21/11/2022
Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL)
A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal
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Filipinos and Americans – in the story.
Practices of Drinking ‘Lambanog’ in Alejandro Roces’ We Filipinos are Mild Drinkers
A. Lambanog as a medical alternative
In Roces’ story, it was shared by the Filipino narrator the many uses of lambanog, aside from it is drunk as a liquor. The Filipino said that lambanog can be used to treat snake bites and cure malaria chills.
In the countryside, it is common for local people to be medically innovative. Known as “Fake Healers,” they would use lambanog as an alternative substance for curing snake bites and high fever. The study of Victa Labajo (2010) mentioned that Filipino locals, especially in remote towns and barrios, use lambanog as a substance for medications and healing.
This practice has been captured by Roces in the story, although it is just shown in the narration of the Filipino character how lambanog is used as a medical option.
need a chaser to weaken or strengthen the effect of the beer like the Filipino in the story who used calamansi dipped in salt, while some do not anymore need one.
It can be gleaned how Filipinos are being creative even when they are in front of a foreigner. The use of calamansi, a Philippine lemon, in salt was a local color depiction in the Filipino communities as other countries do not sometimes use it as a beer chaser. This also gives significance to the plot of the story and why it is titled “We Filipinos are Mild Drinkers”.
B. Drinking Lambanog as a sign of respect to nature
This reality is shown when the American soldier was eagerly looking for wine store because he ran out of whiskey.
As people who are deemed as heavy or binge drinkers, drinking lambanog as an equivalent to beer, was their way of coping with loneliness or homesickness while they are out of their nation, serving for the war. This is also depicted in the mimetic interpretation of Pagliawan’ (2017) study. As humans, they, too, felt nostalgic of being away for months or years from their home country, and it is normal for them to find their own culture in another land.
The study of Victa Labajo (2010) pointed out from the reports that drinking beer is a way of stress relieving and self-pleasure gaining. In the present Filipino lifestyle, drinking any kind of Filipino brewed beer has still been used as a stress coping mechanism, especially for the living generation who are faced by personal and external struggles.
Values of Drinking ‘Lambanog’ in Alejandro Roces’
We Filipinos are Mild Drinkers
Before the colonization era, our fellow Filipinos had already that great respect for the departed souls, ancestors, and to the nature. They then believed that offering a cup of lambanog is an act of offering, respect, and giving back to them.
It is then depicted how the Filipino character showed respect to nature (Earth) as the primary source of lambanog when he poured out the juice to the ground, explaining to the shocked American visitor that it was an offering to the good nature that provided the blessing.
This cultural practice has been captured in the story and is still existing until now, especially in the remote areas of the country.
A.Friendship/Fellowship (Pakikisama)
C. Drinking Lambanog with calamansi chaser dipped in salt
The short span of contact between the Filipino and the American has sparked the value of friendship, although it was the days of World War II. It was though ironic that in a war, two races met and exchanged the socio-cultural practice of drinking beer. American’s excitement for liquor has
Drinking beer or lambanog in the Philippines comes in various taste and style in different social events where it is culturally practiced. Some would
D. Drinking Lambanog to comfort loneline
