By: JJ Meneses
The Filipino principle: If this is the case that beauty and good cannot be separated, then I can say I am beautiful because I am good. Of course, every Filipinos wanted beauty and goodness at the same time. If you are beautiful yet not good then you’re really not that beautiful or vice-versa. Why is this so? I actually thought for almost several times just to answer it but it’s just the same thing that comes in my mind. It is the Filipino how it is. Filipinos were born to be good and beautiful. If a Filipino not good or either beautiful then he is not a Filipino. So to say, he is a Filipino if he has these two very significant elements. It’s like that, without these two things the Filipino himself cannot exist. Why is this so? Filipinos are very attracted to physical or tangible things, and to the physical appearance. For example, Filipinos want to be like white because they thought they can be attractive to the community, being white is very desirable because they thought they can be unique among others. Filipinos like gossips because they cannot sit for a while but stand and join the group and comment to other people. Filipinos love to have full decorations in their house especially when festivals and other big occasions because they thought if someone could see it they will be honoured. Perhaps, Filipinos cannot settle in ideas only rather beauty and goodness is somehow tangible too. Filipino’s concept of beauty and goodness must be touched and seen. And despite than this, Filipinos can gain something about it. Why is this so? Because this is the most important that must Filipino have in order to be accepted in the society. Filipino does not limit himself in words only. If he can do it he will do it. Filipinos don’t say “I love you” but will love you. All these things can really do by Filipinos. It’s just a tip on their hearts because, again, Filipinos are born to be good and beautiful. Now, if every Filipinos are to be like these, the Philippines will be a purely loving country. However, looking to the situations right now in the country what else can we expect more?
Thanks to our Pope Francis he visited our country. Perhaps, it is one sign already for the change of the Philippines. More than that, not the Philippines itself but the Filipinos who welcomed happily the Holy See. Why is this so? Because of the two elements. Pope Francis is not a Filipino but he such have the good and beautiful. How come? Because Pope Francis was accepted by everybody which made himself to be what to be, that is to be Filipino by heart. Pope Francis is far away from ourselves but it’s not about that but what the Pope has which makes Filipino to accept him. Meaning to say, even some are not Filipinos in original but has to be good and beautiful then he is a Filipino in spirit. Well, there are things that we mean of beauty and goodness which it’s not just about simple definition rather it has different things.
Attaining the true meaning of beauty and goodness, according to Filipinos, is not easy to do. Not all don’t have a perfect living but wanted to have a simple life. Not all don’t have cars but satisfied already to ride on a jeep. Not all don’t have big houses but satisfied already to be with the family. Not all don’t have many money but still looking for ways to prepare something for others. Not all are not good but has a heart to have even just little conscience. Not all are beautiful yet good internally which makes to be beautiful. Not all Filipinos does not have these but Pope Francis does. It is really a hope for the whole Filipinos that there is still a time for change. Pope Francis, as he visited, really show what is truly a Filipino which remind the Filipinos who have been blinded for almost years or centuries. Pope had really give another chance for the Philippines that she can do something more than today. Pope Francis was really accepted and loved by all Filipinos because they see themselves what they truly are from the Pope. Filipinos just remembered again that they are good and beautiful.
Philo Notes 