Children as Dialogue Partners in Doing Filipino Philosophy

Since the introduction of Philosophy for/with Children in the Philippines in the early 1990s, studies on Filipino children's capacity for philosophical thinking are gradually increasing in number. To date, no research has been undertaken on the intersections of Filipino children and Filipino philosophy, a lacuna that I intend to fill. I proceed on the assumption that aside from being a pedagogical approach, P4wC is primarily a philosophical enterprise that must emerge from the country’s philosophical landscape. With its emphasis on the previously lesser-known relationships between children and philosophy, P4wC invites us to reconsider our assumptions about what Filipino philosophy is, how it relates to the public, and our implicit notions of who can and cannot engage in philosophical inquiry. Such an invitation, in my opinion, is primarily addressed to Filipino philosophers and scholars, encouraging them to reconsider the generally-accepted ways of doing philosophy in the Philippines and seek new ways to expand them. Recognizing that no single Filipino philosopher can provide a definitive understanding of the status or direction of Filipino philosophy, I discuss some key ideas of two Filipino philosophers: Emerita Quito and her concept of grassroots philosophy, and Rolando Gripaldo and his ways to become a philosopher. Making connections between P4wC and Filipino philosophy opens a way to recognize Filipino children not only as subjects of philosophical investigation but more importantly, as dialogue partners in our philosophical pursuits. My overarching claim is that engaging philosophically with children expands the scope and directions of Filipino philosophy.