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Frontier Governmentality: The Art of Caring the Soul Through the Eyes of a Christian Philippine ‘Strongman’

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Discerning the Powers in Post-Colonial Africa and Asia

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Abstract

Apart from critiquing the structures and techniques in African and Asian post-colonial state formations, a viable sociology of the powers should be able to provide empirically grounded Christian intervention praxis. This chapter therefore constitutes an essential part towards a more complete treatise on Christian statecraft. It aims to identify and substantiate the art of caring the soul within the domains of the powers of modern statehood. Using a Christian Philippine frontier strongman as a case study, ‘frontier governmentality’ refers to the uncertain contact zone between the sprawling post-colonial state and the innermost soul of the post-colonial Asian statesmen, where the carnal ego-self may be honestly examined and renounced. These soulful techniques would promise a more selfless pursuit for not just the collective welfare of the state subjects but also by allowing one to reconcile with the more deep-seated fate/destiny/vocation assigned by the heavenly Deity.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Field notes, Tuguegarao City, Philippines, 24 March 2007.

  2. 2.

    This term is adopted from Kerkvliet (1995).

  3. 3.

    Field notes on the inauguration ceremony of the elected officials of the Tuguegarao City government, People’s Gymnasium, Tuguegarao City, Philippines, 29 June 2007.

  4. 4.

    The following accounts were first tape-recorded and transcribed on paper. They were then presented as personal accounts of Delfin Ting, and he participated in the editing process to ensure accuracy.

  5. 5.

    San Pablo is the first connecting municipality south of Tuguegarao City after past the Cagayan–Isabela provincial border. In present-day San Pablo, Ting’s relatives operate grain-trading businesses and participate actively in local politics.

  6. 6.

    Delfin Ting, Personal interview, Hotel Delfino, Tuguegarao City, Philippines, 7 November 2003.

  7. 7.

    Delfin Ting, Personal interview, Hotel Delfino, Tuguegarao City, Philippines, 7 November 2003.

  8. 8.

    Civil Case No. 3813, P. 23, 16 May 1991. Florentino M. Fermin, Petitioner, Versus Delfin T. Ting, Respondent. Tuguegarao: Regional Trial Court of Cagayan, Second Judicial Court, Branch IV.

  9. 9.

    For the context and discursive origin of these terms, please refer to Wong (2009).

  10. 10.

    Pacific Candies is well remembered by many Tuguegaraoeños, when the young Delfin Ting used to push a cart around town selling candies.

  11. 11.

    Delfin Ting, Personal interview, Hotel Delfino, Tuguegarao City, Philippines, 7 November 2003.

  12. 12.

    Vicente Limqueco, Sr., Personal interview, office, Tuguegarao City, Philippines, 26 February 2004.

  13. 13.

    Delfin Ting, Personal interview, Hotel Delfino, Tuguegarao City, Philippines, 21 November 2003.

  14. 14.

    This term probably originates from English or Spanish. A lider refers to the traditional personage who maintains a regular political following. In elections, the liders are the mediators who solicit and deliver votes for the politicians.

  15. 15.

    Delfin Ting, Personal interview, Hotel Delfino, Tuguegarao City, Philippines, 30 November 2003.

  16. 16.

    Field notes, Cagayan province, Philippines, 15 November and 1 December 2003.

  17. 17.

    Delfin Ting, Personal interview, Hotel Delfino, Tuguegarao City, Philippines, 30 November 2003.

  18. 18.

    Field notes, Tuguegarao City, Philippines, 1 December 2003.

  19. 19.

    Field notes, Tuguegarao City, Philippines, 25 March 2007.

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  1. Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies, University of Bath, Bath, UK

    Pak Nung Wong

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Wong, P.N. (2016). Frontier Governmentality: The Art of Caring the Soul Through the Eyes of a Christian Philippine ‘Strongman’. In: Discerning the Powers in Post-Colonial Africa and Asia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-511-2_6

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