DUNGNGO: a Philosophy of Love

Abstract

The paper “Dungngo: A Philosophy of Love” is a philosophical inquiry into the theory and practice of love. “Dungngo” is analysed to look into some reasons of its absence nowadays and to criticize the conditions which are responsible for this absence. “Dungngo” is an ilokano term for “love”. It reflects motherly and fatherly love, the love to a partner, brotherly and sisterly love, love of country and love of God. This endeavour proceeds with a presentation divided into two. The theory of love is first presented, and then the practice of love. It ultimately shows that dungngo (love) carries with it a promise of an attainment of a true love or at least the opportunity to love once again in a truer sense. Dungngo (love) is not only a sentiment, but more of a conscious perfection and development of oneself in order to love and the active outpouring of transformative and emancipating genuine loving service to others and the world, most especially to whom love seems to be absent: the poor, oppressed, needy, sick and disabled. It is the hope of this paper that it becomes an avenue to introduce an ilokano philosophy of love into the great philosophical discourse all over the world and contributes to thousands of efforts in the search for true love.