There are times when I am definitely NOT proud of my nationality. Yes, the Filipino has definitely achieved a lot, historically, BUT...We're still pretty pathetic for a race of people.

We've been ruled by four countries, not three (the British ruled for a considerable amount of time, but it wasn't too long), and up to now, the society we live in suffers from a cancer. As Jose Rizal stated in his two novels, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and El Filibusterismo (**The Subversive), Philippine society is definitely in need of a miracle. Not just a cure but some goddamn MIRACLE!

You'd think that after nearly four hundred years under Spanish oppression, followed by nearly half a century of American rule, and not to mention four years of Japanese terror, that the Filipinos would learn from their history and rise to become a more resilient race of people. But we are met with a disappointment. There is colonial mentality, first of all.

The Filipinos are still an American Colony, so to speak, with their habit of promoting everything American and forgetting everything Filipino. The tradition of showinhg respect for elders is slowly disappearing and the new generation is more influenced by mass media and way too much screentime.

Teenage girls get dolled up to look like Britney Spears (who, in my opinion, is NOT a role model) or just about any popular singer on MTV and then go out and start flirting with just any deadbeat they find. Filipino guys on the other hand, no longer hold women in high regard. They treat girls like dirt and have no control over their hyperactive hormones.

And what about the environment? We're fast becoming one of the most polluted countries in the world because we have a problem with waste management!

I find everything to be a big disappointment. New Question: Why is the Philippines the only country in Asia that is predominantly Catholic? Why are the other countries not? Because the Filipinos are asleep. They can not go about spreading God's word because they are asleep. Shouldn't we be the ones to be sending out the most number of missionaries?

See? Even being a Filipina Catholic is a big disappointment. I can tic off how many things I am proud of as a Filipina with just one hand. In class, we were once asked if we were proud to be Filipino. There was a great show of hands and everyone grinned on and on and nodded that yes, they were proud to be Filipino. I wanted to scream, "You HYPOCRITES! When will all of you ever stop lying to yourselves?!"

There certainly are so many things that also prove how much of a laughingstock we are in other countries. Take a look at our government now and what's happening. Many still attempt to bring back to power a man who has done nothing to improve the economy and has stolen more than millions in a short span of two years.

TWO YEARS! Can you believe it?! It took Ferdinand Marcos, a dictator, TEN TIMES more than two years to amass such a huge amount in hidden wealth! And this filthy, lying scum succeeds in plundering the country in only two years! And to think that many still support him! Talk about DOUBLE STUPIDITY!

Erap, who is just too ugly for words, still has throngs of admirers, following him and clinging onto his every promise to bring them wealth, happiness, and success >_<.

Duo ::waves around a huge banner:: GO, GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo)! GO! GO, MAIA! GO!

Heero ::wacks Duo on the head:: Sorry about that, he gets a little carried away sometimes. You can keep ranting, Maia.

Ahem...as I was saying before I was so rudely distracted...(Duo in the background: Heeeeey~!) Erap should be given a lightning rod and shoved into a thunderstorm at its climax. Allow him to get hit by lightning and see how much sense will be shocked into him, as my brother says.

Erap is just so desperate to get back into power that he has even gone as far as releasing convicts into the streets to assist the protestors clamoring to get into Malaca�ang Palace (I am listening to my dad rave to the television set as I am typing this essay and the volume is blaring throughout the house).

Duo: You're kidding! Erap did THAT?!

Heero: No, we're not hosing you...it's true, according to Preventer's surveillance.

Maia: Will you guys just go back to your respective fanfics and leave me to rant!

Duo: Shee...Pretty cranky today, aren't we?

Maia (fangs bared): OUT!!!

So far, Gloria has done well and has issued MAXIMUM TOLERANCE to the military, but I don't know how long that will last. Because of the unruly crowd, already there are deaths and some have been rushed to the hospital due to gunshot wounds in the leg. Personally, I think these people shouldn't be tolerated. The instigators should be hanged (I'm talking about Miriam, Enrile, Erap, JV, Jude, Jinggoy and all the other actors and politicians who attended the so-called EDSA TRES) and then we can go about and rebuild the economy.

But I disgress...I think the only thing I can be proud of is that in the past EDSA rallies (EDSA ONE and EDSA DOS), we were able to peacefully unseat two leaders who had abused their power and hid their sins within the constitution.

That's two things...Two things to be proud of, that went to waste because of the government's own mistake of choosing to give in to temptation and breaking their promises. That's two fingers down, three more fingers, a hand and two feet more to go. And God willing, a considerable number of body parts if the people prove they are wiser, stronger, and smarter.

So, am I proud to be Filipino? In some ways, yes...and in most other ways, NO, and NEVER. Will I choose to be born a Filipino in another lifetime? Perhaps yes, but then again, no, not this girl. If the people choose to learn from their mistakes, maybe only then will I change my mind.

What about you? Are any of you proud?