Aking Pilipinas
The Philippines is in a state of emergency. What sadness.
The country I call my birthplace, my homeland, is once again in the news for all the wrong reasons. I’ve never been someone worthy of calling "Nationalistic," for there were many times in the span of my 22 years of existence that I scoffed at Filipino traits worth national shame, many times had I criticized government policies and downright made fun of politicians in office. But I am not to blame. It is not my fault these people have acted in a such a way that is ever-so-deserving of such treatment. And many others have done so as well, even moreso than I have. At least I don’t go out throwing hand grenades at people, or fire a whole magazine of a .45 pistol. And I definitely have not led any camps that produce weapons of mass destruction.
Despite the ill-feelings I harbor regarding those people, I am still proud to say I am a Filipino. When foreigners ask me of my cultural affiliation, I answer with no hesitation. I am not scared of defending my fellowmen and women from those who decide to question our belief system. And whenever I read news about tragedies and calamities concerning our country and the people populating it, my heart aches with great pain.
I wasn’t even born when the first state of emergency was declared. And I wasn’t even in the country when the person who said so was toppled from office. Now is no different. I am not in the Philippines, but I am affected just as well. The 12 years I’ve lived there was not as chaotic as it seems now. Ok, maybe a little here and there, but nothing as brutal as this.
How did it all get this far? Is there a chance to redeem ourselves? Will it all get better? When?
So it’s no surprise really that many Filipinos choose to leave our country in search of greener pasture. As sad it may seem, the thought that "wala nang pag-asa ang Pilipinas" may possibly ring true during times such as this. The only people getting richer are the same ones who were rich all along, while those less fortunate who’ve struggled to keep their families alive remain poor passing on the misfortune of being poor to their children and their children’s children. And unfortunately, those who remain in the country are those who can’t even afford to leave it in the first place. It’s all so sad.
In the meantime, we have to hold on to our faith. There’s just no question there. We must not lose hope. Those cynics of course will not hesitate to counter that despite all the prayers the people of our nation religiously recite, there is still no sense in continuing to do so because we are just so far down. Ignore them with all your might because prayers do serve their purpose. They really do. Stay optimistic, for the light will shine on our nation and bring it out of the darkness soon enough.
