Status Updates From Sikodiwa: Revisiting Filipi...

Done and completed at May 30, 2026 🔥

The final chapter is the book at its most philosophical. It reflects on what it means to be a human being, arguing that being human is not separate from the self, kapwa, kalikasan, and the world around us. A fitting conclusion that sees identity not as an individual experience, but as something shaped by our relationships, community, beliefs, and environment.

Chapter 9 feels like the point where the author finally takes a stand. It reframes many “toxic” Filipino traits through a colonial lens, arguing that context matters. One of the more thought-provoking chapters so far.

Chapter 8 offers an interesting critique of modern self-care, privilege, and the dreams we pursue. Its strongest ideas are thought-provoking, though the chapter covers so much ground that some discussions feel underexplored.

Chapter 7 was the easiest and most enjoyable chapter to read so far. It explores the stories, beliefs, and traditions many of us grew up with from folklore and spirituality to tabi-tabi po and concepts like gaba. I appreciated how the chapter connects these beliefs to our tendency to find meaning in the world. Reading it felt like revisiting childhood memories and seeing them explained through a cultural lens.