Levels of Historical and Cultural Awareness of Peoples in Selected Countries of Southeast Asia: A Comparative Study

Authors

  • Isabel Annesley Abao University of Santo Tomas

Keywords:

historical and cultural awareness, Asian heritage, political structure, level of awareness, historical and cultural legacies

Abstract

To show one's nationalistic fervor for a country, as Sonia Zaide had stated, there should be a balanced appreciation of all the factors, which make the history of a country, including both the good and the bad aspects of the past. Hence, a study of history must be gleaned not only from the sordid past of the nation's history like the invasion and colonization of a stronger power that usually leads to a revolution of the masses and therefore breeds hatred and bitterness but also from its beautiful heritage and influence on world affairs. It is in this premise that this study was undertaken in the selected countries in Southeast Asia, namely Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam who are constantly at odds with themselves if not with their previous colonizers. This study will be a constant reminder that an appreciation of a country's past can only be possible if the people will be aware of what had transpired in their history as a people and as a nation. Such that a quantitative study on the level of historical and cultural awareness focusing on similarities and differences was conducted to the total of 100 people in the said countries selected based on purposive sampling with the used of Percentage, Mean, Standard Deviation, and Anova to determine the results of the following variables;  awareness of the common beliefs and practices, settlement patterns, early settlers, geographical location, and features, resources, legends and myths, family, community, religion, educational system, including its politics and governance. Having these features as the focal point, the study would be relevant to the plan of the Association of Southeast Asian to create one region like the European Union. The study yielded the following results that, in regards to value orientation, religion and political structure of the selected countries are comparable, but based on value and political structures, a significant difference existed. The findings implied that to trace and revive the history of one's country is both a social and moral obligation of its people and that a comparative insight on the level of awareness of a people's historical and cultural heritage helps see connections between different events and show how actions lead on to another.

Author Biography

Isabel Annesley Abao, University of Santo Tomas

Isabel Annesley S. Abao is a professor at the University of Santo Tomas with a strong background in Social Sciences and History. She acquired her Doctorate Degree at Centro Escolar University and teaches various courses such as Philippine History, Asian History, and Ancient Southeast Asian, Philippine Economy and Development to name a few.

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Published

2018-12-30

How to Cite

Abao, I. A. . “Levels of Historical and Cultural Awareness of Peoples in Selected Countries of Southeast Asia: A Comparative Study”. TALA: An Online Journal of History, vol. 1, no. 2, Dec. 2018, http://talakasaysayan.org/index.php/talakasaysayan/article/view/16.