How Young People See ASEAN, Awareness, Values and Identity.” (2021). https://asean.org/book/understanding-how-young-people-see-asean-awareness-values-and-identity-full-version/. Archaya, Amitav. The Making of Southeast Asia, International Relations of a Region. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (2012). Archaya, A. “The Evolution and Limitations of ASEAN Identity.” Building ASEAN Community: Political–Security and Socio-Cultural Reflections, (2017). https://www.eria.org/ASEAN_at_50_Vol_4_Full_Report.pdf. Accessed 5 Dec. 2021. Aquino, Clemen. “Mula sa Kinaroroonan: Kapwa, Kapatiran and Bayan in Philippine Social Science.” Asian Journal of Social Science, vol. 32, no.1 (2004). 105–139. Dela Cruz, Luisito. “The Language of the Self: A Critical Assessment of Filipino Philosophy.” Scientia, vol. 4.2 (2015). 144–171. Đoàn Cẩm Thi. “Expressions of the Self in Vietnam: Usage of ‘I’ throughout Literature in nôm and in quốc ngữ.” SOJOURN: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia, Vol. 36, No. 1 (2021). 40–67. Hà Văn Tấn. "Reflections on Vietnamese History and Systems of Thought." Half a Century of Vietnamese Studies: Spiritual Life, special issue of Vietnamese Studies, vol. 200, no. 2 (2016). 7-15. (First published in Vietnamese Studies, no. 94, 1989), Hữu Ngọc. "Ho Chi Minh and Western Cultural Values." Half a Century of Vietnamese Studies: Spiritual Life, special issue of Vietnamese Studies, vol. 200, no. 2, 2016, pp. 102-112. (First published in Vietnamese Studies, no. 71, 1983). Marr, David. “Concepts of 'Individual' and 'Self' in Twentieth-Century Vietnam.” Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 34, no. 4 (2000). 769-796. Neville, Fergus G., et al. “Shared Social Identity Transforms Social Relations in Imaginary Crowds.” Group Processes and Intergroup Relations (2020). 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430220936759. Nguyễn Khắc Viện. "National Traditions and Revolutionary Struggle in Viet Nam." Half a Century of Vietnamese Studies, special issue of Vietnamese Studies, vol. 199, no. 1 (2016) 29-34. (First published in Vietnamese Studies, No.21, 1968). Nguyễn Thanh Huyền, "A Typical Characteristic of the Vietnamese People’s Psychic Life." Half a Century of Vietnamese Studies, special issue of Vietnamese Studies, vol. 199, no. 1 (2016). 59-83. (first published in Vietnamese Studies, No. 113, 1994). Pe-Pua Rogelia and Elizabeth Protacio-Marcelino. “Sikolohiyang Pilipino (Filipino Psychology): A legacy of Virgilio G. Enriquez.” Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 3 (2000). 49-71. Stanley R., and James Lawton Collins. Allied Participation in Vietnam. Dept. of the Army, 1975. The Philippines’ Relationship with ASEAN. ASEAN Briefing, https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/philippines-relationship-asean/ Thế Hùng. "Thien Buddhism." Half a Century of Vietnamese Studies: Spiritual Life, special issue of Vietnamese Studies, vol. 200, no. 2 (2016) 54-77. (First published in Vietnamese Studies, no. 56, 1979). Toshifumi, Hirata. “Citizenship Education in Member Countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.” Regional Contexts and Citizenship Education in Asian and Europe, edited by Kerry Kennedy and Andreas Brunold, Routledge, New York (2016). 89–106. Vietnam Welcomes 'South China Sea' Ruling.” VNExpress International, July 12, 2016, https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vietnam-welcomes-south-china-sea-ruling-3435294.html. https://scientia-sanbeda.org/index.php/scientia/article/view/8ASEANASEAN identityVietnamPhilippineslanguage of self
spellingShingle Rayhan Khayr Hamad
Exploring Vietnamese and Filipino Language of Self: In Search of a Shared Identity within an Imagined ASEAN Community
Scientia
ASEAN
ASEAN identity
Vietnam
Philippines
language of self
title Exploring Vietnamese and Filipino Language of Self: In Search of a Shared Identity within an Imagined ASEAN Community
title_full Exploring Vietnamese and Filipino Language of Self: In Search of a Shared Identity within an Imagined ASEAN Community
title_fullStr Exploring Vietnamese and Filipino Language of Self: In Search of a Shared Identity within an Imagined ASEAN Community
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Vietnamese and Filipino Language of Self: In Search of a Shared Identity within an Imagined ASEAN Community
title_short Exploring Vietnamese and Filipino Language of Self: In Search of a Shared Identity within an Imagined ASEAN Community
title_sort exploring vietnamese and filipino language of self in search of a shared identity within an imagined asean community
topic ASEAN
ASEAN identity
Vietnam
Philippines
language of self
url https://scientia-sanbeda.org/index.php/scientia/article/view/8
work_keys_str_mv AT rayhankhayrhamad exploringvietnameseandfilipinolanguageofselfinsearchofasharedidentitywithinanimaginedaseancommunity