Still Confined by the Past?

Asstudents, we frequently questioned the value of historical study and its relevance to the programs we were taking, as well as our peers. And like us, Klay, the protagonist of the teleserye “Maria Clara at Ibarra,” questioned her professor about the significance and applicability of learning “Noli Me Tangere” to her nursing program. Her lecturer then assigns her to write a reaction paper about “Noli Me Tangere” as a form of punishment for dozing off in class and not paying enough attention to the minor subject. However, she didn’t complete the paper and ended up plagiarizing. The professor offered her a second chance to complete the assignment and gave her an old book, which is how she came to be in the story. She is initially perplexed as a member of Gen Z who encounters the Philippines in 1800’s before realizing that she is actually inside the novel. As the novel

SHIEKAIRRAH JASMEN VELASCO

continues, it addresses the social ills that exist, but it raises the question of how far we have come from our historical baggage.

Episode 1: Babae Kami Hindi Babae Lang

For the women, the Spanish colonial was a horror. They were denied the right to an education, and ignored their opinion. One of Crisostomo Ibarra’s friends noted in a scene from the teleserye that while a calm, obedient woman is a blessing to men, an educated woman gives them headaches. Yet once Klay, a Gen Z who opposes misogyny, replied, “Intelligence has nothing to do with one’s gender. Everyone— men, women, children, even the rich and the poor—has that basic human right to education”, and Ibarra’s friend was left dumbfounded. Women today enjoy the same privileges as men in our generation. They are entitled to an education, and their opinions are not ignored. Laws that protect women from mistreatment and rape also exist. Although women are treated better than they were in the past, we are still not free from a misogynist society. Due to their gender, women are still subjected to discrimination, stereotypes, sexual harassment, and mistrust. And before being accepted, they still have to show their capability, particularly in the areas of leadership and the workforce because the conventional opinion in society is that “Babae ka lang” and you cannot do much. Because “Maria Clara at Ibarra” has been so successful in promoting “Abante Babae,” our generation is gradually starting to understand that women ought to receive the respect and consideration they rightfully deserve because babae kami hindi babae lang.

Episode 2: Ang Kawalangkatarungan Saanman Ay Banta Sa Hustisya Sa Lahat ng Dako

We are aware of the influence friars had throughout the Spanish colonial period because it was depicted in a scene from the television program in which Don Rafael, the father of Ibarra, was jailed for defending a kid from a vicious government tax collector. The fight ended with the tax collector hitting his head on a rock and passing away. Padre Damaso falsely accused him, destroyed his good name and reputation. Don Rafael passed away in jail as he waits helplessly for justice to be served.

Many people are currently in prison like Don Rafael as a result of the flawed justice system. Due process of law only seems to benefit the wealthy, while ordinary citizens risk losing their freedom due to unproven accusations and prejudices. Some people must wait years before they can successfully defend themselves in court, while others pass away before they even have the chance. We could not deny that the wealthy use their wealth to get out of their charges while the ordinary citizens suffer despite being unfairly accused. Several of them died while they waited for justice to be served, just like Don Rafael.

As these scenes were shown in the teleserye, our generation became aware that the injustice in our nation is a terminal illness with no known cure. But until the powerful finally listened to us, this teleserye served as a platform for us to express our concerns about the flawed justice system.

Episode 3: Ang Hindi Pagkakapantay-pantay Ay Hindi Tungkol Sa Kung Sino Ang May Kaalaman; Ito Ay Tungkol Sa Kung Sino Ang May Kapangyarihan.

In the teleserye, Fidel once said, “Tama ang isang prayleng laging nagsasabing likas na tamad talaga ang mga indio kaya’t sila’y naghihirap,” asserting that the rich works harder than the poor, making them more deserving of their status. But Klay, a Gen Z icon who doesn’t put up with that sort of nonsense, strikes back and makes the case that the reason why the poor are still poor is that the wealthy and powerful don’t fairly compensate them for their labor.

We continue to be caught in social inequality. The wealthy are getting richer while the underprivileged are going poorer. It’s not that the underprivileged are lazy; rather, it’s because unjust labor practices are still being at play. Similar to what Klay encountered in her part-time waitressing job, some companies fail to fairly compensate their staff members and others fail to provide the benefits to which those workers are legally entitled. Ibarra was correct when he emphasized that the change should start with the powerful people because not all wealthy are influential and the only people with the ability to change it are those with power.

This teleserye scene educates Gen Z about the reality that some workers do not receive the correct benefits and salary that they are entitled to, and this scene also makes the teleserye a platform to voice out issues like these that the powerful should take notice of.

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Maria Clara at Ibarra provides us with an answer to the question of why history is essential, and that is it serves as a constant reminder of our previous struggles, especially since they still exist and continue to have an impact on many of us. Although we have made great strides in removing our historical baggage, we are still not completely free from it.