For those who think that some people here write pieces against Mrs. Arroyo simply due to personal reasons or that some write to instigate hate, they’re wrong. It’s simply too painful to criticize your own government. Whenever I type words that say “corruption,”, “evil”, ” stealing people’s money” or “fakery in government”, I cringe inside. When I was working as an OFW, I always tell my Western colleagues how beautiful my country is. Now, these entries I write show how democratic institutions are crumbling before my very eyes. It’s painful. It’s sad.
I remember the very first time I visited our country after spending years working abroad. The memories are still distinctly clear to me, how I cried when I heard the song of Sharon Cuneta being played inside the plane and how I longed to kiss the ground the minute we land. I’m not a fan of Sharon; yet her voice sounded very beautiful to my ears then. After years of just listening to Western and Asian songs, it was the first for me to hear a Tagalog song. When I heard her song, tears just rolled down my cheeks. It made me realize how foolish I was leaving the country of my birth.
We’re supposed to be the 14th country with the most number of happy people; yet we are in this morass, and we’re trying to get ourselves out of the hell pit. When I came back, I wanted to help government. But, the longer I stay here, the more I realize that we really need change, and fast. Is this the country which I want my kids and my grandchildren to live in? Is this the government which I want them to have? And are these the values I want them to learn?
I want my country to be the happiest place in the world. We have a beautiful place we call home. Our race is beautiful. We are honest. We are trustworthy. We are respectful. Yet, the system sometimes make brutes out of us.
Let me urge my friends not to succumb to this very monster called state superstructure. And let me suggest fifteen things we need to do from now on to make us the happiest country in the world.
1. Follow road signs.
2. Speak out against graft and corruption.
3. Give your license when traffic enforcers ask for it.
4. Whenever you see something wrong, do something.
5. Consider your work, your personal prayer to God.
6. If you have extra food, give to the hungry.
7. If you have extra money, give to charity.
8. Always punctuate your sentences with po and opo.
9. Demand good service from government employees. If you’re a government employee, give us your best.
10. Smile if you feel like it. Frown, if you need to. Cry if you feel sad.
11. Do not pluck a flower in public places. Do not trap pigeons in Luneta.
12. Do not spit in public nor urinate at the dumps.
13. When you see trash along the road, pick it up and throw it in a nearby garbage can. If there’s no can in sight, find one.
14. Help people in need. Don’t just watch whenever you see a road accident. Help.
15. If you have some suggestions to improve government service, write them in a piece of paper and send it to your Congressman. You just gave him a reason to do a project and get commissions from it. ;-)
Popularity: 1% [?]
Some additions:
Respect, uphold and defend human life and dignity
Think clearly
Speak softly but carry a big stick (Thank you President Teddy!)
Speak and write proper English, Filipino and your regional language.
If you are conyo, try not to be one!
Don’t flaunt your elitist education. Alums of the national university have more of a moral obligation to do this.
DO NOT FLAUNT YOUR WEALTH. Be it you are old money or noveau riche.
Treat service personnel as professionals. If you employ them give them benefits as required by law. Say “thank you” for the service they provide.
Do not discriminate based on gender, religion, ethnicity, political belief or age.
Do not kiss ass!
Giving to the poor is not an “if” it is a “do”. If you profess Christian beliefs, then it should come from the heart.
Plant a tree
Do not discuss money matters with your family at the dinner table. Do it when having coffee.
Apologize and say sorry for any shortcomings.
Understand the situation of your boss when he/she makes decisions.
If your are a balikbayan overseas Pinoy, don’t compare your adopted country’s conditions with the one in the Philippines
Discuss monedy matters to your family so they know it does not fall on trees and that the money used to buy their cellphones came from your blood,sweat, and tears. Better still, discuss how each one can also earn money and how to manage it.
Flaunt your wealth and spend some more, it would be good for the economy and also more sales taxes for the government. Also compare your country’s condtion with the one in the Phil. Who knows, we might learn from it.
Have your gun melted down to make pots and pans.
Joe
Earn your keep.
I wish I can be as articulate and sophisticated when it comes to expressing thoughts and feelings. I suppose Love is universal, whatever your color or origin is, love for your country or someone. I have my own perspective to things that we need to do to make a country a happy place to be. I think first a country needs to heal and then maybe we can all implement. I wish I can alleviate peoples hunger wether it’s for food or other basic things in life. Clean water, decent structure to call a house, pieces of wood and scrap metals that are held together by a rock or anything is not sufficient even for an animal. To have the dinity of having a job so you can provide for your family. I suppose it’s easier to be respectful and cordial, to be helpful and generous when you don’t have to think about when your next meal is going to be. I don’t mean to sound so melodramatic, I can’t shake off these sad pictures in my head everytime I leave my country, it sometimes make me question my faith. I don’t have the right to blame this government when I myself is not doing enough to ease these situations.
Tumbok mo, Pat.
Color the Philippines pink… and issue straitjackets … ROTFLMAO
If your are a balikbayan overseas Pinoy, DO COMPARE your adopted country’s conditions with the one in the Philippines – and see how idiots can turn an Eden into the Payatas smokey mountain
Filipinos have no discipline. We are wayward people. I hate to
state this fact. But it is the truth.
In foreign countries I visited. I have never seen anyone unrinating in any place. Except those backward countries. Most of
those economically advanced countries. People just dont urinate
anywhere. They do it in proper places. In Europe, you have to pay
to use a confort room.
Filipinos, man or women will urinate anywhere. In any place where
they can hide a little. On the wall, along the road, in the corner,
on your garden plants, etc…
This just shows. If we like it, we will do it. So, if a politician
or leader likes to steal. They steal. It is a compulsive disorder in
our minds, I think.
The importance of public toilets in protecting public health is the function of public works and health department. We need to demand the need for establishing sufficient public toilets proportionate to the number of people gathering in the public places for protecting public health and environment.
Why are local government agencies advertise ” bawal umihi dito” ? where will people go then? Walk a mile or two? The demand for public restrooms obviously exceeds supplies. Who’s responsibility is that?
Needed — to raise VAT to get more funds to build more public toilets. Might as well raise VAT a lot more to build more public schools.
Hyden,
so you are saying that your ” truth” applies to the filipino culture being wayward and has no discipline? I think you need to speak for yourself.
Understanding demand and supply may guide you to the real truth. Your FACT is very insulting to the filipino culture. Do you have studies that will support your facts that people will just urinate on walls and in any places? What do you think is the reason why people do what they shouldn’t do? (the demand of public toilets exceeds supplies in a particular location with a certain population)
Your fact is very insulting to the filipino culture. Are you related to benigno?
for you and the likes of you, patricio, this is my one suggestion: don’t make any factual declaration adverse to anyone without credible proof in your hand. make sure that you can testify to its truth under oath when called upon to do so. when you speculate, say so. and always speak for yourself, avoiding “we” unless you have been designated spokesman for others.
btw, how come you never heard any filipino song while an ofw but you listened to “western” and other asian music? what kind of place were you’ve been?
More candidly, pat, this makes RP happy: every 15th and 30th of the month, those who work get their pay. Forget all of those “15″ – does not make a bit of sense.