Proud to be Filipino

By S. Bill Jimenez

Thank God I’m Filipino

TGIF! Thank God I’m Filipino! Indeed, I’m proud and grateful as a Filipino. Meeting other nationalities I’d say, “Yes, I’m Filipino. Ako’y Filipino. On, Filipino ac. Yo soy Filipino.” I tell something good about the Philippines and Filipinos. We have some 7000 islands and 87 dialects.

We have many tourist attractions like the Hundred Islands in my province of Pangasinan. That our number one export to the world’s global market is our people. Mostly professionals. OFWs who bring billions of dollars to the Philippine economy. Our people, especially women are veritable beautiful tourist attractions. They are friendly, hospitable, happy, helpful and hopeful.

Recalling the news about Cristina Bugayong, who returned the hard cash and checks of half a million pesos she picked up on the road, makes me real proud. Here’s a 12-year old, poor girl who could have kept her windfall, but she chose to return it to the rightful owner. Thank God for Filipinos like Cristina! May their tribe increase!

Accentuate the positive. As Ambassadors of Goodwill for our country, Filipinos abroad must underscore what is good among our people like the story of Cristina. Instead of openly and constantly harping on the negative aspects, as some of us are wont to do, we should project the positive values and ideals of our people. We should talk about our “bayanihan,” hospitality, extended family values, industry, resilience, piety and other core values as a people.

Speaking of “bayanihan,” which is derived from the word “bayani” (hero), it means doing some heroic deed of helping or making others happy. It is sharing our time, effort and resources in helping others construct a house, a classroom or plant and harvest rice.

We can underscore our family values. When I interviewed for our visa applications, being petitioned by my sister, the vice consul informed me that he could only approve my application and that of my two children. My wife and other two kids had to follow after a year or two. He said that it would be difficult for me to support a family of six in the US, considering that I have to find a permanent job. I told him that his plan would divide a family. I informed him that I have four sisters in the US who are willing to give us support for the meantime. I emphasized that as Filipinos, brothers and sisters help one another. Scratching his head, he asked to be excused to consult with his boss. After some time, he came back and finally approved all our visa applications.

Filipinos are hopeful people. According to a SWS survey, 85 % of adult Filipinos are hopeful. When conversing with Filipinos one easily notices the ray of hope in their talk and action. The secret I think is their dependence on and submission to their Lord God. “Bahala na ang Diyos,” is what one hears them say all the time.

Minimize the negative. There is nothing more disgusting than to hear a compatriot publicly disparage and belittle his/her own people as a whole. Anti-Filipino sentiments are uncalled-for and out of place even though we are now here in a foreign land. Casting negative aspersions of our Filipino identity is being ungrateful and unbecoming. The popular saying, “Ang taong hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paruruonan,” illustrates how we should be looking back with love and pride to our roots.

At a gathering among Filipinos in San Francisco with other nationalities present, one of the Filipino speakers lambasted his own countrymen for their “crab mentality.” It is as if other nationalities are not guilty likewise in some form or another at times. Some were offended and wondering why he could not think of other issues to talk about. Why should he be washing our dirty linen in public? Then there was that car dealership TV ad denigrating Filipino relatives for bad credit.

Pro-Filipino always. We should be at all times pro-Filipino. We may be American citizens now undergoing acculturation, but our color, values and sentiments are still Filipino. As is aptly said, “You can take the Filipino out of the Philippines, but you cannot take the Philippines out of the Filipino.” A Filipino must always be a Filipino in thought, in heart and in deed.

To be pro-Filipino, we must first be pro-God. Paul tells us that “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Let’s think of our individual contributions, whether as teachers, doctors, nurses, journalists or other callings. As such we can bring honor and glory to God, our country and heritage as Filipinos.

Mabuhay ang Filipino!

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