COUNTRY DREAM (A Political Thought for the People of the Philippines)

I am dreaming for my country.  Someday, I want her to have the nationalist citizens who are really matured in the true essence of maturity.  People who are taking seriously the country’s pressing issues, written history, interests and the sense of nationalism.  People who are not ignorant on key issues that surround the country like sovereignty, economy, health, religion, population, etcetera, and by this the country will be on the right track.  I can set aside the economic grow in favor of the most needed patriotism in each Filipinos because it will start from there if every citizen of the country looks after the welfare of the country first before theirs, and the growth will follow.  In real talk, it’s hard to accept but Filipinos are still far from the citizens of industrialized countries when it comes to handling political issue, social awareness and historical information.  It is sad to accept being labeled 3rd world country but the fact that we are poor, we’re but to hold on to reality.  And it follows the stigma of being there, but we can do something.  So I want my country to get out from infamous culture of 3rd world country where poverty infested the peoples’ mind to be disunited, unconcerned in national key issues, and one’s-own attitude.

In an international marketing firm, Philippines was ranked last year’s 3rd country as the most ignorant about key issues.  At first impression, acceptance is just an unpatriotic idea especially for those concerned citizens but can we pause for a while and think why it was that so.  When the infamous killing of suspected drug peddlers was justified against soft-hearted pro-life and human rights advocates, when common people laugh at females jokes because they do not really know what misogyny means, when the country has faced the controversies about Chinese sudden huge influx competing locals in job haunting amidst of unemployment, when honesty was disregarded and yet despite of all these, people found to justify these infamous controversies, then the survey has just clearly vindicated its credibility.  In reality, many of Filipinos are lacking in knowledge about the issue and yet they are stubborn, boisterous and confident to insist their half-cooked opinion.  What does “empty vessels make the most noise” and “a shallow brook babbles the loudest” mean?  A year after the study was made, then come the election campaign in the Philippines where people want to attend in sorties for entertainment rather than listening in the issues, cheer for candidates because of good physical looks and popularity, disregard the issues of theft, dishonesty, and incompetence of candidates, and adhere to political party rather than self conscience, then the result of the recent 2019 mid-term election obviously tells all the integrity of the marketing firm.

Politics in the 3^rd world country like Philippines is chronic disease that should be treated by the public servants and the whole population.  The rampant corruption and political vendetta.  Education is the powerful weapon to success.  While the biggest part of the country is the marginalized deprived with quality education in the public schools, the elite are advantaging the knowledge from advanced private and exclusive schools but they’re outnumbered to be heard.  So the power to choose the leaders still lies on these majority underprivileged people, and this is what will capitalize by the clever and crook politicians.  Let us not discriminate them, it is not racist but the poor people, we call them “so cheap quality” far from the well-off people who have the reputation of primed and educated.  Most of them love to follow the soap opera or gossip shows rather than tuning in business and current event shows.  Ask them what happened to a showbiz couple and they will give you full details but clueless if asked an important point in our history.  If we have this kind of mentality, it is not surprising then if most of us are easily persuaded by what we’ve seen in internet without critical thinking and actively engaging in heated argumentation in social media.  We give unsolicited advices for the reality shows but criticize the activists in the street.  But I would say as long as the pressing issues to address are valid, they are not disruptive and forget if they are leftist – we are talking the issues here.   If the mind-set of the people will not upgrade, politics in the country will remain the same old culture of corruption.  Educate the bottom of the society since they are the most number of our population.  Educate them.   Let’s go out and get involved.  People make what the country is.  When the sacred election becomes funny games, my Philippines fell in despair and yet will about to bound for bigger crisis. 

Are people cheering the populists because of desperateness for our country?  No, I don’t think so.  With the majority of our people live beyond the poverty line which causes them to this kind of political mentality, they may most possibly desperate for themselves but not for country.  My dream for country is for her to become fortunate to have elected leaders who will really serve for the welfare of the country, not for the interests of their political party, allies and most specially their self-interest.  The same for the civilians who are equipped with right information so that they will not be fooled again and again.  We are poor but we must be dignified.  In America, while opposition in opinion may inevitable and arguments may be there at first but at the end of the day they support the ways towards to the goal.   Someday, I wish too soon that Filipinos become like Americans, Canadians, French, Japanese, etc…. who are united in moving up for their country.  These are my country dream. 

THOUGHT OF LIFE

When I was at age of twenty’s, I thought life is only for chosen people: for rich, famed and good-looking men and women.  This because I see them so fortunate that they enjoy life with no barriers, limitations, hesitations.  I see well-off people buy anything they want, pay whatever amount, have almost everything in enjoying the comfort in life.  I see well-known people easily earn instant spot of recognition.  The rich and the famous are practically enjoying the nice thing about life, do and get whatever they want, get our respect, admiration, compliments, praise, recognition, and become powerful to command or influence.  They get all the privileges in life: good school, good company, good connections, advantages, and chances are they have good future.  And yes, those pleasing personalities just get the peoples’ approval easily to love with.  All these people have all the good opportunities.

Life in this world is for these chosen people and it looks like it’s more on “what you can, what you want” if you are the chosen.  It’s about what these people can do and what they want.  It’s all theirs, and it’s amazing and I am not rich and famous and handsome.  And I even thought to myself maybe I am not for this world.  Should I recluse, hibernate?  In my early and young life, there are so many little things I want to buy but I can’t because I have to prioritize the family needs first.  I wanted to help friends to get job, to give this or that but without belittling, I was just a poor rank and file clerk.  I felt I am not really rich, popular and yet I was not blessed with pleasing personality.  I don’t have that adorable face to love and it actually caused me to lose confidence in taking risk of romance/relationship.  I cannot get along with my personality.  Is this life?

But things changed.  As the days go by, as the passing of times, Through the running of days, over times until when I reached my middle-life, my early thought in life has changed.  Times, experiences and maturity changed my thought in life, interests, priorities, and ambitions and they lead me to learn simplicity.  I am not rich and popular but it doesn’t feel me less a man and feel sad.  I accepted my means, not settling for less but I learned to dream reasonably and realistically.  I don’t aim too much and over, as long as at least I can improve the world today a little, as long as I am sound and can extend some help on my capacity, that is enough.  No materialism, simplicity is the key.

Today my take in life is so simple.  I am in a point I care less how my look is.  My hair, may face, my shirt…. I mean, with these things, I am no longer insecure with my physical look today not because I look myself attractive but because I don’t think this is important.  I don’t think I need to look adorable to impress or to feel confident that is pointless to prove or senseless to use because I am in a point where I don’t care about my looks.  I am contented of what I have, of my means, my capabilities – it’s definitely not too much but I am happy, not secured but I accepted.  If I don’t become rich, popular and powerful, then fine.  The older I get the more I fee contended.  I think the older you get the less-necessities you need.  As long as I don’t harm other people, I feel good.  I think this is the most important.

Success is not measured in the size of wealth, number of awards and meaning of title.  To call successful doesn’t need to become millionaire or business magnate, multi-awarded person or Hall of Famer, or being called Chief Executive Officer or coined The Youngest Beatboxer.  If you were able to own properties as fruit of your hard labor, satisfied how you raised up your children, or simply happy with the result of taking care your health, then you are successful.  Success lies on happiness and contentment. If I am contented with what I have achieved regardless if it is small or huge, and I feel happy about it, then I think I am successful.  That’s my two-cent.  Let us not waste our times finding answer in our never-ending satisfaction.  Occupying your times with plans, sentiments, regrets forget to be happy.  Life in this world is too short to mess up.  Make the most of it, live your life in full but not for yours all alone – be considerate.