A wake up call

By Eva C. Visperas

He pities children who stay up late at night, sometimes even till dawn, to assist in coronation nights during fiestas. He would quietly summon them and tell them to go home instead of staying up late whenever he sees them in occasions where he is invited as guest.

And he feels proud seeing them dance our very own folkdances but frowns at kids who’d rather do the “ocho-ocho”, breakdance, hip hop dances.

Yes, Congressman Amado Espino Jr. of Pangasinan second district can be described as “makaluma” but I agree with him.

On one occasion, I heard an elected president of a student body speak entirely in the Pangasinan dialect. Wow, it was something wonderful, a music to our ears. And Congressman Espines (as he is fondly called) who was the guest, quickly went out of his way to congratulate the boy.

Then, he also reminded his audience that it’s “wrong hospitality” to serve the best food to the guests while the school children are left salivating.

I’ve seen and heard the congressman constantly reminding young people about loving and preserving our culture in one of his speaking engagements. He is correct. I believe we need to preserve our own cultures, our customs, our traditions. These give us our identity as Filipino. But what is happening now?

Let’s check how our children behave.

Inside the jeepneys, I raise my eyebrows, or look straight into a young person’s eyes each time he would ask a passenger for “bayad” without the “paki”. My goodness, they order (not request) their seatmates to hand over their fares. You hear these mostly from the students.

Whenever I have a chance, I ask teachers to remind their students about good manners.  They seem to have forgotten to teach these essential matters.

(Look, even the drivers don’t even feel they have to say “Thank You” for patronizing them).

“The nerve!,” as Board Member Von Mark Mendoza superbly uttered in one of  our chats!

Let’s check again. How many of our children kiss our hands as a way of respect for parents when they arrive home or before they leave? If they still do, you’re a great parent. If  they don’t, I guess something is wrong with the parent.

Another look. Do your children’s classmates go to your house? Do they greet you with respect, like saying “Good morning, Tita/Tito or “Kabwasan ed sikayo”, or kiss your hand? Or, do they simply nod their head a bit to acknowledge you? I’m sure you have encountered schoolchildren like these.

Oooppps, take note of your high blood pressure.

These and more are some of the observations I have about our youth today.  And it breaks my heart.

When I was in the elementary and high school, we performed folkdances. We were always well-applauded then. Today, how many would know how to dance our own folkdances, or are taught how to dance these.? Very, very few. 

There’s nothing wrong in embracing changes in our lives but at least we should  always make an effort to  instill Filipino values and culture in our children.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/business-log/)

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