Rediscovering Filipino Values: I See. I Act.

I Advocate Juan, a high school student, has always been the epitome of manner and respect. Every time he talks with the old folk, he never forgets to blend in po and opo to his dialogues, so goes to his seniors and teachers. Another paragon, Maria, a housemaid, has always been coined as perfectly hospitable. She does what modern maids forget to: enthusiastically greeting her masters visitors, hanging their coats, carrying their heavy luggage, making coffee as well as baking pandesal for them, and keeping them comfortable and acquainted. Lastly, Pedro, whom as a kid, has frequently been taught to address Sir or Maam to professionals, Lolo or Lola to grandparents, Tita or Tito to aunts and uncles, and Juaning or Juan for Juaning Cruz, not Hoy, Cruz! for names. What to these three proud Filipinos have in common? The answer is, Filipino values. Time has proven that the Filipino values, our irreplaceable trademark, are almost at the brink of endangerment. Generation by generation, these values, through modernization, are expunged. Some values are also termed as somewhat primitive or baduy. Furthermore, the influence of foreign customs has completely eradicated some of our positive practices, and replaced them with disapproving habits. In addition, a number of these values have gone into the abysmal void, remaining mysterious and forever forgotten. Let me share to you some of my personal experiences. Philippine hospitality. One day, as I was surfing the net a few months from now, I remember looking through a very popular website. Since I have a natural head for fascinating facts, I browsed through its daily information tidbits. After a few minutes of reading, suddenly, this headline caught my eyes attention: 10 Friendliest Countries in the World. Motivated by the thrill of seeing the Philippines fare its way through the list, I immediately clicked the link to it. Upon flicking through the contents, I was grimly disappointed when I found out that the Philippines was not included in the list. Disappointed, I nippilly closed the computer and looked for something better to read. Philippine courtesy and respect. While I was on my way home from a school activity, from afar, I heard the vociferous yells of a boy, who was trying to sound like a 30-year old man. As I walked closer, I saw a five-year old screaming at his grandmother. He was cussing all kinds of swearwords at the top of his voice, insulting and disgracing his poor grandmother. At that moment, I carefully walked my way between them, making sure that I

do not barge in at an offensive way. Then I compassionately asked the little boy, Why are you shouting at your grandmamma? Instead of answering me back the way I talked to him, the boy suddenly snapped back at me with more damns and swears. The modest grandmother tapped my shoulder and said, ganyan talaga ang mga bata, intindihin na lang natin sila. A gentle gale of wind passed by and created a moment of silence. I stood speechless, but then I asked why let something like that pass by? She just smiled and said that gone are those days that kids were respecting their grandparents. I turned around, bid granny goodbye, and smilingly gave the kid my last piece of candy. The kid scowled at me, but I replied with a beam, and then I cordially said, Value your grandparents while they are still with you. They live only once, why not make the rest of their days the best time of your life? A tear rolled down grandmas cheeks, but she immediately wiped it off. Volunteerism or bayanihan. Back at our town, in our small barangay, the barangay captain scheduled a monthly clean-up drive. All the barangay folks were expected to take part; but unfortunately, at the first month of the implementation, only a few came and cleaned. The captain, thinking of a way to win over the people, announced the following month that he would be giving out free snacks and drinks to everyone who would attend. As expected, all the people rolled up. While they were cleaning, murmurs, like whats the merienda? and what time will they be giving the snacks? filled the atmosphere. Two hours have passed and they were suddenly chatting around, exchanging gossips and everything when all of a sudden, they announced snack time. They rushed to the snacking stall; acting like wild, cannibalistic beggars. An old man and I were left staring at them, and then I asked the old man, Should I get a bowl of sopas for you? You seem hungry. He replied, Never mind anak, i came here to clean because I want to help, not because I want to eat. This is supposed to be a bayanihan, but look at them; they came just because of the food, not because of the essence of volunteering for others. After that, he continued weeding out the weeds from the chayote plantation. I also joined him in cleaning, as the others were eating their stomachs off. Utang na loob. I once had a friend who really hated her mother for being lame on one foot. He frequently told me about how embarrassed he was whenever he was with his mom; though he knows that the reason for her mothers lameness was when her mom tried to save him from a car accident back when he was a toddler. I tried to ask him why feel embarrassed when not for your mom; you yourself could have been lame, and maybe she would be the one ashamed of you. He was speechless for a while, and then suddenly, he cried out, Ah! Basta! Nakakapikon na yung pagmumukha niya, lalo na yung paa niya! I tried to prove him wrong, but he kept on snapping the same line back at me. When I left him in the room to make my assignments, I bumped on to someone who was very familiar. As I looked down, I saw a lame foot it was my friends mom all along. She was crying on her

knees, holding out my pals lunchbox and with lachrymose eyes, she told me, Jacel, pakibigay itong lunchbox niya at pakisabi ring, humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa pagdudulot ng kapansanan ko sa kanya ng kahihiyan, at ako uli ay humihingi ng tawad sa kanya dahil, stage three na ang colon cancer ko. She rushed to the school gates while she was holding her lame foot and wiping her tears. The campus students, who have found the scene amusing, started laughing at her. Stirred up by my emotions, I clinched my fist, turned back, and told my friend her mothers situation. He just wept, dumbfounded and stunned. As I ruminate back to these episodes, a sense of responsibility enraged me a meaning of activism. Perhaps it is what had inspired me in writing this, and enthused me to preserve our fast-disappearing virtues. These challenges of bond and obligation shall infuse me in the revival of Filipino values, the most expensive jewels we could boast to the world. As I move on to the broadening horizons of life, I shall continue to rediscover the Filipino morals. As a Filipino citizen I will see, I will act, and to my last breath, I will advocate.