The question of alien and nation: An interview with Charlson Ong on Banyaga: A song of war
Date of Publication
2009
Document Type
Bachelor's Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts in Literature
Subject Categories
Comparative Literature
College
College of Liberal Arts
Department/Unit
Literature
Thesis Adviser
Shirley O. Lua
Defense Panel Chair
David Jonathan Y. Bayot
Defense Panel Member
Ronald Baytan
Abstract/Summary
Although the Chinese and the Chinese-Filipinos have been in existence within Philippine shores since time immemorial, they still face the daunting task of belonging to a community that continues to possess xenophobic mindsets and stereotypes. Through an interview with Chinese-Filipino writer Charlson Ong, this thesis explores how the alien and the nation are articulated in his second Banyaga: A Song of War. It sheds light on the authors personal and literary influences, his thoughts on Chinese-Filipino literature, and how he has used his novel to intellectually problematize the alienated stance and foreign-ness of the Chinese and the Chinese-Filipino characters in his novel. Ong asserts how the banyaga figure is not necessarily always the foreigner and that being an alien stems from a personal mindset that is eventually heightened by the society, as demonstrated by the sworn brotherhood and the generation gap. This thesis greatly contributes to those who wish to further study the works of Charlson Ong or other Chinese-Filipino writers through a recommendation that encourages future researchers to critically study other Chinese-Filipino writings and explore how such writings depict, re-construct, or perhaps interrogate the stance of the Chinese-Filipino at present.
Abstract Format
html
Language
English
Format
Accession Number
TU15490
Shelf Location
Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F, Henry Sy Sr. Hall
Physical Description
134 leaves ; 28cm.
Recommended Citation
Caronongan, R. (2009). The question of alien and nation: An interview with Charlson Ong on Banyaga: A song of war. Retrieved from https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/2531