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

Print

Accession Number

TU15490

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F, Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

134 leaves ; 28cm.

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