On Being a Filipino

“Filipinos always complain about the corruption in the Philippines.
Do you really think the corruption is the problem of the Philippines?
I do not think so. I strongly believe that the problem is the lack of love

for the Philippines.” - Excerpts from “My Short Essay About the Philippines” by Jae Youn  Kim

I disagree with one writer when he said “a Filipino may see his identity as both an asset and a liability”. While it is true that there are instances when we are embarrassed and ridiculed by other countries because of the actuations of some of our fellow Filipinos here and abroad, these should not taint the accomplishments of many of our countrymen who brought honor to our country and recognition as Filipinos. If we are subjected to scrutiny in other countries, it is not because we are being singled out as a Filipino but because these countries enforce their laws strictly without any favor to any race. If we start to feel that our identity as a Filipino is a liability then we will always become inferior to other nationalities. Lest we forget the line of the song, Ako ay Pilipino, “taas noo kahit kanino”.

SOCIOLOGICAL AND POLITICAL EVOLUTION

Our identity as a Filipino has been shaped by our history as colonially oppressed people. The hundreds of years that we were colonized by foreign powers have influenced our socio-cultural development and political behavior. When we finally gained our freedom from foreign rule in 1946 (or did we?), our glory days as a nation began to emerge. In the 1950s and 1960s, we boasted of a promising economy in the Region. Our military might was demonstrated through our unmolested show of air superiority within Southeast Asia’s air space. The martial rule of the Marcos’ regime that lasted for more than two decades slowly transformed the socio-economic landscape of our country into a debt-ridden, foreign-dependent economy and patronage politics became out political culture abetting graft and corruption in the bureaucracy. It was during this time that student activism flourished and insurgency threatened our fragile internal security. The so-called “People’s Power” which was actually highlighted by a coup d’ etat of disgruntled senior military officers against Marcos, earned our country a place in world history as a country that launched a “peaceful” revolution forcing a dictatorship to step down. But the “restored democracy” of the Cory administration did not really bring positive change to our plight as a people. Insurgency was at its peak during her term and discontent among the military ranks became rampant. We were as ever divided as a people. This would continue up to the present administration. We have made a great mockery to our constitution and democratic processes.

Nowadays, we see a deteriorating social order. We denounced poor governance of our national leaders, yet we continue to elect incompetent and unqualified public officials. We hate getting stuck in traffic at EDSA but we have also some share of traffic infractions. Our chaotic traffic condition has earned us the reputation of being home to the world’s most reckless and undisciplined motorists who have absolute disregard to traffic rules. We are also fond of blaming every misery that we experienced as if it is always the government’s fault. But we forget to ask ourselves if we have done our share of the task in solving our country’s problems. Now, are we still proud of being a Filipino?

OUR CHALLENGE

Despite the social decay that is plaguing our nation, there is still some ray of hope in the horizon. In other aspects of the society, we still excel as a people, never mind that we are lagging behind our Southeast Asian neighbors in terms of economic and military might, we have still something to be proud of as a people. The latest disasters that brought havoc in many parts of our country demonstrated our resiliency and unity as a people. These experiences are wake-up calls not only for our political leaders but for every Filipino citizen. The message is clear, that if we don’t mature politically as a people and continue finger-pointing and blaming each other, soon we will disintegrate as a nation. Hence, our generation could do a lot to bring positive change in this country and teach the future generation to bring back the patriotism we have lost as Filipinos. If we have to work hard, we should do it not for ourselves but for the love of our country. This is the true spirit of patriotism. This is the challenge that we have to face. Then, maybe someday, each one of us can again raise his head and say “I am still proud to be a Filipino!”

Ikaw Kabayan, kaya mo bang ipag-malaki na Filipno ka? - Malayang Filipino

(Image by: rhiver on debianART)

Let's make the PHILIPPINES a BETTER place to LIVE!

We Filipinos can make our country a great nation and a better place to live for every Filipino. I strongly believe in this. And I believe that we can all change, we can all take the extra effort to change from within to become a united Philippines.


While looking for some videos in Youtube.com, I found the videos below  and I would like to share it to everyone (Note: The author of this blog is not in anyway endorsing the video or the creator/s of the video).

I find the following simple videos to be factual and we can all learn something from here. Here's the first video entitled "Bakit Poor ang Filipino - Cartoons".

The points presented are true, but we can all work together to correct it. One Mind, One Heart, One Filipino. This is all we need!

The second video is entitled "Proud to be Pinoy ka ba?" The video is definitely a good one. But I would say, I'm NOT proud to be PINOY, but I'm PROUD to be a FILIPINO!

How about you Filipino peeps? How did you find the videos? Proud to be Pinoy ka ba or PROUD TO BE A FILIPINO ka? - Malayang Filipino


Credit to PinoyMonkeyPride for the videos.

The NPA's desperate call for attention

I have recently came across this article at the Philippine Star, last October 6, 2011: 'Confidence-erosion measure' (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=734375&publicationSubCategoryId=64).

How does it advance the communist cause to burn down dozens of trucks, heavy equipment and facilities of private mining companies? The New People’s Army members who attacked three mining facilities in Surigao del Norte claimed they were striking a blow for the environment. But communist China is heavily engaged in mining to meet the needs of its people. Communist Vietnam welcomes mining companies.


That attack in Surigao had nothing to do with the environment and everything to do with banditry. The mining firms refused to give in to NPA demands for “revolutionary taxes” so the attack was launched. Money handed over willingly is a donation to the communist cause; given under duress, it’s money earned from extortion. It’s plain banditry and has no place in a legitimate rebellion.


Mining companies aren’t the only victims. NPA attacks – on privately owned agricultural estates, buses, telecommunications towers – have derailed development and scared away businessmen from the places where job-generating investments are most needed. Among the 5,000 mining personnel affected in the Surigao raid were Japanese executives, and they can’t be expected to bring home positive stories about the investment climate in the Philippines.


Destruction of the capitalist economy must be a goal of any self-respecting communist. It is up to the government to preserve, protect and nurture that capitalist economy toward growth. This won’t be achieved if state security forces cannot be relied upon to protect the lives and property of non-combatants. This week Human Rights Watch condemned the continuing NPA attacks on civilians. Those attacks were made possible by poor security measures.


Security forces cannot invoke ongoing peace efforts with the communist movement in the failure to thwart the attack in Surigao. Even during a truce, government forces must maintain a defensive stance. Extortion and destruction of private property do not further any cause and must be stopped.


The attack also raises questions about the sincerity of communist leaders in pursuing peace, and the extent of their control over NPA members, especially since they live overseas and National Democratic Front leader Luis Jalandoni has acquired Dutch citizenship. A Palace official called the attack in Surigao a “confidence-erosion measure” in the peace process.


It doesn’t look good for any government to abandon peace efforts. But in pursuing peace, the government should also not abandon its responsibility to protect the public from extortion and violent attacks.

In my humble opinion, this latest attack by the NPA (New People's Army) is a desperate move to get a public attention. Let's accept the fact that common Filipino's right now could hardly hear them nor know them. They are already a thing of the past and they refuse to accept the reality. Let's accept the fact, people now are more interested in Facebook! (stop chuckling at the back.)

This act is definitely a show of mis-education from their ranks and can only be attributed to barbaric and hoodlum activities of a "headless" organization.  This is an absolute act of terrorism and no longer in sync with their cause as they use to have decades ago. This is a bold sign of defeat on the part of the CPP/NPA (with a leader who even abandoned his Filipino Citizenship).

The truth is, the Philippines could hardly get a foreign investment here that could generate jobs for many Filipinos because of the 60-40 rule in the 1987 constitution (a law that favors and protect the interest of the oligarchs). This is where the likes of Vietnam, Thailand and other Asian countries is beating the Philippines!

The truth is, if NPA is really fighting for the plight of the Filipino people, they should have not destroyed the Surigao mining company. They should have not destroyed the source of income of many Filipinos working there. This attack is not an attack in the mining company, but an attack to the rights of the Filipino people, the right to work, the right to feed and the right to live a normal and peaceful life.

The truth is, NPA does not want people from this area to get a decent source of income because this will affect their recruitment activity! They really want people to be hungry and uneducated so they can convince them to raise arms against the government!

The truth is, freedom and progress cannot be attained nor achieved from the point of the barrel of a gun!

The truth is, it is probably better for those NPA members and who ever leader asked them to attacked the Surigao mining company, to start mining a "Kamote plantation" and start a decent livelihood so even their family would have a decent meal and not asking their children to bite their bullets.

As far as I know, you cannot win a revolution by using a barbaric  and unguided ideology.

To the Filipino People, let us discuss and know what can you say about this most recent act by the NPA's. - Malayang Filipino