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Pearl of the Orient : Bahala Na! |
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Tuesday, 30 September 2008 |
By Tiara Bacon
Language is the reservoir of a culture.
 This statement has been ingrained in my mind my whole college
life. The state university from which I came from proudly uses the Filipino
language as a medium of instruction. My teachers always say that for one to
know and understand one’s culture, the language must be studied. And if one
wants to perpetuate his culture then he must use his native language. Some
teachers would go so far as to say that the reason we are fragmented as a people
is because we do not use our language.In the course of my undergraduate studies I have come across the interesting concept of “Bahala na”. Bahala na is an expression often used by Filipinos. I remember from my Filipino Psychology class that the concept is believed to be indigenous to the Philippines. When a concept is indigenous, it means that the concept is innately or naturally originating from a particular culture. It also means that the concept is rarely or might not even be found in any other culture.
Who uses the expression and when is it used? The student who wasn’t able to study for a major exam will enter the examination room saying, “Bahala na!” The professional will leave his family and travel to an unknown country in search of greener pastures saying, “Bahala na!” The unwed mother will choose to keep her baby despite criticisms saying, “Bahala na!”
Filipino psychologists studied the etymology of the concept of “Bahala na” and found out that Filipinos use it when they are uncertain of something, yet they still choose to push through with a decision. It is believed that the concept is actually a contraction of “ipag-sa kay Bathala na” or roughly translated “leave it up to the gods”. Some say that this shows the Filipino’s fatalistic nature. Others say it shows the Filipino’s faith. Either way, it shows the Filipino language’s capacity to explain the Filipino culture and psyche.
The expression Bahala na shows the Filipinos’ belief in the spiritual realm and in the capabilities of the gods to pull through when mortals find themselves lacking or incapable of doing something. Should the Filipino Christian be using the expression? Not in its truest sense because the Christian believes not just in any god but in the one true God – the Creator of heaven and earth, Alpha and Omega, Yahweh the great I AM. It is only fit that we walk by faith, in the firm belief that nothing is impossible with our God. He isn’t just any god the ancients used to worship. He is the only God from beginning to end. He is a personal God who knows our individual needs.
As rich as the language may be or however capable it may be in explaining our culture as a people, let us move away from fatalism to deep faith, from unknown gods to the God who knows us by name. Only then will we find ourselves as individuals and as a people.
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