CHANGE AND THE NEW FILIPINO

I have read, heard and seen so much about who the Filipino is and I am mortified and shamed because I am convinced that even with a generous amount of consideration everything is essentially true. Thus, I cannot totally blame that some of my beloved countrymen are ashamed to be known as a Filipino for fear of being snubbed or looked down upon. I choose not to do what some of them have done. I wholeheartedly embrace the whole gamut of what the Filipino is even to the depths of the pit of shame and ignominy. This is my way of saying that I am not about to give up on my people and a way of showing how to be true to one’s self. If I can no longer have the courage to face up to what I am, there will be nothing left for me and there is nothing worth saving anymore and there will be no point for gatherings like this.

The Filipino is lazy, tamad, and it’s true. Then I have to work harder, be more industrious, and avoid wasting my time in useless activities. I have and I must be more productive not only for my own advancement but for the sake of nation building. The Filipino is a showoff, so I have to be modest and try to live within my means. The Filipino is happy go lucky, has no idea of savings and so I have to be thrifty and savings conscious. The Filipino has a short memory and thus I have to look and think deeper to put things in their proper perspective. That our culture is damaged has already been discussed enough.   It is now time to repair it and the time to start is now and it must start with me.

Actually, there is a whole litany of weaknesses and vices that the Filipino has been addicted to and I pray to God that I will be given the strength to conquer them starting with myself

While much has been written about the weaknesses and vices of the Filipino, I also believe that the Filipino has a lot of admirable qualities. Our religiosity, our hospitality, our sensitivity to the feelings of others, our gentleness as a people in general. These are qualities worth promoting. These are the means for us to become a great people with pride and dignity.

The most important idea that I would like to share with you my friends is that there is still hope for the Filipino. It is not true that we are a people who are beyond redemption. We just have to believe in ourselves and let God do the rest. As the desiderata would say, “no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.” We just have to do our part and leave the rest to the creative forces of the universe, forces more powerful than our puny and limited human attempts.