How Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Showcases Filipino Culture Through Jose Rizal

by

On the 24th of January, I eagerly awaited a tweet from the official Twitter account of Sid Meier’s Civilization VII. In this post, a man expressed these sentiments: “There is no country where genius originates. It flourishes everywhere. It’s like light and air. It is a quality in all of us.

Dr. Jose Rizal’s words, known for his writing, scholarly work, multilingual skills, and revered status in the Philippines, struck a chord with me. When I heard those words spoken in Tagalog, one of our native dialects, it moved me to tears. It wasn’t only because the Philippines was now included as part of the Civilization franchise, with Rizal as a playable leader, but also because our nation and its 117 million residents, along with countless others living abroad, have often been overlooked in video games.

It is true that we have encountered some Filipino video game characters throughout the years, such as Jose Astrada and Pham Luis from Front Mission 3, Talim from SoulCalibur, Conduit from Apex Legends, and Neon from Valorant. However, these representations often leaned towards stereotypical depictions of what a Filipino character might be like. Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada, in a Twitter post, admitted that the Filipino fighter he created, Josie, only shared Rizal’s surname after being inspired by Rizal through FGC commentator Mark “Markman” Julio. This led to a small controversy in the Philippines when Josie was first announced.

Jose Rizal’s representation in Civilization VII does not rely on stereotypical characteristics commonly associated with Filipinos, nor is it a simplistic blend of cultural aspects like eating Jollibee or cooking adobo. Instead, his inclusion offers an authentic portrayal of Filipino culture through one of the nation’s most influential historical figures.

1861 marked the birth of Jose “Pepe” Rizal, who would eventually develop into a multitalented individual with extensive education and travel experience. After initially delving into various fields at college, Rizal opted for ophthalmology to support his mother, whose eyesight was deteriorating. This decision led him to pursue additional studies in Madrid and embark on journeys across Europe. A man of diverse interests and skills, he excelled in areas such as painting, cartography, writing, and woodcarving. His abilities were so broad that he was often referred to as a polymath and a polyglot, speaking an impressive 22 languages fluently. It is also widely believed in the Philippines that the term “rizz” stems from Rizal’s poetic nature and romantic exploits during his youth.

Rizal’s experiences abroad significantly influenced his perspective on leadership and nationhood, as well as highlighting the hardships endured by his fellow Filipinos under Spanish rule. Immersed among his compatriots in Spain, Rizal frequently contributed articles to La Solidaridad, a Spanish publication, delving into the socio-economic issues affecting the Philippines.

At approximately the same period, he wrote two of his notable works: “Noli Me Tangere” (Don’t Touch Me) and its successor, “El Filibusterismo” (The Rule of Avarice). These novels criticized the misdeeds of the Catholic church, the deceit of Spanish friars, and, by implication, the colonial rule of Spain. Rizal, along with his fellow countrymen, championed peaceful change and equal rights for Filipinos. However, he was still charged with supposed links to a revolutionary armed group, the Katipunan, which was led by Gat Andres Bonifacio.

On December 30, 1896, Rizal walked along a deserted cobblestone road in Bagumbayan, a town in Manila. On that frosty morning, with Filipino soldiers surrounding him and Spanish eyes watching, Rizal whispered “It is finished” as the order to fire was given. Showing great courage, he turned towards his executioners as gunshots echoed. He died gazing at the sun’s rays, oblivious of how deeply his life and works would influence his cherished homeland for years to come.

In Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, while the Philippines isn’t a selectable nation, you can still have Jose Rizal as your leader, guiding any country such as Egypt, Rome, or even Meiji Japan in different eras like Antiquity or Modern Age. (I find it quite fitting to imagine Rizal leading Spain or America as a symbolic retaliation for over 400 years of colonial subjugation.)

In my conversation with Civilization VII’s narrative designer, Rue Taylor, I learned that Rizal was among the initial choices for game characters from the early stages of development. As Firaxis opted to expand beyond strictly political figures, they looked for historical personalities who significantly impacted history in various ways. Given his exceptional career as a revolutionary and writer, his strong-willed character, widespread popularity today, and potential symbolism as a contemporary figure of Southeast Asia, Rizal was an ideal choice, according to Taylor.

Taylor also mentioned that we listened closely to our passionate Filipino fanbase. Rizal was first suggested by senior historian Andrew Johnson. This idea picked up steam as the team expanded. Rizal’s addition was also advocated for by our senior narrative designer Nell Raban, who wrote most of his storyline events. Interestingly, I heard that Nell is also Filipino.

To make our leaders and civilizations as genuine as possible, Taylor emphasizes that we must delve beyond the surface. We should explore not just who these leaders are historically, but also their personal traits, perspectives, characteristics, aspirations, convictions, etc. Furthermore, understanding how these aspects empowered them to influence the world significantly is crucial.

In dealing with Rizal, Firaxis needed to consider various aspects while delving into his biography, literature, and other works. As Taylor explains, this game portrays many facets of Rizal’s life through narrative events, which often reflect his personal experiences. The team also paid close attention to his character development.

For example, Rizal’s extensive travels significantly shaped his thoughts and views, aspects that align perfectly with Civilization VII’s global focus. These travel-related elements were integrated into the game by emphasizing Rizal’s diplomatic traits, specific focuses, and unique events triggered upon meeting new civilizations. However, Firaxis aimed to avoid overly prescriptive portrayals.

Beyond these explicit references, other aspects of Rizal’s character are subtly woven into the game, leaving room for players to uncover them on their own. For instance, they can discern elements of his identity as a revolutionary throughout the game.

As a gamer, I, Rizal, embody a versatile playstyle, reflecting my diverse set of talents. In-game, I gravitate towards diplomatic routes, advocating for peace and reform within the virtual nation. However, when it comes to militaristic or expansionist strategies, I struggle, as I abhor the concept of violent revolution in any form.

Rizal pays close attention to storyline developments in the game, with quests that players embark on during each campaign being a key focus. His “Pambansang Bayani” (National Hero) attribute enables him to access extra narrative sequences, while also earning additional culture and gold from these events.

According to Taylor, we selected these mechanics for Rizal as our designer, Carl Harrison, was trying to find methods to connect leaders with Civilization VII’s evolving storyline system. At that point, we didn’t have any character with a focus on narrative. Upon deliberation, the narrative team found Rizal to be an ideal fit for this integration. His special bonuses and additional events mirror his perspective of the world and the way he wrote his works. This approach also allowed us to innovate, as we delved into what it means to have a leader driven by narrative in terms of gameplay.

Furthermore, Rizal’s unique traits extend the celebration period by an extra 50% and boost joy associated with celebrations by half. This seems to be a tribute to the characteristic Filipino resilience and joviality. It is noteworthy that despite facing challenges such as crime, corruption, poverty, and various natural disasters, the Filipinos continue to exhibit an optimistic spirit, often finding humor even in adversity.

Rizal’s agenda is named Kapwa, indicating his preference for diplomatic leaders over those advocating sanctions. This name mirrors the Filipino value of unity, shared identity, and belonging to a group or community. It also suggests a sense of interconnectedness among people, the struggle to find one’s place within a collective, and the “us versus them” mentality often seen as “one person is not another person.

In this game, different features like the Mementos that can be unlocked and offer advantages, as well as other elements, delve deeper into Rizal’s life. For instance, Taylor points out that unlocking Noli Me Tangere at level 9 significantly contributed to the growth of the Philippine independence movement. The Forget-me-not, which you can unlock at level 2, is a symbol of his poem ‘To the Flowers of Heidelberg’, where flowers stand in for his yearning for his homeland. Lastly, the Ophthalmoscope, a Memento since Rizal was an eye doctor, becomes available at level 5.

Unfortunately, I was longing for an exceptional Filipino Nurse or a one-of-a-kind Karaoke Bar structure, but it seems I’ll have to settle with whatever modifications are available.

In Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, Rizal’s authenticity isn’t limited to his gameplay elements, but extends to his portrayal as well. This is achieved through Bryan Allan Encarnacion, a seasoned Filipino voice actor, who lends his voice to Rizal. Encarnacion has an impressive resume, having worked on numerous TV shows and film trailers, and even dubbing certain Disney and Marvel characters in Tagalog, such as the Winter Soldier, Thor, Pumbaa, Buzz Lightyear, among others.

Encarnacion shared that one of his directors in voice acting and dubbing had extended an invitation for him to try out for a role. However, he didn’t know about the nature of the project at first, as they only worked on it without knowing its details. Later, he discovered that the part he auditioned for was actually for Civilization VII, which came as quite a shock to him.

Encarnacion notes that the project was unlike anything he’d tackled previously. “Typically, in my voiceover career, I focus on three main areas: (a) live events and concerts, (b) recorded work such as TV and radio commercials, and (c) Tagalog dubbing for films and series,” he explains.

In Civilization VII, I was asked to deliver lines spontaneously, much like how I would speak on stage. Additionally, they captured my facial expressions during the voiceover session – something I hadn’t experienced before. Drawing upon my knowledge of Jose Rizal from films and books, I aimed to incorporate a touch of his charm, as he was known for being quite charming [laughs].

Encarnacion expressed his feelings about this opportunity as a Filipino, particularly after hearing Tagalog spoken clearly in a video game. “It’s invigorating, and it makes me incredibly proud!” he said. “We have numerous independent games created by local developers, but many of them use English for the user interface and character dialogues. I can’t fault them since they need to cater to other countries, while communicating Filipino narratives in a language that most people will understand.” Encarnacion added, “Seeing one of our national heroes speak Tagalog in a video game is a significant stride for us Filipinos. I truly hope they incorporate Andres Bonifacio and Lapu-Lapu into the game next.

In Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, the portrayal of diverse countries and cultures extends beyond Jose Rizal to encompass other nations, such as the Shawnee. As expressed by Taylor, the development team collaborated closely with the Shawnee Tribe to incorporate the Shawnee civilization and Tecumseh as a leader. This collaboration was rewarding, offering an enriching experience. The authenticity of Civilization VII is enhanced through hearing the Shawnee language spoken by Tecumseh, observing stunning Shawnee architecture on the map, and experiencing narrative events based on Shawnee stories, which adds a unique, immersive layer to the game.

Taylor added, “However, the real satisfaction comes from witnessing the tribe’s excitement as they recognize themselves in our game, not just as a significant historical entity, but as a living testament to the enduring Shawnee legacy. This is what our team aims for, not only with the Shawnee and Jose Rizal, but also beyond.

Read More

2025-02-20 20:41