“I thank God that He made me a Filipino.”- this was one of the lines that former President Cory Aquino uttered in her last interview in one TV show before she went in her death bed. Isn’t it inspiring, despite the number of people who were falling in-line in different embassies to get a visa and hoping that they would be migrated to foreign countries, yet, we had one Filipino who was so proud that she belonged to the Philippines?
And so do I.
To quote one US President who said: “Do not ask your country what it can do for you, instead, ask yourself what you can do for your country.” This word of wisdom has been guiding me for so long now. I pity our country. Yes, I do. Why? Many people are pointing their fingers to pass the blame why they don’t have enough food on the table, why their salary low, why the rich becomes richer, why the prices are high, why this disaster happen, etcetera, etcetera.
To some, they consider these reasons enough to decide to leave the country, to find a greener pasture. Then what will happen to our dear Motherland? Abandoned by its natives? So much complains that are so deafening! What is irritating is that people complain twice as much as they analyze the root cause of the problem. What’s worse is that they don’t even realize that they are as well contributors to the present dilemma our country is facing! Why do people always love to play victims? That they are innocent and the one constantly being taken advantage of? Poor thinking! I just hope people will be conscious about their state of mind because what we focus on expands. If we focus on scarcity, scarcity expands! Why not focus on progress instead? If we do, our actions will lead to growth, to advancement, to moving forward. If we focus on protest, expect that rallying against so-and-so will proliferate more. Why not try converge on unity and see the people come together as a solid force for good? Isn’t it a considerable suggestion? According to Henry Ford: “Wether you think you can or you cannot, you’re right.” Well, you just have to decide for yourself wether you will be part of your country’s problem or the solution to its problem. Either way you choose, you’re right.