Clarissa Blanco, Blog #6 "We Break Down in Order to Build Back Up"

          One of the most memorable scenes in Amigo was when the Baryo, with the help of the Americanos, reconstructed a brand new house for the sickly older woman of the community. Not only did this scene epitomize the true definition of "community" but it also proved that when there is a common care people can set aside their differences to work for the cause at hand.
        Amigo is the perfect example of a community that is threatened in multiple ways:

1. The infiltration of American soldiers into the baryo, but also makes the culture of the people seriously susceptible to a change that makes them less "of themselves". When the Americans come they have complete disregard of who these people are and what they stand for. They kill their water buffalo, cut down their crops, and put barbed wire around their land to keep them in/others out.
2. The Americans do not speak their language. The only person who can help the two groups communicate is the Padre, who, seemingly, doesn't even want to help unless he's getting his way. It's also very clear that Padre does not like the head of the baryo, Rafael, and feels as though someone else could better man the baryo, therefore his push is always going to be towards the side that does not keep Rafael at the top.
3. Rafael has been head of the baryo because he is part of a family that has been head for multiple generations. One might say that it is in his blood to lead, therefore when the Americans come and overthrow him for that short period of time, alot could've went wrong.

             Yet, the Americans introduced democracy to the people which was one good example of change. Not only were the Filipinos able to make themselves more vulnerable and susceptible to change, but the Americanos began to understand them and see why their culture was so significant in their lives. The use of the terms "goo-goos" and "monkeys" became much less apparent, and the name "Amigo" bore more significance than just the name they thought belonged to Rafael. Sometimes, when a community is threatened it makes the community stronger. There are forced to stand for what they believe in and think is right. This stood true for both the Filipinos and Americanos. There would be no diamonds without pressure. There'd be no success without the threat of failure.