SHAME

In the poem Shame I noticed one of the major Filipino cultural values defined as “Hiya” which means shame. “Hiya” in the Filipino cultural value is the goal to represent oneself or one’s family in the most honorably way where the individual wants to avoid shame by acting respectably. In the 2^nd verse until the 4^th says that “You’re an embarrassment when you show up here dressed in those torn up and faded shorts….” Her look for the Filipino people around her is not respectably as she saw herself. She may not recognize her look from the Filipino who are belong to the 1^st generation that have values more remarked on their identity. The co-workers of her mother usually ask “Who’s that?” “Who, that? That’s my daughter.” (9). In this quote she is manifested as the daughter and this shows that she belong to the Filipino 2^nd generation (Filipino people who were born in the U.S).

This might be the reason why her values were not developed as the 1^st generation. Growing up in the U.S may decrease her sense of how important is the Filipino values. American culture had shaped on how she was dressed and not giving to much importance on the Filipino value of “Hiya”. Filipino people who are in the 1^st generation have the Filipino values more strict in their identities because since they were a child they have developed this sense in their identities. Filipino Americans who are belong to the 2^nd generation don’t have this values well shaped in their identities because they practice both cultures and that’s why they don’t Filipino values well developed. Filipino 1^st generation have Filipino cultural values more strict than the Filipino American who belong to the 2^nd generation.