Written by Annabella Garcia

My fellow Filipinos,

Times are looking bleak as of the moment in our beloved country. As neighboring lands continue to prosper, it seems as if we have never bounced back from the various kinds of destruction we have suffered in the past. The once proud Pearl of the Orient has been tarnished by catastrophic events, and it looks like her shine can no longer be brought back. Heck, there are some out there who would argue that we Filipinos have a damaged culture.

May it be in the fields of economics, politics, morality, education, environment, religion, opportunities, transportation systems, etc., we just want to ask the Philippines a one big anuna? Others may think that they have found the answer through settling in distant lands where life would be more comfortable. Away from the political circus, wherein animals are substituted as government officials. Away from the staggering condition of the urban poor, whose eyes we do not even dare to meet. Away from the hot pavement of the concrete jungle, EDSA is one ferocious beast.

        Corruption.

        Traffic.

        Illiteracy.

        Narrow-minded.

        Killings.

        Unemployment.

        Poverty.

Triggered? We get it. Life is not easy in the Philippines.

Let us be real. It is easier to accept the higher pay given in foreign countries. Screw the country, right? What has it ever done for us anyway? Better yet, we should save ourselves from the shipwreck.

Blah, blah, blah.

But you see, if you are one of those suckers who thought that change would immediately come but still stand on the wrong side of the escalator, then sweetheart, you are part of the problem. If you are one of those people who rants about the state of our country online, but does not even use the signal lights of your car as you make a turn, then sweetheart, you are part of the problem.

The thing with us is that we are obsessed with finding shortcuts or instant solutions in hopes of resolving all of our problems, case in point is President Duterte’s War on Drugs. In reality, these issues will not go away in a blink of an eye, or should yI say in a speed of a bullet. Rather, they will require commitment and constant perseverance from everyone who is involved, otherwise they will haunt us.

Although, here is the good news. I have realized that there is still hope for our country. There is no need to abandon ship and set sail for greener pastures. Change will come; it is just that it will take a long time if we do not change our ways, down to those “small, insignificant” things. To quote the movie Heneral Luna, “May mas malaki tayong kalaban sa mga Amerikano — ang ating sarili.” Truth is, change is a two-way street. You cannot solely depend on your environment, you yourself must also adapt to it in order to survive.

Now imagine if everyone, including us, as scholars of the nation, would work hand in hand in order to bring our country back to its former glory. Imagine if every Filipino try to make a difference in their lives here in their own land instead of others’, or thought of thinking of a better life and success for the whole rather than only their own. Our collective actions will make a big difference, there is no doubt in that. I guess the real challenge lies in the way each of us treat one another, most especially our suffering Motherland.

Sincerely,

A young blood