Hope for the country? My thoughts this time
May 31, 2005A friend of mine e-mailed our e-group his thoughts regarding patriotism which got me really going. Here was what I sent back to the group:
Having read Louie’s thoughts regarding patriotism, I felt really happy as I got a lot of insights. I am currently in the stage of my life wherein I am deciding whether to leave public service or not. Hey, let’s face it, I will never, ever get rich working for the government (unless I take “that” path, if you know what I mean). I only get a measly P10,000++ for the kind of work that pays double that if I am in the private sector, thrice (or maybe four times) if I work abroad (which I had the chance but didn’t take). But I’m still staying. All because I love this country.
Yes I love this country, whether you guys believe it or not. I have so many reasons to leave but much more to stay. I owe it to this country, to the people of this country, the “free” education that I enjoyed for eight years. Having studied in a State run school since high school, the least I could do is to give back to the people what they spent on me. For those not in the know, the City of Manila subsidized our high school education since our alma mater is a State U.
But that is not the only reason why I’m staying. For one, I still have my pride. And that pride emanates from my being a “Filipino”. I am proud to be Pinoy. I’ve stood high and proud over the other nationalities I’ve recently rubbed elbows with. Now if only all of us feel that way (and do something about it), maybe our country won’t be in so deep a shit right now.
What could we have done as a nation to deserve where we are today? And what could we do as a nation in order to make this country move forward? As what Louie said, “Alamin at kumilos”. Sadly, though many of us know what to do regarding the sad plight of our country, we tend to… uhhh… “forget” to do anything about it. Idealism is lost and apathy thrives when it should be the other way around. It is said that the youth is the hope of the nation. Why don’t we prove it by making a difference no matter how small it may seem?
We should wake up and look at the mirror long and hard at our present situation. What we are is the sum of our history. Very few of us think for the common good while many of us think like “talangkas”. “Ako muna” seems to be the National mantra. We always blame the government for the problems of our country, always waiting for what the government can do for us. But have we stopped and asked ourselves what we can do for the country? Have we done our share to make this country move forward?
Yes idealism per se will never feed me but it will at least bring hope to this country. An immigrant friend of mine once told me that he migrated because he has given up hope for this country. He speaks about the Philippines as if he was never born here, that not a drop of Filipino blood runs through his veins. He told me, “You will never prosper in the Philippines if you keep up with that kind of thinking.” What I had to say was, “At least I’m doing something for MY country.
I hope now that everyone does.
–
True, the problems in our country seem beyond repair but they shouldn’t be reason to make us falter in our idealism. Because the very nature of idealism - holding on to an ideal that is wanting in our society… something that is not YET with us… a dream of a BETTER LIFE for the generations to come - such problems are but natural forces to contend with. In the same way that the good exists to overcome evil… the evil is an ever-present force to contend with in the quest for good, so it is with IDEALISM and REALITY. Idealism fuels hope and hope sustains one’s spirit.
An open letter
May 21, 2005Dear Friend,
Hi! It’s been a while since I last wrote you a letter. How have you been doing since the last time we talked? I hope you’re doing good contrary to what I have been hearing lately.
Yeah, I’ve heard that you’re not really doing ok. Why did you lie to me, friend? Why did you have to pretend to me that you are fine when in reality, you are not? I thought you trust me? You know I will never invalidate what you feel. Never will I laugh at whatever it is that is bothering you. I will always be the friend you want me to be.
I will laugh when you want me to. Shut my mouth if you ask me to. I will pat your back when the situation calls for it, comfort you when you feel alone. When all else is taken away from you, trust that I will still be around. That is how important you are to me.
Is he treating you right? You told me last time that he is. Then how come you’re crying? How come you’re hurting? Why the letters you posted in that forum? I hate seeing you cry, friend. When you hurt, I hurt, too. Much more than you can imagine. No don’t give me that sh*t about every relationship having both ups and downs. You’ve cried for far too long for that person whom you wasted more than seven years of my life with, please don’t commit the same mistake again. If you feel there’s nothing more for you with him, then let go. You will do the both of you more good than this. You don’t need him to be happy. You’ll do just fine without him. Much in the same way as before.
Besides, I don’t think you’re doing him a favor by being the person that you are. It is obvious that he doesn’t like what he sees. Why don’t you prove how much you love him by setting him free?
I know it sounds very much like what happened before but hey, that’s what life is all about. Maybe you just haven’t found the person who you are meant to be with for the rest of your life. He will come, friend. Don’t be weary waiting. And if he doesn’t, then God has a much better plan for you. Remember, the only person who you can’t do without is God. God is enough for you. God is more than enough.
I love you. I will always be here for you.
much love,
your alter ego
I hate this day…
May 10, 2005I’m sick and I’m alone. I still need to finish something by today. The people I’ve been trying to set appointment with still hasn’t confirmed yet. The manager of the hotel where we’ll be staying is getting on my nerves.
My head hurts like hell. I can’t sleep because I couldn’t breath due to colds. I’m freezing.
This day sucks. Big time…
Oh I almost forgot… Happy birthday to my SoulMate, Rolan Alcantara. And belated greetings to my buddy, Venice Tolentino.
Something I got online
May 6, 2005I found this piece really entertaining, specially the last part. Special thanks to Andoy for forwarding it to me.
Wit of the Filipino
By Nury Vittachi
(From THE FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW)
THERE’S A SIGN ON Congressional Avenue in Manila that says: “Parking for Costumers Only.” This may be a misspelling of “customer.” But the Philippine capital is so full of theatrical, brightly dressed individuals that I prefer to think it may actually mean what it says.
This week, we’ll take a reading tour of one of the most spirited communities in Asia. The Philippines is full of wordplay. The local accent, in which F and P are fairly interchangeable, is often used very cleverly, such as at the flower shop in Diliman called Petal Attraction.
Much of the wordplay in the Philippines is deliberate, with retailers favouring witty names, often based on Western celebrities and movies. Reader Elgar Esteban found a bread shop called Anita Bakery, a 24-hour restaurant called Doris Day and Night, a garment shop called Elizabeth Tailoring and a hairdresser called Felix The Cut.
Smart travellers can decipher initially baffling signs by simply trying out a Taglish (Tagalog-English) accent, such as that used on a sign at a restaurant in Cebu: “We Hab Sop-Drink In Can An In Batol.” A sewing accessories shop called Beads And Pieces also makes use of the local accent.
Of course, there are also many signs with oddly chosen words, but they are usually so entertaining that it would be a tragedy to “correct” them.
A reader named Antonio “Tonyboy” Ramon T. Ongsiako (now there’s a truly Filipino name) found the following:
In a restaurant in Baguio: “Wanted: Boy Waitress;” on a highway in Pampanga: “We Make Modern Antique Furniture;” on the window of a photography shop in Cabanatuan: “We Shoot You While You Wait;” on the glass wall of an eatery in Panay Avenue in Manila: “Wanted: Waiter, Cashier, Washier.”
Some of the notices one sees are thought-provoking. A shoe store in Pangasinan has a sign saying: “We Sell Imported Robber Shoes.” Could these be the sneakiest sort of sneakers? On a house in Jaro, Iloilo, one finds a sign saying: “House For Rent, Fully Furnaced.” Tonyboy commented, “Boy, it must be hot in there.”
Occasionally, the signs are quite poignant. Reader Gunilla Edlund saw one at a ferry pier outside Davao, southern Philippines, which said: “Adults: 1 USD; Child: 50 cents; Cadavers: subject to negotiation.”
But most are purely witty, and display a love of Americana. Reader Robert Harland spotted a bakery named Bread Pitt, a Makati fast-food place selling maruya (banana fritters) called Maruya Carey, a water-engineering firm called Christopher Plumbing, a boutique called The Way We Wear, a video rental shop called Leon King Video Rental, a restaurant in the Cainta district of Rizal called Caintacky Fried Chicken, a local burger restaurant called Mang Donald’s, a doughnut shop called MacDonuts, a shop selling lumpia (meat parcels) in Makati called Wrap and Roll, and two butchers called Meating Place and Meatropolis.
Tourists from Europe may be intrigued to discover shops called Holland Hopia and Poland Hopia. Both sell a type of Chinese pastry called hopia.
What’s the story? The names are explained thus: Holland Hopia is the domain of a man named Ho and Poland Hopia is run by a man named Po.
People in the Philippines also redesign English to be more efficient. “The creative confusion between language and culture leads to more than just simple unintentional errors in syntax, but in the adoption of new words,” says reader Rob Goodfellow. He came across a sign that said “House Fersallarend.” Why use five words (house for sale or rent) when two will do?
Tonyboy Ongsiako explains why there was so much wit in the Philippines.
“We come from a country where you require a sense of humour to survive,” he says. “We have a 24-hour comedy show here called the government and a huge reserve of comedians made up mostly of politicians and bad actors.”
A Love Like That
May 5, 2005Three Sundays ago when I was about to hear mass, I experienced one of the most touching moments of my life.
There I was, a tad too early for the 5:00 p.m. mass waiting for the 4:00 p.m. mass to end before I sit down. Suddenly, someone who was waiting in line to receive communion caught my attention. It was a male tramp, all dirty with something big perched on his shoulders. Since I wasn’t wearing neither my eyeglasses nor my contact lens then, I wasn’t sure what it was. When he turned around to get back to his seat, I was dumbfounded. What was on his shoulders wasn’t exactly a what. It was a who! He was carrying his wife, who I assumed, couldn’t walk on her own. She seemed invalid to me then.
When the man reached his seat, what he did touched me. He seated his wife beside him and ever so slowly, he put her head on his shoulders. With his arms around her shoulders, he prayed and wept.
By that time, I was already on my seat in front of the church. Still, I kept looking in their direction. I saw that many people gave alms to the couple. The wife, who couldn’t move her feet, had her arms around her husband. The husband, on the other hand, was crying.
That was when I feel down on my knees, prayed and wept on my own. I couldn’t help but think how much love the husband has for his wife. I envied the wife so much. Once, I thought I had a love like that, unconditional and pure. Once I thought I’d see myself spending the rest of my life with someone like that man. Needless to say, I crashed back to the ground seven years after my fantasy.
It’s a love like that that I long to have. Yes I am in a relationship right now. But it is still too early to tell whether what I have with the person I am with right now can compare to what I saw. It is a love like that that I asked in prayer. I know He will give me whatever He knows is good for me. I just hope that love is one of them.
And so I wait.
ahhhh…
May 3, 2005It’s my computer that has a problem. Now I’m writing this on my officemate’s terminal *wickedgrin* while pretending to be busy about a report that needs to be submitted tomorrow (harharhar). Anyways…
My boss is going to recommend me for a Fulbright Scholarship next year. I’m having second thoughts about it, though. Hindi naman kasi ako bright hehehehehe. Then again, who knows? I might actually pass the qualifying exams. We’ll see… (more…)
