I was born in the early 80’s and was too young to fully comprehend what’s happening to my country then in the context of those times. But to my mind now, Filipinos, even the poorest of the poor, used to have dignity. Not because they were economically rich but because cinemas were bursting with glowing vibes of local movies, many are as mediocre as the present time films but some were gems waiting to be found, and there were sterling varieties, genre was a vibrant concept. Filmmakers were ambitious and in several times, rightly compensated for it. Sitting in front of the big screen meant ferreting heartfelt dialogues and emotions. Characters felt real, placed in real situations and predicaments, not some trying hard actors instructed to vomit overly condescending lines.
Music in the airwaves sounded either too dramatic or preachy for the modern taste but they all sounded soulful and genuine.
Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Nora Aunor, Freddie Aguilar, Asin, to name a few, their works have stood the test of time. Originals in their own fields. Will the present produce new classics of the future? I’m not very optimistic.
We used to have artists among us who inspires us and not insult our intelligence every single chance. Now our culture sounds like a poor rehash of an outer alter ego or just a damaged version of our full potential.
Our own national language, Tagalog has also stopped growing. And to make the matters worse, we failed to face that reality as well. Upper class Filipinos have adapted English as their first language while majority lower classes settle with backward Tagalog that has evolved into Taglish. This sadly augment the wide economic and social disparity among the rich and the poor. And it has also made a huge chink in the soul of our self-expression.
We’re supposed to have the advantage of technology, of time.. then was near the beginning point of our evolution but I don’t know what happened, at some point, we started to turn around and move evolution in reverse. We lost track of our way to our own hearts. Perhaps battling numerous identity crises, too much commercialism and being taken advantage politically for a long long time has been too much for our collective self-esteem to take.
If I can I would give my dear Philippines a trace back to that point when we despite that, just the same, didn't have everything or a lot but we have genuine legacy to our children, that we don’t have to look outside for reference on how well we’re doing because in the dark alleys of the cinemas, in the sound bytes from the radio and television, in the comics we borrow from our neighbors, on the Filipiniana section of our favorite bookstores we have a voice we can recognize as our own and we’re not ashamed of it.
Because at the end, your dream for your country is the same dream you have for your children. A life lived by the heart, by being faithful to who you are and everything follows.
This post is my official entry to #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014 Blogger Contest. For a chance to win an Ipad Mini 2, just comment below the answer to this question: If there is one thing you can give to the Philippines, what is that gift? For more information click on the image below
After spending a lot of time thinking, I come up with an answer. I would like to give the Philippines the gift of faith. Faith not just in terms of religion but faith in everything they were dealing as nation, and as a country. Faith that everything will soon be alright and will fall into its place. Faith that the government will be less corrupt and more in service. Faith that the church will continue to lead its community to the right path with the values instilled in each and everyone. Faith that will someday, a Filipino will wake up in the midst of silence where there's no war between military groups and rebels. Faith that broken heart caused by family separation will be healed. Faith that everyone will have an access to right education. Faith that in this world full of hate, there's still love that will always prevail. Faith that in every bad things happening around, there's always a reason to find the silver lining.
ReplyDeleteAnd yup we need faith, too. Not a blind kind of faith, though.
DeleteIf there’s one thing that I can give my dear country that would be …. The gift of Health.
ReplyDeleteI want to do a medical mission with the help of Nuffnang Philippines and Globe thru #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014
Health is wealth. No amount of money, time and effort can ever, ever, bring the best of your health back, once it’s gone.
In my 6 years of practice as a nurse, I have seen how our healthcare system struggles to provide quality care for our countrymen, may it be in manpower, medicines, or equipments both in the community and hospital.
I’ve seen people deteriorating day by day because they can’t afford to go to a doctor. I’ve seen patients die because their families didn’t have enough money to buy basic medicines. I’ve also seen families giving up their sick loved ones and literally, waited for their last breathes, since they cannot afford another day for the life support of the deteriorating loved one.
I am believing that we can do something about this. One of those needy, ailing, indigent patients could be your mom, dad, granparent, relative, dear friend, loved one…
In short, we are all CONNECTED, one way or another. So it is not just a matter of “about them” and “about us” because it is ABOUT US — ALL OF US.
I feel you.
DeleteIf there is one thing you can give to the Philippines, what is that gift?
ReplyDeleteKarunungan. Ito ang unang sumagi sa isipan ko hindi dahil sa isa akong guro kundi dahil isa akong Pilipino na may pagpapahalaga sa bansang Pilipinas. Sa kabila ng diskriminasyong nararanasan ko sa ibayong bansa hindi ko pa rin maiwasan na ipagmalaki na isa akong Pilipino at ang karunungan ko ay kailangan ng mga kabataang nalulugmok at nabubulag ng telebisyon, makabagong teknolohiya, at higit sa lahat ay ang pagiging “colonial mentality”. Ang karunungan natin ang magiging daan upang mag-iba ang pananaw ng buong mundo sa atin. Sabi ko nga sa isang intsik na minaliit ang aking pagiging pinoy, “Hindi lahat ng Pilipino ay pinanganak na katulong”. Karamihan na sa atin ngayon ay ginagamit ang ating natutunan at nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa base sa kursong ating tinapos. Ito ang karunungang dapat nating malaman, kaya nating makipagsabayan kahit saang sulok tayo ng mundo mapadpad.
Hindi mapapantayan ng anumang bagay ang karunungan ng isang tao at ika nga ng aking ama noong ako ay bata pa ‘ito lang ang tanging bagay na hindi mananakaw ninoman”. Bilang isang simpleng mamamayan ito lang ang tanging bagay na kaya kong ibigay sa ating bansang Pilipinas at ang karunungang ito ang magdudulot ng impluwensya hindi lamang sa isa kundi sa milyun-milyon nating kababayan. Ang karunungang ito ang gigising sa ating mahabang pagkakatulog. Ang karunungang ito ang aayos sa ating lahat at sa sistema n g ating pamahalaan. Ang karunungan ang magsisilbing daan upang sikapin nating mga Pilipinong unawain at bigyan ng solusyon ang mga suliranin ng ating bansang Pilipinas. Ito rin ang tutulong sa atin upang paunlarin natin ang sarili nating wika at maintindihang mabuti ang lahat ng bagay na nangyayari sa paligid. Bibihira na lang ang Pilipino ngayon na mariringgan mong nagsasalita ng matuwid na tagalog. Karamihan sa atin ay taglish kase yan ang uso, ang iba ay salitang kanto base sa grupong kanilang kinabibilangan. Bibihira ang magsusulat sa blog na ito na ang gamit ay ang sarili nating wika kase mas madali nating naipapahayag ang ating mga opinion kung ito ay nasa wikang Ingles. Nawala na ang karunungang pinama sa atin ni dating Pangulong Manuel L. Quezon. At dahil dito nabulag tayo ng mga kaisipan ng ibang lahi. At minsan mas amerikano pa tayo sa tunay na Amerikano pero wala sa listahan ng Amerika na tayo ay nabibilang sa kanilang bansa. Hindi tayo ang (51) ika limampu’t isang estados ng Amerika. Ang regalo kong karunungan ay magbibigay sa atin ng boses upang ipaalam ang ating mga hinaing sa pamamagitan ng isang malinis at mauunawaang wika. Ang regalo kong karunungan ang magiging daan upang mamulat ang ating mga kababayan at maimpluwensyan ang iba.
Kung ang isang hiling ko ay mabibigyan ng katuparan, yun ay ang makapagpatayo ako ng sarili kong paaralan sa Pilipinas upang maipamahagi ko ang karunungan sa mga batang Pilipino at maimpluwensyahan ko ang kanilang buhay pati na ang kanilang mga magulang upang mamulat sila sa katotohanan na kailangan nating kumilos upang hindi tuluyang mawalan ng saysay ang ipinaglaban ng ating mga bayani. Hindi tayo Malaya kung sa tingin ng marami ay Malaya tayo. Sapagkat mismong ang gobyerno natin ang kumikitil sa sarili nating kalayaan, at tayo mismo ay hindi Malaya sa mga kaisipang kolonyal. Pero kung ito ay maitatanim ko sa kaisipan ng mga kabataan bilang isang guro, sa kada taon ng aking pagtuturo, at sa kada grupo ng mga mag aaral, ilan dyan ay magiging guro, abogado, at kung anu-ano pa na huhubog ng kaisipan ng susunod na henerasyon. Ang regalo kong karunungan ay magsasalin salin hanggang sa ating mga kaapu-apuhan.
The first time I heard this question from a friend made time for me to think of the gifts that I can give to them. Just like the author said, me too do not have money to help the people in the Philippines. Until I get to the point, I was stopped and saw things slowly moving when I saw someone gave their donuts to the beggars and street children sleeping along the streets. My heart was amazed and my mind started to think of every man. I will honestly say that I am a selfish person and do not know how to give something to someone without condition. But that time and until this day I believe all the Filipino out there have a loving heart and a helping hand to prove that we can act as one. Bad people are not always bad. People change, all are permanent except for change. To God be the glory. He made me realized the three gifts that I should give to the Filipino people without thinking of being a rich person or having full pockets. And those gifts are PRAYERS (for them to remember God all the time), a LOVING HEART (for them to feel that they were not alone) and a HELPING HAND (for them to become strong and build their life for this another chance)
ReplyDelete"You dont need to be wealthy in terms of helping. A simple and little thing could help to uplift them"
- Virgilio Bautista Jr
jayrbautista31@gmail.com
Kung may isang bagay akong ireregalo sa Pilipinas, ito ay pagmamahal at pagpapahalaga ng mga Pilipino sa ating bayan. Kung makikita lamang nating lahat ang ganda at ituturing na espesyal sa atin ang bansang ito, iingatan at pangangalagaan natin ang Pilipinas.
ReplyDeleteSa aking palagay dito mag-uugat ang kaunlaran ng ating bayan. Kung nakikita lamang ng mga Pilipino na mahalaga para sa kanila ang Pilipinas, pipiliin nilang dito magtrabaho. Kung sino pa ang magagaling ay sila pa ang nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa. Ngunit hindi tayo ang umuunlad kundi ang mga bansang pinagtatrabahuhan nila. Kapag nangyari na ito, ang Pilipinas lamang ang kanilang pipiliin. Tulong-tulong na pauunlarin ang bayang ito.
Kung may pagpapahalaga ang mga Pilipino sa Pilipinas, wala sana tayong polusyon ngayon. Katulad ng isang bahay, hindi mo hahayaang madumi ito at hindi mo din ito dudumihan. Hindi ka magtatapon ng kalat sa kung saan. Ituturing mo ang bansang ito bilang iyong tahanan na hindi mo kailanman pababayaan na masira.
Sa tulong ng Globe, maaari nating bigyan ang bawat tao sa isang komunidad na gumawa ng isang resolusyon (kagaya nang hinding hindi nako kailanman magtatapon ng basura sa maling lugar) para sa bansang ito na personal at espesyal sa kanila. Isang bagay na sa tingin nila, na kahit maliit, ay makatutulong sa ating bayan. Maaaring bawat taon, kapag natupad ito ng mga mamamayan, bigyan sila ng Globe ng gantimpala. Ngunit kung iisipin, hindi ang gantimpala ang mahalaga kundi ang mga maliliit na resolusyon na natupad sa loob ng isang taon.
Sabi nga ng aking propesor, pahahalagahan mo lang ang isang bagay kapag nakita mo na ang tunay na ganda at espesyal na parte nito sa iyong buhay.
Maaaring mapangarap ang regalong aking napili pero hindi ito imposible. Magsisimula ito sa ating mga sarili. At sana sa pagdating ng panahon na lahat tayo ay natutunan na ang tunay na halaga ng Pilipinas, hindi pa huli ang lahat.
-Bernadine B. Bautista
bernadinebautista25@gmail.com
My gift to the Philippines is saving our environment! by I will Plant more trees., Walk more, drive less.,Maitain my vehicle, I will Save water, Use CFC-free products, Save energy, I will Recycle and reuse, I will Recycle and reuse, I will Use renewable sources of energy, Save animals., I will Go green when gardening or farming,and Create Awareness! #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014.
ReplyDeleteSteve del Castillo
neo_2_ph@yahoo.com
My gift to the Philippines will be the gift of opportunity.
ReplyDeleteOpportunity for job, for education, for food, for shelter, for health services and all the other basic necessities each and every one of us will need. If there are enough opportunities for all us then equality can never be far enough to achieve. If those things will be provided crime rate, poverty, homeless, illiterate, and hunger could be all lessen. Peace in every people can be possible and we can all work hand in hand in making this country more efficient and successful.
If I can give something to the Philippines that is immaterial, that would be Discipline. If one person wakes up one morning and decided that "starting today, I will follow rules and the law, I will be a disciplined citizen." And religiously and conscientiously does this everyday for the rest of his life, and other people will see this change and because of this example others will follow suit. If this will be our mentality, don't you think our country would be a better place to live in? Where: - people don't throw their trash just anywhere, drivers follow their lanes, public utility vehicles stops at points only where it is allowed to drop or pick up passengers, people cross where it s only allowed to cross the street, motorists follow the speed limit and are diligent, people know how to fall in line and don't cut in a line, we arrive in meetings or gatherings on time, we don't vandalize and other thousand more things that we can do to show discipline.
ReplyDeleteThe tangible thing that I want to give to the Philippines is the gift of Education. I still strongly believe that education is the key for success; yes, there are those who make their lives and the lives of their loved ones easier and comfortable by making a living and succeeding in their fields even though they have not finished school. But that's one in a million. Having proper education will still give someone an edge to survive in this world. One can get a better paying job, thus, one will have greater chances of helping his/her family for a better life.
With that being said, to answer the question: "If there is one thing you can give to the Philippines, what is that gift?”, I would like #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014 help me by Adopting a Scholar or Donating to REAL LIFE FOUNDATION.
Real LIFE Foundation is a christian non-profit, NGO that was incorporated in 2007 with the vision of seeing thousands of marginalized Filipino youth educated, gainfully employed and uplifting their communities. The goal of Real LIFE Foundation is to transform lives, families & communities through hope and education. Real LIFE Foundation is one of the organizations that is in line with what I believe in. Like them, I strongly regard that education is the key to a better life.
The foundation does not only help its recipients by paying for their tuition, but they also help equip them in most, if not all, that they will need to finish college and what they'll be needing when they start looking for a job. They hold personality development coaching for the scholars and even tackles on how to dress and present their selves properly during job interviews and when they're already employed. Also, the students’ other miscellaneous expenses will be covered, like books, uniforms, OJT expenses and a daily meal & transportation allowance. Because of that the scholars don’t have to worry if they will be able to eat or get to school.
As I've said awhile back, Real LIFE Foundation does not only focuses on the financial side of putting a student in school but also comprehensively addresses the needs of their scholars that will help them thrive after finishing school. This is done through their LIFE Coaching, which is the character development program of the Real LIFE Foundation and which provides mentoring for their scholars in Leadership, Integrity, Faith, and Excellence.
helloviellobits.blogspot.com
This is a great idea! My gift to the Philippines though is a little different.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I noticed is that whenever someone posts a picture showing the beauty of our country, Pinoys are quick to say, "Wow ang ganda! Parang wala ka sa Pinas!"
Why is that?
Our country is beautiful. I'm not only talking about white sand beaches or amazing waterfalls all over our tourism posters; I'm talking about beauty in the unexpected - a cozy little cafe in an eskinita in Quezon City, or an ukay haven hidden away in Paranaque. Our country is bursting with culture and stories to tell, but when Filipinos look around, they focus on the negative.
People don't see the food trip opportunities around Katipunan, or the art and culture of The Collective, or the musical playground of Cubao X. How can we expect foreigners to appreciate our country when we can't even do that ourselves? How can we expect to grow as a nation when we lack a very important aspect: love of country?
With this in mind, the idea I came up with is a website or app that shows the unexpected beauty of our country.
The purpose of the website/app is simple: Become a tourist in your own city, and fall in love with it. Just like how Parisians love Paris, or New Yorkers love the Big Apple, it's possible for the people of Manila to fall in love with Manila - dirt, pollution, culture and all.
"MNL 143 - Love This City" - The site or app will thrive on submissions or posts by regular people. Users take photos of both popular and popular places they think people should see and experience. They can post great food finds, events, and other happenings that people rarely see or visit. They can also include a guide to the place! (ex. Newbie's Guide to Divisoria) This gives people a chance to experience the city in a way they've never experienced before. I bet people who've lived in Manila their whole lives have yet to experience the city beyond the typical malls and will appreciate hole-in-the-wall boutiques and surprises. This project will allow Filipinos to appreciate our own, instead of always longing for the beauty of other countries.
Over time, the website/app can expand by including other cities like Cebu, Davao, etc. This project will do so much more than just supply Filipinos with information that will change the way they look at the country / the city. Instead of seeing Manila as overpopulated and dirty, maybe we can all start appreciating the culture and all the things Manila has to offer.
When you love someone, you are willing to do anything and make sacrifices to make that person happy. In the same manner, when you love your country, you become more cooperative if it means you'll be contributing to its growth and development. Improving our country can't come from political reforms or mass-feeding projects if we can't even cover the basics. First, we must love our country, and the rest will follow.
hellotonichi.blogspot.com