About two weeks ago, 17th of this month, I went to school at around 7am (the earliest since the year started because I haven't been having early morning classes, earliest for this semester is 8am, Mondays only) to attend the Holy Spirit Mass which was sort of required for us in our Theology class since it's our last year in college and our teacher would be giving us a quiz about the Mass. (How nice was that? :| ) And so, while I was waiting (the mass started at around 8.45), it so happened that the Philippine National Anthem played while I was staying at one of the gazebos at school. When I heard it, I stood up and waited for the last note to be played and I went back to my prior position, sitting and slouching.
While the Anthem was being played, I said to myself, 'why am I the only one standing?' After a little while a group of freshmen saw me standing and started to do what I did. But the rest of the students who were staying in that area weren't even moved, still sitting, acting deaf, pretending not to hear what's being played. Is that the way they act when hearing the Philippine National Anthem? Is that the way they show respect to our Lupang Hinirang?
I was in rage while the Lupang Hinirang was being played, wanting to shout HAVE YOU NO RESPECT?! , and a lot more after. This is the MAIN reason why Philippines, until now, is still a developing country, far from the other countries that we, Filipinos, have been dreaming to have. We lack that love for our country, that burning patriotism and nationalism that most foreigners from first-world countries have for their own. I've even read this blog post from a Korean that the reason why South Korea is now that rich is because of their countrymen's love for their country. Hand-in-hand, they helped to raise their country, after the Korean War, to where it is now, one of the richest countries in the world today. And the lack of it is also the reason why Philippines, as we see it, is not getting any better.
I know for myself that I need more of that kind of love for my country, but I also know that I love the Philippines and I'd want for her to get better, just like South Korea and all the other countries that we look up to.
I am hoping that today's Inauguration of President-elect, Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III (P-Noy) will be a good start for me, and my fellow Filipinos to bring back that love that we once had, especially that love that our heroes died for.
"The Filipino People is worth dying for!"
&
"The dice of fate as been rolled, and each of us has been assigned a role to play. Ours is to keep lighting the beacon-light of unity for those who have lost their way. Ours is to articulate the fervent hopes of a people who have suddenly lost their voices. Ours is to adopt the solid stance of courage in the face of seemingly hopeless odds so that hope, no matter how dim or distant, will never banish from sight."
- Senator Benigno "NINOY" S. Aquino, Jr
