My genetic makeup is native Austronesian with a dash of indeginous Papuan of course, plus the bloodlines of the Sangley traders and the Iberian conquerors.
I am nationalistic, but not to the point that I would berate and belittle other countries just to flag my pride, because I’m also globalist. I wouldn’t tolerate any condescending attitude towards my people and my nation.
Thanks for the A2A. The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands that is full of color and contrast. It is considered as the “ Pearl of the Orient Seas,” had once been labeled as “. The Sick Man of Asia,” now bouncing its way to be an economic power again. Its people is one of the most hospitable in the world. Here are some of the things that I never wanted to change about the Philippines:
• Our respect towards the elderly.
Filipinos are very courteous when addressing their grandparents and other people of a much matured age. Whenever visiting our grannies, we bow a little and we place their hands on our foreheads as a sign of respect. The said custom is called pagmamano in Filipino.
Aside from this, we are also constantly using the honorary po/opo whenever we talk to them. It is a sign that they are being honored and respected by the youngsters.
Lastly, we are country that strictly adheres to the concept of Filial Piety. We are expected to give back the same love and sacrifices made by our parents to make our lives better. We are expected to take good care of them till their dying breath. That's why a Filipino who is negligent of his/her parents would receive criticisms from the eyes of the public.
• Spirit of Camaraderie (Bayanihan)
In the early times, whenever a house made of nipa and bamboo are going to be transferred from a rural area to the city or pueblo, every neighboring men in the town would help the owner of the house to carry it until they've reached their destination. This practice is called bayanihan. It bonds the community towards a certain aim and goal and it helps local communities to foster trust and understanding on one another.
This practice may have decreased a bit because houses nowadays are primarily made of permanent materials such as stone and brick. Although the spirit of camaraderie can still be seen amongst us. Whenever there is a calamity or emergency of sorts, always expect someone in the community to extend a helping hand on you.
• Our resilience. Filipinos would seem abnormal and weird in the eyes of foreigners, because it is one of the few countries wherein happiness and contentment can be seen in midst of calamity and poverty. For us, life still goes on, no matter how hard it is. It doesn't matter if we only have a piece of dried fish and salted egg in the table, as long as our families are bonded, we are happy and still have the highest hopes in our hearts. A photograph below shows a Filipino couple who still proceeded with their wedding vows in spite of heavy flooding and volcanic eruption. Pictures below also shows children in the slums posing happily. Only in the Philippines:
• Our lush, verdant fields.
I don't like the idea that the entirety of my country will be transformed into a metropolis and laid with asphalt, with erected concrete matchboxes spread across the archipelago. We don't want the entire Philippines to be like this:
I'm happy that God had blessed our land with fertile farmlands and greeneries. I am hoping it will be preserved by the future generations:
Wide open rice fields of Nueva Ecija, the “ Rice Granary of the Philippines”
Lush, golden rice fields of Quezon Province
Coffee plantation of Amadeo, Cavite, our Coffee Capital
Vast, open corn fields of Isabela Province, “ The Corn Capital of the Philippines”
A scenic photograph of Iloilo's sugar plantations, extending to the horizon.
Vast tracks of Banana plantation in Davao Region
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, one of the UNESCO heritage sites. This terraces had been curved in the mountainside by our Igorot ancestors, using only their bare hands and very crude tools. If the steps are going to be laid together jointly, it can cover half the surface of our world.
• Lastly, our strong belief in God Almighty:
Filipino Catholic devotees, during the parade of the Black Nazarene
Filipino Evangelicals/Protestants, raising their hands in worship
Chinese Filipinos, lighting incenses inside a Buddhist Temple
Filipina Moslems, gathering in prayer marking the end of Ramadan
Our country had been frequently devastated by natural calamities and troublesome political uprisings. I believe it is our strong dependence in an Almighty that keeps us alive and flourishing in the midst of harsh circumstances.
These are some of the things that I want to be preserved for my country. :)
(C) Quora
