1521, Duterte, and the Politics of Commemoration in the Philippines

Abstract

The Philippines’ state-sponsored commemoration of 500 years since 1521, dubbed “Victory and Humanity,” was wrought with intrigue and controversy. It failed to adequately weigh the complexity of the Philippine past as it marginalized other narratives. At the same time, the celebration itself was sidelined by attempts of the government to distort historical memory and memorialization and heroize Duterte. This article interrogates how the Philippine state under Duterte forwards its political agenda through commemoration and how society should critically reflect on the repercussions of state-sponsored histories and narratives.

Keywords: Philippines, state commemoration, colonialism, Duterte