As a Filipino who admits to still having goose bumps and who gets teary-eyed over the singing of the Philippine National Anthem during international competitions (and that’s including during Pacquiao’s matches, apparently) or every time the country is being represented, I admit to having gone ballistic the moment I saw the video.
Let’s lay down the cards here. I didn’t particularly enjoy the video, nor did it appear humorous to me as it had that effect on several people. I condemn the fact that Mr. Sieckza seemed to bask in the glory of being a citizen of a first world country. The way he delivered his piece on the video was uncalled for and totally appears to be ostentatious. On the other hand, however much painful it is to admit, the things Mr. Sieckza apparently dislikes about the country to the point of “annoying” and “pissing” him off as he said it, are the ugly realities that we have to deal with.
Admit it or not, we couldn’t even point a single issue presented in the video and declare it as having been presented wrongly or with exaggeration at the very least, since we all know for a fact that if we do that, it would just lead us to a deeper pit. The issues presented are basic truths. In fact, ego aside, credits should be given to Mr. Sieckza for being way too observant, noticing the problems of this nation considering the fact that he is a foreigner, when these problems I assume seem to have been positioned exactly on the blind spots not only of the leaders of this country but of a good portion its people.
Ours is a country with a proud history of having fought invaders armed only with blind faith and a strong desire to attain independence, a country that is being heralded as the pearl of the orient seas, a country that claims to produce “world class Filipinos”. However, I sometime cringe inwardly the moment these positive trademarks and attributes are scraped off from the surface and we are forced to deal with the real state of the nation.
Just a few weeks ago, I invited a foreigner friend to come visit the Philippines some time and he good-naturedly told me, “I heard it’s not safe for foreigners to visit your country.” It was a big slap on my face. Though I explained the real score and then went on rambling about reasons why he should visit the country, even those sounded as mere bluffs on my ears. Why? Because at that moment, I was flooded with the realization that perhaps, we have come to the point when we have all developed over-the-top skills of sugar-coating the real state of the country. And if we have indeed, then we’re too far away from the possibility of rising from the deep pool of poverty and economic instability. For how can a problem be addressed unless there is a realization that there is in fact, a problem?
What exactly happened to us? I can only assume this:
We stopped dreaming big dreams for our country. We have lost hope over the fact that we can actually rise above our “developing nation” status. We have become tolerant, perhaps too calloused of the problems posed at us that we have forced ourselves to become desensitized. We have resorted to that weak form of escape. It even scares me that we are at a point when we’ve become so used to these problems that we say, “Pabay-I na lang ina. Wala na ta mahimo dira.” We really actually don’t have a clear sense of direction of where this country is heading. Thus, the unfinished buildings, the uncovered street holes, the unorganized traffic coupled with the never-ending honking of horns, the half-hearted security guards. So with these realizations, I couldn’t have the heart to fully despise Mr. Sieckza for having the guts--- the way he presented it filled with haughtiness, aside---to present issues that we consciously desensitized ourselves from.
The fact that we went mad, we raged, a big group even waged a web war against the makers of the video couldn’t definitely solve the issues posed at us. On the other hand, those reactions were glimmers of hope that we have not completely fallen into desensitization. We reacted because despite the fact that we don’t have the full confidence on the idea of our nation rising up from poverty and all the issues attached to it, we wouldn’t settle over the idea of the world looking down on us because we know for a fact that if we really put our hearts and minds over a particular matter, we can do better than anybody else.
Just as there are countless ways to kill a cat, there are also several ways to solve this big mess that we have made as a nation. Let the others post videos and commentaries about their “20 Reasons Why I Like Philippines”, those are good starters. Let those security guards start doing their jobs the right way upon feeling the guilt and shame of watching themselves smile and wave at the camera while Mr. Sieckza is talking in the foreground of how they appear to be useless in case of real emergencies. Demand for foods which are handled only the proper way. Flush the toilet bowl as a courtesy for the next user in public toilets-----it might sound simple, but if the habit is developed in each one of us, then it’s one big problem down. Only honk when it’s necessary. March on the streets to be heard if you must, if you think that might be a way to awaken the public and those who are holding seats in the government. Let’s not just stop on defending ourselves through word wars when our egos are hit, bull’s eye. Let’s go beyond from being emotional people, into logical people who take responsibility, people who move into action. The basic point is, each one of us has a certain responsibility to this nation that only we can do. So, let’s channel our boiling emotions regarding this recent issue into doing what we have to do, with unwavering determination and with unbridled passion comparable to the rage which we exhibited over the posting of Mr. Sieckza’s video.
As for the whitening products loaded with UV protection, that’s probably the last in our list of concerns. If I may be asked however, I’ll give this particular issue an exemption. Let’s give it a break. It’s summer anyway.
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