Last two years, I�ve tried to write up the same topic on this homepage.My purpose is to bring out some weakness as one of our negative values.
But I was answered by an Austrian friend who happened to read that article. He told me that I am trying is to blame our multi-national forefathers
for our differences in ideas. He said Austria had a lot of forefathers,too. He said that from west to east, people used to migrate in this small country, and he doesn�t believe that heritages make citizens not to be patriotics or nationalistcs . Perhaps he was right.
This time, I was inspired by Aline Parrone�s article,"Never too late" which was published May 01,2002 at Banahaw Breeze Magazine,I am trying to write up
again almost the same topic, uncovering some of our weaknesses.
My porpuse is simply not to degrade Filipinos, but it may help, or perhaps bringing this negative to positive values.
What� s wrong with Filipinos?
Is it that our present Government to be blamed?
If there�s nothings wrong at home - why should we have to leave our small paradise?
From my personal views, let me outline some of our negative values and weaknesses.
1. we are some kind of luxus people.
2. most of us are impractical.
3. we still posses some colonial mentality.
4. our country lies on BAD geographical location.
5. iniative, motivation - some of us never mean this words.
6. our system of Government is not ideal for our society.
7. we are sensitive, highly-emotional people.
8. over populated
When Spaniards came to rediscover Philippines on 15th century, we are living as tribal groups, almost every islands had different languages (dialects) and
cultures. Our mixed blood from our forefathers were Malays, Chinese and some Americans or Mexicans. But as I said, lets take that for granted, what behind
our heritages, instead we have to proceed further.
1.Being luxus is spending excessively against our income or simply buying items not with the price but the trademarks.
Most of "lucky"Filipinos who have good jobs/income in America or Europe preferred to drive expensive cars, that they will feel other Pinoys will get envy to
them. Most of us will buy electronic products at latest tech, or item fashioned by Hollywood actors and actresses.
Although we can save from our daily homecooked dinners, (contrary to Europeans and Americans) we feel frustrated when we make parties (birthdays..etc..)
when our guests will not exceed 50 guests.
Joining a group tour in Los Angeles, I have the chance to meet Japanese,Koreans and Chinese tourists to San Franscisco.
I only wonder why these Japanese have no camera I am using, where Nikons were made in Japan. I had seen that these successful Chinese and Korean
businessmen never sporting some expensive western items,perhaps they prefer to finance investments rather than buying some excessive valued items.
Say I�m wrong, but we have some habits of buying expensive items rather than investing wisely.
2.Being practical means using "common sense" or thinking logically.
We are now living on the 21th century, but we still we are still "believers" of "supernaturals".
"Aswangs, mangkukulams" these figures are "real" in our homeland and "very" fictious characters in the West.
I am not against supertitions, but I consider them as "warnings" as they have every "reasons" not with the "consequences" that will follow.
We are also deep religious people that sometimes wise preachers will take advantage and make some sectorian groups from their "brain washings"saying this
is "what the Holy Bible said". Please verify our great "sect" leaders� assets!
Most of us just pray to ask "graces" or put our "fates" to the hands of the Almighty.
Why should we pray for "thanksfulness" for the graces we have received from our self-searching efforts. I know many of you will not agree on my term"self-
searching" but we have the saying- "Nasa Diyos ang Awa, nasa Tao ang Gawa"
We should remember that we "practically" live, only "once" in this planet.
Of course, I am not arguing our great religion, but we should also consider that we were created to live our life accordingly, by making our home first, then
we could help build good churches.
3.Colonial mentality is one of our negative heritage from our forefathers.
It is so complicated that it may take more generations before we could change this habits.
At the day our first baby born, we are starting to think or projecting what profession we will planning to him/her.
Am I right?
Sometimes, it is sad to think that we are preparing our child for his future life - as servant.
Why should we think of another preparation to his future, say some independent small business or other ideas that would keep income out of rendering
services. We are considered as highly-educated people, but how would it be when our graduates were beyond the boundary of work or job availability.
I remember,one of my Singapore Airline flight to Manila some years ago. I met a Singaporean, he was so young and we did some chat as seatmates, asking
some of personal to political ideas between our countries. I have learned that he will be going to Borneo to transact logging business.I wonder as his young
age,he could start-up businesses independently.
We also had no senses for our local products,we were proud of Western items that we preferred to.
We should remember when we buy some items, we are inducing the manufacturer not the pruduct alone!
There are more colonial negative values that we knew, but we were used to apply them to out daily lives.
4.Unfortunately, Philippines lies on the "Ring of Fire"
Frequent earthquakes and some tidalwaves will continually destort this group of islands.
Japan lies on this ring,too, but Japan had lot of things to be different from Filipinos when it comes to progress.
Also, Philippines is facing the edge of great Pacific Ocean, which means that typhoons and storms will be our monthly visitors on November to January
every year, or sometimes, no specific seasons to knock our doors and destroy our agricultures.
This is a great factor of how progress come to slow pacing.
5.Iniative - success begins from ourselves.
Even without somebody to direct or guide you. Or some strict rules to keep a certain law. Initiave is not from those who like to think that someone will
do the task for them. Or simply rely on.
Motivation is for those who think that things must be done for the good of ourselves and following the rules, honestly.
Who will iniate to clean up our environments? our rivers? our streets?
Are we too busy to motivate ourselves to keep and follow some rules. Rules of traffic, rules of things that can be seen by placards or signs, just waiting to
be read and understand. If we can not follow some simple rules, how much more with complicated laws.
6.When we talk of Democracy, we always insist our individual rights. The right to speak, right to express, rights or freedom is the main background of being
a democratic nation. This was introduced by the Americans before we were given our independence..
But let me tell you about our Sytem of Government today. It was decorated by public figures from actors to radio personalities that may not fully qualified
to lead, or to make better laws. Every one has the right to become lawmakers, or to vote anybody to make laws.
What is a Parliamentary form of Government? There is a President, acting as head of the Land, but will not direct interfere to ruling body of Parliament.
The Prime Minister is the one responsible to govern. This Prime Minister was chosen by the majority votes from the members of the Parliament.That
means he was chosen by those members, (not by popularity) as their "manager" according to his abilty or backgrounds, as well.
Election (vote from the people) will only be held to chose members of the Parliament. This will be a party-block system election. If a party won 60% of
the votes, they will capable to send 6 delegates from the party choice to represent. Other party will do the same according to their seats winning outcome.
Party groups will carefully choose their lawmakers to keep their image for the next 4 years balloting. If someone did some wrongdoings, his own party will
be the first to charged him. Corruptions will be limited and politicising will be minimize!
France,Germany,England,Austria and other succesful nations in Europe had this kind of Government.
7. We are highly sensitive, emotional persons. We often take some arguments "personally".Mapagtanim tayo ng sama ng loob.
And sometimes, we will not content if we did not take some "revenge". I am just wondering how come most of these Westeners take these phrase "forgive
and forget". "no perfect person" or "charge to experience".In the contrary, we can be a good and trusted "friend" but a worst enemy.
We also have the impression of "utang na loob",that when somebody committed some mistakes, he will be exempted to the consequences, if we have some
"utang na loob" to him. Kumpadre or kumares!
8. Overpopulation. Compare a home of 4 family member to 10 family member. Who has a better living conditions?
But whatever our negative values are, we are still possesing characteristics of a good people. Our family ties. How we get deeply in love.How we take our
responsibilties at home and work. How we smiles and laughters for everyone. Our respect to older people. Our belief in God.
I have 2 sons who were born in Austria, and I am always wishing that they may grow with : " Austrian in mentality, but Filipinos in heart.."