Ladino, ilustrado, woke: Colonial and elitist

THE concept of being "woke" in the context of Philippine history and culture is elitist and colonial. Anthropologist and historian Zeus Salazar defines the elite as an acculturated group of people whose origins in the country can be traced back to the "ladino," the Filipino version of "Westernized Spanish-speaking Latin Americans" (Merriam-Webster definition of "ladino"). The ladinos translated the message of the Spanish missionaries into our Philippine languages and vice versa, to facilitate colonialism. In short, the ladino was instrumental in getting themselves and their fellow Filipinos colonized by Spain.

Later on, the ladinos in the context of Spanish colonialism became "escribanos" (clerks, secretaries, etc.), "abogadillos/apoderadillos" (lawyers) and government workers, serving the interests of colonialism. Others joined religious organizations as secular/diocesan priests (there was prejudice against Filipinos in the friar orders), "donados" (lay brother), sacristan (altar boy), etc.