hoy! pinoy ako!

first read this article at http://antipinoy.com/from-the-net-why-the-philippines-sucks/

Why the World Sucks (my reaction to the article “Why the Philippines Sucks”, this is a reaction paper that i actually submitted to my professor so expect one-time only capitalization and minimal typos :D)

Yes, I am one of those people who customarily mutter, “Damn, this country sucks!” every now and then. Way back in High School, I always watched the news and read newspapers but then I grew tired of hearing how the state of the Philippines was constantly stagnating. The only bits of cheery news, no matter how insignificant the details were, were those that concern the life of celebrities. 

Yes, the Philippines does suck. Actually, the whole word sucks; and the more we rant about how “sucky” it is, the “suckier” it gets. But maybe, just maybe, if we take a good look at the picture the other way around, we would see things differently. I, myself, have attended various services in different churches over the course of my life, and let me tell you this, the strength of faith and devotion of us, Filipinos, is incomparable. For many times I have seen Filipinos on the streets, carrying big plastic bags and living off on people’s trash. And who could overlook those Filipinos playing music on the bridges hoping the passersby would spare them some coins? 

As a volunteer member of the Assistance Team for PSYSC, an organization that is driven and is catered to the Filipino youth, I have witnessed several students from Elementary, High School, and College alike who are very passionate and dedicated in preserving the environment. Did you help out after Typhoon Ondoy ravaged the Philippines last year? When relief operations started, the news spread like wildfire and there were so many volunteers who flocked to the major relief centers; a lot more than needed, in fact, that they had to be referred to smaller relief centers in other affected areas. Look around and you will see Filipinos wearing “I’m proud to be Pinoy” statement shirts. Our nation may have been infested by selfish Filipinos – the good-for-nothing ones, the ungrateful ones, the bad ones – but where in the world would you find a country that does not have these kinds of people in their citizens? NOWHERE. 

Now, know why the Philippines does not really suck. Because no matter how “sucky” the situations are in this country, there are still Filipinos who manage to smile, there are still Filipinos who manage to persist, there are still Filipinos who manage to believe, and there are still Filipinos who manage to love. Instead of dwelling on the “suckyness” of the Philippines, what we really need to do is to stop correcting history because we can never rewrite what has already happened. We must prove our bad reputation otherwise. We must make a conscious effort for the betterment of our country. Stop global whining and start global hoping. We are only as good as we think ourselves to be, and if we keep on believing in this mindset that the Philippines sucks, then we have found a surefire way of living up to that “sucky” reputation.

Love for the good, not hatred for the bad, is the cure.