I Am a Filipino

I AM A FILIPINO

        We are Filipinos and what runs in our bloodstream is the lifeblood of every recognized heroes of this glorious nation. It took us centuries of struggle and bravery to finally attain the sovereignty of our Mother Land. Being a Filipino, a noblest insignia, nevertheless; many find faults to stand by our virtues and fail to profess proudly to themselves, “I am a Filipino.” Sad. But why is this happening?

        First Asian UN General Assembly President, Carlos P Romulo, in one of his statements stressed out his hope, love, and loyalty for our country. These were the very sentiments which keep the flames of our Filipino psyche ablaze hitherto.

        Now I speak before you, a Filipino dreaming that one day our youths will embrace their heritage after all, they are deemed as the future of our country. We had become a cradle of foreign invaders that somehow has a diminished our pure identity as Filipinos. From the Spanish, American, and Japanese occupations, many attempted to destroy our faith in our Mother Land; but our national flag made of blue, red, and yellow hues continue unfurling to greater heights.

        Romulo once said, “I am a Filipino. In my blood runs the immortal seed of heroes- seed that flowered down the centuries in deeds of courage and defiance.” He dreamt that one day especially the young Filipinos become proud of our country and become motivated to serve our nation wholeheartedly.

        But the situation at present is very different. We have been enslaved by colonialism. The Filipino first policy of the late President Garcia aimed to promote and choose our own products over foreign-labeled goods from other countries is now defunct. We are still lured by our ‘stateside mentality’, whereas we have our natural resources to utilize, it is being exploited by the hands of other nations. The youths of today’s generation have come to terms with imbibing the contemporary vibe of foreign styles seen on teenagers. Most importantly, many among us have their affinity for using and speaking English as a medium of communication.

        Today, many are so-called Hitlers of the English Grammar or Grammar Nazis. Just a small grammatical mistake of someone’s Facebook post will immediately attract cyber bashing and would likely comprise the individual to the point of mortifying that that simple language blunder into a death wish experience. Perhaps, there is someone now in our midst who is a German crusader of the English language.

        I don’t feel I’m still in my mother country. I’m alienated in my own country. We are under the mercy of companies owned by foreigners and our vast parcels of land bought off from our native comrades. How can I define the Filipino in me if this country is still not yet the Philippines I know anymore?