What’s Wrong with Us Filipinos?
by A reflection of how different Filipinos sometimes act when they are outside the Philippines and when they are in their own country; this is also hoping that there will be changes in the way WE Filipinos would think.
When I arrived from Singapore after a 10 day mission work there. It was a very tiring trip since we have to go to Angeles City to take the budget plane from Clark to Singapore. I really missed my country after a short period of time and even told my co-minister that I can kiss the Philippine land when I get off the plane.
As we disembark the plane, guess what I heard from other Filipinos who was also getting off: “Mag-ingat kayo sa mga gamit nyo, Pilipinas na ‘to” [“Watch out for your things, we are already in the Philippines”]. It was neither a very nice thing to hear nor a very nice thing to say about your own country, but then again, I thought, can I blame them?
We were already waiting in line to go through immigration and guess what I saw…an evidence of a Filipino. Filipinos who just can’t wait to go through immigration, ignoring the yellow line where we are supposed to wait for our turn – - in spite of a signboard saying: Please wait by the yellow line.
After immigration is the customs. A woman before me was upset about the custom charging her Php 850.00 tax for the Play station she bought in Singapore. “I don’t have enough money anymore to go back to Cebu”, she said. Guess what custom personnel said to her? “Well, how much are you willing to pay?” And that’s not the shocking part. Custom personnel said, “If you want, let’s not make a receipt of your payment so you can pay less, ok?” Welcome back to the Philippines!!
Well, I’ve heard about the 1-billion budgets against graft and corruption ordered by our President. I believe Filipinos are very skeptical and very worried about this already. Can you blame them? This is the Philippines, isn’t it?
I don’t want to believe that the Philippines is going to the dogs. I don’t believe that the Philippines can not regain its dignity and face to the world. But there is just something lacking in us that even how much we struggle we always end up at the bottom of the world’s economy. In my opinion we lack discipline and will power. When I say “we” I mean the government and the Filipino people (that includes myself).
The other day, I was buying roasted chicken in the market place of Lapu-Lapu city and guess what I saw: young people sniffing rugby in front of me! What’s so ironic about this is that the Police station was just a few meters away from them. Well, this is the Philippines, isn’t it?
What’s wrong with the Philippines? The government? The president? The system? My opinion is that it’s the Filipinos. We always blame the government for our mischief while the government blames each other. There must be something we can do as individuals and stop this bickering and power struggle.
Maybe we can start with ourselves. If we change the way we think against our government and learn to trust them then maybe they will begin to be trustworthy. If we change the way we think about our country and start being responsible and disciplined, maybe in time, maybe not in our generation, the Philippines will be a better place because we started something different within ourselves.
I don’t really know how the Philippines can grow economically or how our government can change. But I too want to see a better Philippines in the future. Maybe if I start doing right today, I can influence others to do what is legal and right.
This is also my country and I love my Philippines! Many people have died for this country and I will not let them die in vain. Mabuhay and Pilipinas!
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Post CommentRyan
On August 10, 2009 at 3:33 am
I take offense with the title- remember that there is about 93 Million Filipinos and not all Filipinos are those what you saw. Foreigners tried to scam me all the time every time I am abroad and I experienced it in the so-called “wealthier” countries.
Sana wag mo lahatin. Kasi pag ibang tao nakakabasa ng sinulat mo- akalain lahat tayong Filipino ganyan ang ugali. I am sorry but I beg to disagree – hindi po ako ganyan.
IJ0728
On August 10, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Thanks for the comment Ryan. The tile is something to wake us up and for those GOOD FILIPINOS to do something because the reason why the bad is victorious is because the good doesnt act much. What I’m saying is that we can do little good things for the better of our country. I AM ALSO A FILIPINO!!
Sam A. Ygapo
On October 10, 2009 at 4:00 am
You should go Philippine Forum in Topix and read all the nasty remarks from retired Americans living in the Philippines. So embarassing. If curse could only kill!
IJ0728
On October 11, 2009 at 11:34 pm
I believe we can still change. That’s why I teach my kids to do the right things even how little it is like throwing the garbage in the bin, not spitting anywhere, urinating in the comfort room not in public places, etc. Our problem sometimes is that 80% of Filipino kids (if I’m not mistaken) are getting bad habits from the adults. Just get inside an internet cafe where kids as young as 9 years old plays DOTA and you will hear a lot of “mura” (foul languages) from their mouth. I say, my God, where are they getting this?
JP
On August 25, 2010 at 4:41 pm
(Hong Kong tourist bus hostage incident, August 2010)
A great country is establish by people who has sense of morality and a relentless drive for excellence. Its leaders must also lead by setting examples.
Not to anger Filipinos here; me as a Taiwanese, often hear from my fellow countrymen that we do not want to become a second Philippines. Lagging behind South Korea already angered some of the Taiwanese, especially after 8 years of corrupt regime by President Chen.
Filipinos must have courage to hold your leaders responsible, must have the motivation to seek excellence. Life, is not all about short sighted materialistic gains, it is about pride to have long term “qualities”.
AJE
On September 5, 2010 at 7:41 pm
JP, you are so right! Well said!!