Being Filipino, Right Here, Right Now
The priest, in his homily during the Independence Day mass in Vigan City said that he would at times be offended when people say 'Only in the Philippines' abroad, as a snide remark to some news from the country. Like the Philippines is some weird, funny country tucked away where people are fed beans all their lives hence, the 'oddity' in their psyche. I wanted to yell back to the priest, yeah! I feel the same way most times, especially on social media where you read about how people see us. I reacted so cheaply to a travel blog where this woman wrote she would rather go hungry than eat Filipino food. Hindsight, she deserved to be called stupid, but she did not deserve the attention.
Which brings me as to why I write this. Today, we celebrate our independence. However the intellectuals would like to educate us on history, analyze events that led to our freedom, etc., I would rather celebrate my Filipino-hood, the freedom to take pride in being a citizen of this country, in this country. Many lives were sacrificed just to be able to give us this identity. While I realize that it is important to look back so we can move forward the right direction, I feel it is more relevant to individuals like me, to look within.
So at the risk of being self-indulgent, I list down what takes my breath away about it~
1. It is a beautiful country. I have not yet been abroad except once, but everyday, I go to work and see the precious, lovely beaches, mountains, sunsets, old churches, trees. Seeing these day after day, I cannot get enough. Each day, there is something new I see from my heart, and I take a deep breath as if I need to take it all in and have that beauty meld with me.
2. Cliche as it may sound, Filipinos do exude that vibrance, even at their lowest. There is a downside to it, I know, but we smile all the time. All the time.
3. Filipinos value family. Yes, we overdo that one, but I would rather overdo it than not at all.
4. We are an intelligent lot. More than the rest, I see.
5. And we love with so much passion. We love whatever is there within our reach.
Regardless of how the others in our outside world perceive us~ we tend to abuse nature; we laugh at our problems, we meddle too much in our relatives' affairs; we have leaders who are experts in clouding issues with video presentations invoking pity; we tell the whole world about it when we are in love and when we are heartbroken. These, and more, make us who we are, and not some clone of another country somewhere. Another country where the magic and spell of nature is not regarded as a blessing to appreciate but rather as a source of wealth. Where people work and work and work, and have forgotten what a cackle sounds like. Where discrimination still lurk in the dark but is not recognized. Where they boast of systems and laws and what-not to impress upon others that they live more convenient lives. Where families struggle to keep it together, such that in the process, keep what does not truly matter. Where love has taken a spot so low in a person's 'to-do' list. I am not about to give up on this country. Someone told me this phrase over and over whenever confronted with an issue about being 'here'~ 'that's how it is, it is not what we want but what we are supposed to do'. Last time I checked, we still have the word 'choice' in the dictionary. No matter how corny it may seem, I choose to be Filipino, right here, right now.
Which brings me as to why I write this. Today, we celebrate our independence. However the intellectuals would like to educate us on history, analyze events that led to our freedom, etc., I would rather celebrate my Filipino-hood, the freedom to take pride in being a citizen of this country, in this country. Many lives were sacrificed just to be able to give us this identity. While I realize that it is important to look back so we can move forward the right direction, I feel it is more relevant to individuals like me, to look within.
So at the risk of being self-indulgent, I list down what takes my breath away about it~
1. It is a beautiful country. I have not yet been abroad except once, but everyday, I go to work and see the precious, lovely beaches, mountains, sunsets, old churches, trees. Seeing these day after day, I cannot get enough. Each day, there is something new I see from my heart, and I take a deep breath as if I need to take it all in and have that beauty meld with me.
2. Cliche as it may sound, Filipinos do exude that vibrance, even at their lowest. There is a downside to it, I know, but we smile all the time. All the time.
3. Filipinos value family. Yes, we overdo that one, but I would rather overdo it than not at all.
4. We are an intelligent lot. More than the rest, I see.
5. And we love with so much passion. We love whatever is there within our reach.
Regardless of how the others in our outside world perceive us~ we tend to abuse nature; we laugh at our problems, we meddle too much in our relatives' affairs; we have leaders who are experts in clouding issues with video presentations invoking pity; we tell the whole world about it when we are in love and when we are heartbroken. These, and more, make us who we are, and not some clone of another country somewhere. Another country where the magic and spell of nature is not regarded as a blessing to appreciate but rather as a source of wealth. Where people work and work and work, and have forgotten what a cackle sounds like. Where discrimination still lurk in the dark but is not recognized. Where they boast of systems and laws and what-not to impress upon others that they live more convenient lives. Where families struggle to keep it together, such that in the process, keep what does not truly matter. Where love has taken a spot so low in a person's 'to-do' list. I am not about to give up on this country. Someone told me this phrase over and over whenever confronted with an issue about being 'here'~ 'that's how it is, it is not what we want but what we are supposed to do'. Last time I checked, we still have the word 'choice' in the dictionary. No matter how corny it may seem, I choose to be Filipino, right here, right now.
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