Admittedly, there is so much in the Philippines that could have been better, so
much to complain about. But to go into high gear at self-bashing, especially in
the presence of foreigners, and to go about it with such gusto, defies
explanation. That some complainers even go about it with apparent pleasure, all
at his own expense, is downright insane. This masochistic attitude has become
a nation-wide perversion, is socially irresponsible and unpatriotic, it is
almost criminal. The perplexed listener ends up thinking that Pinoys themselves
consider their own country as the world's basket case, and the Filipinos as the
dregs of society. No wonder, an American writer once described ours as a
"damaged culture." Ngansi ba nga amoh nato ini?
The time has come to discard this sickeningly negative attitude, and adopt a
more positive view of our own country and people. Ta-od kadiyaw ang maka hatag
kanato hong garbo to raise our destructively low self-esteem, yet we go on and
on, merrily telling "horror" stories about our country and ourselves. Ngansi
taya nga amora bang dili kapugngan ?
As this paper is written, Pacquio hit the world news again. He convincingly won
the match, knocking out the British pretender. He tacked another world crown
under his belt. Today it feels great to be a Pinoy. Kunta kunsoom sab, ma
hunahuna-an kunta ini nga triumph hong Filipino, before we succumb to the urge
of self-bashing again.
There is this Butuanon in Boston, Dr. Felipe Tolentino, Jr., who is a prominent
ophthalmologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital, probably the top medical
facility in the entire world. His subspecialty is confined to the retina of the
eye. It was reported that he has treated a president. The Butuanon can be great
indeed even in the competitive medical world, but ngansi ba nga amorang great
ba esab kita paglatos hong atong ka-ugalingon?
Alexander L. Lacson, in his book published in 2005, delved into this Filipino
paradox. From his book this article is based. He writes of Dr. Josette Biyo,
who has Masters and Doctoral degrees from a top school in the Philippines - De
La Salle University - where she used to teach rich college students, and was
paid well for it. But she left all that and all the glamour of Manila, and
chose to teach instead in a rural area in the province, receiving a measly
salary of less than $300.00 a month, because, according to her, she worries
about "who will teach the children?" In recognition of the rarity of her kind,
the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology honored Dr. Biyo by
naming a newly-discovered planet in our galaxy as "Biyo." Yes, we are a people
capable of greatness, and other countries recognize this fact. Yet, ngansi kai
taya nga amora bang wai salig ta sa atong ka-ugalingon ?
Then, there was this Filipino taxi driver, Nestor Sulpicio, in New York who,
in July 17, 2004, drove 43 miles from New York City to Connecticut , to return
$80,000.00 worth of rare black pearls to his passenger who left the valuables
at the back seat of his cab. Nestor even refused to be paid a reward. He
simply wanted to be reimbursed for the taxi fuel for the travel to Connecticut.
At the time, he was earning $80.00 a day as taxi driver. Take note that this
happened in New York, the den of snakes, manigbasai, and sinners of all
varieties, and where according to Sidney Sheldon, the angels no longer descend.
New York's newspapers called our kababayan "New York's most honest taxi
driver." The City government of New York gave him fitting recognition for his
deed. Yes, the Filipino is capable of greatness, now if only we can correct our
"crab" attitude and stop pulling others down.
We are a people of great talents: Diosdado Banatao of Tallwood Venture Capital
of Silicon Valley, UP Professor Caesar Saloma, a Galileo Galilie 2004 Awardee
for his laser microscopic studies, Tony Tan Caktiong of Jollibee who is giving
McDonalds a tough competition in the hamburger business, Pablo Planas
inventor of Khaos, a fuel and pollution reducing gadget, Lea Salonga of
Broadway fame, Manuel V. Pangilinan of business and the telecommunications
industry, Jennifer Rosales in golf, Efren "Bata" Reyes in billiards, Paeng
Nepomucino in world bowling, and of course the undefeated world boxing star
Manny Pacquio. And Ninoy Aquino. And Cory Aquino, whose speech at the US
Congress, was said to be best he has ever heard, according to the then Speaker
of the US House. Of course, Jose Rizal, whose magnificent Last Farewell was
read into the records of the US Congress to support the contention that
Filipinos are in fact talented enough and capable of governing themselves.
Gregorio del Pilar who, at age 21, and with only a handful of men, some armed
only with bolos and spears, chose to die defending Tirad Pass and held off the
advancing American troops who were better armed and number five times as many,
saving Emilio Aguinaldo and the fledgling Philippine government. Great
Filipinos all. Yet, we behave like a people with extremely low self esteem.
Ngansi taya ?
Some of us can not seem to control ourselves when speaking to a foreigner - we
paint a picture of ourselves as wily or sly, greedy or selfish, talented only
in corruption or graft, morally decadent, a hopeless bunch, a big joke, the
garbage of the world. Ngansi taya?
Lacson concludes that we, today's generation, should start a new revolution to
defeat all the negative energies in our minds and bodies as a people. If we
stop passing these negative energies to the future generation, we would have
achieved a major cultural revolution. We should stop this perverted penchant
for self-flagellation. We can do it.
( SOURCE: 12 LITTLE THINGS A FILIPINO CAN DO, ALEXANDER L. LACSON, ALAY PINOY
PUBLISHING HOUSE, 2005.)
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