You, Tu, Sie, Vous, Jums, 君...

In the English class lecture I read a poem written by Kevin Nadal called Ikaw. This poem was focused on Filipino history and experiences when they were colonized by Spain, United States of America and when Filipino came to the U.S looking for a better life. “You called me a negrito when you invaded my country”. In this quote it shows how Filipino people were beaten and mistreated even they were in their proper land. Only unmoral people can prey on the weak. It shows how Filipinos who fought in the World War II weren’t recognized by their efforts such as Philip Vera Cruz and Joseph Ileto. “Life is all right in American, if you’re a White in America”, even though 2.4 million pinoys and pinays died and fought for that country, they were excluded to live as Whites in that dream. It really shows the oppression that the first Filipino immigrants came to the U.S.

Basically the author wanted to transmit his emotions for those Americans who mistreated Filipinos in the Philippines and Filipino who went in the U.S. He expressed all those unfair treatments that they did to the Filipino community. He extracted all those negative emotions where he felt really sad and bad. I felt the madness and sadness in his writing. By reading I could feel if I were a Filipino in that moment. I learned about Filipino role with the U.S and how they were treated. I always thought that the U.S people really helped Philippines, but in the other side there was a darkness that I never knew since I read this.

This poem was really interesting because the author really transmitted his emotions and I felt identified to it because of being Filipino. Even the message of his madness and sadness was not for me I encouraged to treat the people around me with kindness and showing respect to them. 

MABUHAY PILIPINAS!