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Pampanga


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Some are Kapampangans just by default. Usually, they are Kapampangans in name only. They speak Kapampangan but don't really care so much about their place of birth, let alone their cultural heritage, including language, literature and history. To them, Kapampangan and Pampanga are just like any other language and province, not really that special. They don't care at all about the future of their ethnicity.

Some, however, are not just Kapampangans by birth. They have knowledge of and pride for Kapampangan culture, language and history and everything Kapampangan.
They learn to read and write in Kapampangan, use the language whenever they can and even teach it to their kids if living in a foreign land. As Kapampangans, they are of a higher degree than those in the first group

Still, there are some that take this pride to great length and try to promote and propagate their culture or intellectualize their language through their literary works.
Some have made a name for themselves in their careers as distinguished public officials, successful businessmen, well-known professionals, military leaders, writers, artists, composers, sportsmen, etc., and their being Kapampangans helped enhance ethnic pride to a great extent. They are in the most divine category.

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President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's mother was from Pangasinan and Dr. Evangelina Hilario Lacson's mother was from Panay. Their fathers however, were Kapampangan. There are other so-called half-Kapampangans including Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. (his mother was Kapampangan) and actor Rudy Fernandez (his father, director Gregorio "Yoyong" Fernandez was a Kapampangan from Lubao). Actresses Sharon Cuneta, Liza Lorena and Hilda Koronel have Kapampangan mothers. Lipa Mayor Vilma Santos, Actress Kris Aquino, Singer Lea Salonga, and pianist Cecile Licad have something in common besides talent: their fathers are Kapampangan.

Contrary to popular belief, one is not a Kapampangan just because of his having been born in Pampanga or in Kapampangan country. Likewise, one is not a Kapampangan just because his parents are both Kapampangans.
To be considered a Kapampangan, first of all, one has to be able to speak in conversational Kapampangan. One does not have to be able to read and write in Kapampangan, however, to be regarded as one.

So, as you see, there is a red line between a genuine Kapampangan and one who is merely of Kapampangan descent. The latter is often referred to as one "with Kapampangan blood", or one that is "part Kapampangan". They may consider themselves as Kapampangans and even merge with the Kapampangan flock, something to be glad about, but in the real sense of the word, they are not.
In other words, the language a person speaks is the determining factor, and not the place of birth or the parentage. Now, if a person speaks two languages, he can carry two ethnic identities, or he may just choose to have one. In most cases, he adopts the first language he learned from his mother as a baby. Which means, if Kapampangan is the language he first learned, then he is Kapampangan. If he learned Kapampangan later as a second language but is proud to call himself a Kapampangan, by all means, he is then regarded as one. Similarly, if a Kapampangan native speaker renounces his identity as a Kapampangan, then he can be treated as a non-Kapampangan, with no mental reservation or questions asked. Now, I don't mean to impose these rules upon anyone outside the Akademyang Kapampangan domain. Our own province may have a different guideline as regards the qualifications one has to meet in order to fit being a Kapampangan.

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What's your score?
Ten Questions

1. Have you made a name for yourself in a certain field of endeavor, or have you put Pampanga on the map because of your work or achievement? Ex.: public official, successful businessman, well-known professional, military leader, writer, artist, composer, scientist, inventor, sportsman, etc. (If yes, consider yourself having garnered 6 points.)
2. Do you speak Kapampangan? (If no, please, stop right here.)
3. Were you born in Kapampangan country and can speak Kapampangan?
4. Is any of your parents a Kapampangan and you speak their language?
5. Do you have pride for your province, language, culture, history, industries, products and everything Kapampangan?
6. Are you proud of your fellow Kapampangans that have made it big?
7. Do you tend to defend fellow Kapampangans that are in hot water?
8. As a Kapampangan, have you in any way done or taken measures to protect your language or your province?
9. Do you ever strive to learn to speak and write in Kapampangan and/or teach your children or others Kapampangan ?
10. Have you contributed or helped greatly towards the enhancement, enrichment, intellectualization, promotion, propagation and preservation of your language through writings, books, speeches, legislative work or other means?

Add your score_____.

10 - 15 - outstanding
6 - 9 - very good
5 - 5 - good
3 - 4 - fair
0 - 2 - poor


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