Miyerkules, Pebrero 8, 2012

A Great Vision from the Past

“A Great Vision from the Past”
“Viva La España!” If you are a person who is living during the Spanish regime in the Philippines, you might frequently hear this tag line being said by the Spaniards and also being forced to inculcate in the minds and hearts of every Filipino people. Despite of the demoralizing and abusive oppression by the Spanish, we could not deny the positive attributes that they left to us. For example, the oldest universities, colleges, and vocational schools and the first modern public education system in Asia were all created during the Spanish colonial period, and by the time Spain was replaced by the United States as the colonial power, Filipinos were among the most educated subjects in all of Asia.” (www.wikepedia.com). During the 19th century Spain invested heavily in education and infrastructure. For this, I am having this imagination if how is it to live during the Spanish occupation. What could possibly I do to contribute in the development of the future lives of my fellow Filipino people? How could I possibly show my love to my country despite of the fact that I am a prisoner in my own homeland?

If I will be given the chance to live during the Spanish colonization here in the Philippines, I will still choose to be a Filipino and I will not and will never deny that. I am thinking if I can be a daughter of the same parents which I have today and I imagine that we belong to the upper Filipino class in which I was able to finish my study in Education course. Being a daughter of a well-known family clan during the Spanish era, I am also known to my fellow Filipino people. As an educated person, I will secretly (secretly because during the Spanish ruling schools are only formalized by the Spanish Friars and non-formal education are not allowed to be conducted) teach the poor and the oppressed on how to read and write. I will teach them their alphabets that they might use as their weapon in defending not only themselves but most especially their country. Besides of these, as the Spanish oppression is really morally destructive, I will also teach these people to have a broader perspective for themselves and also a greater love for their own country. I will teach them to pray just like the Spaniards taught us but unlike them, I will impart to them not to use religion in abusing and stepping others. As I belong to a wealthy family, I will use my means to somehow help them in attaining equality and love which they did not experience from the Spaniards. In the end, if the cost of these things is a firing squad in “Bagumbayan” just like the fate of Rizal, I will not hesitate to be shot for I’d rather die fighting for the freedom of my people rather than live in cruelty and hypocrisy.

Those things which I imagined may be simple but I believe that in my own simple and limited way, I can show my love to my own country and contribute to the development of the future lives of my fellow Filipino citizen. These visions may not materialized in the same time as I live today. However, as a future teacher I will still do such things to help these poor children attain a greater vision for themselves so that someday they will not be prisoners again in their own country.  I may be very idealistic in thinking but realistic in doing for a saying goes, “a man without a vision is just like a stone without an ambition” and I am not a stone. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!


Martes, Enero 10, 2012

"Hating Kapatid"

“Hating Kapatid”
(A Reflection Paper on the PUNP’s Pamaskong Handog Event)

            I am a big fan of GMA Channel 7, one of the country’s leading station networks. This year, as part of their Christmas Station ID, they created different short films which literally show and describe the different Filipino ways in celebrating Christmas. These films also show the realities on how most of our poor fellowmen spent their Christmas despite of the scarcity in their daily lives. I remember
one of the short films entitled “Hating Kapatid” wherein two poor brothers share one pair of shoes and a uniform as they alternately go to school. As Christmas arrived they were not able to provide something for their Noche Buena until an old woman generously invited them to her house. This old lady also helped these two brothers in their everyday survival in going to school. This simple film reminded me of what we had done last December 20 when we had our Pamaskong Handog event initiated by the administration of Panpacific University North Philippines and the City Council of Urdaneta. That event made me realized the true meaning and essence of Christmas.

Christmas is all about sharing what you have in life…
            Christmas is all about Jesus, the Word made Flesh, who was
born to be our Savior and Redeemer. “God the Father gave his only son to redeem us from our sins” (John 3:16). By the mere act of God giving His only-begotten Son for us, I believe that we are also being challenged to share what we have to our fellowmen who are less fortunate in their lives. Thus, it is not a matter of your social standing whether you are a poor or rich, professional or not, educated or out of school, the point of Christmas is your heart that is willing to give and to share and I think that I accomplished something before this year ends. I learned how to share not only the things that I have but also my time and talents to my fellow Urdanetanians. I am very happy that in my own simple way of participating the “Pamaskong Handog” event I showed to myself that there is a goodness in me. I realized that I can make a difference among others who only think of themselves.
 Christmas is a time to give up yourself…
            Honestly, there are many times in my life in which I am being dominated by my pride and self-centered attitude. Many times that I only think of myself and not minding others. However, after the event, I realized that there are also times in my life in which I should raise the white flag and surrender myself to God, meaning, I should be humble enough to accept that I am nothing without God. I realized that giving up myself is doing the right thing most especially for my fellowmen who are indeed need of support. I realized that I should also start thinking and having a more concern feeling to others because the essence of Christmas is to have my heart back to the One who gave it all to me---God.

Christmas is a Period of Conversion… 
            Every moment is a given time by God to always do my best in improving or making myself better. Indeed, this Christmas season, I believe that God is touching my heart to change for the better. Life is short, and I should make every second of my life a meaningful one. In doing so, I believe that I should think and do what is right and good. Secondly, I realized that I should be humble enough to recognize and accept my pitfalls and shortcomings in life. By doing such thing, I believe that my greatness as a human person can be determined. As the Renaissance philosopher, Jean Jacques Rousseau, once said, “Man’s greatness can be merely identified by his acceptance that he is miserable.”

            In the end, I believe that the Pamaskong Handog program was a great avenue in which I did not only contribute to others but most especially it was also a time of great realizations for me. As such, these realizations nor learnings can never be found by simply reading my books but it is indeed a God-given grace unto me by Jesus Christ Himself. I realized how lucky I am because I have the things and support that make my life at ease in contrast to those people or youngsters like me who cannot even afford to afford their everyday needs. “Gloria in Excelsis Deo! (Glory to God in the Highest!)”