Being a Filipino is somewhat a marvel to the many and to the foreigners for the reasons that Filipinos are very much hospitable, Filipinos are very much respectful to others, and Filipinos are unique in terms of approach compared to other existing citizens in the world. Furthermore, it is my pride also as a Filipinos that we are somewhat patriotic in terms of valuing the possessions, treasures, and culture of the nation, and we are also oriented to the faith that we have by having such piety to God though we can’t deny the very fact that we are not that very fervent in knowing and defending our faith. For short, we respect God, but few are willing to know God and to deepen such relationship to God. There are a lot of things to appreciate being a Filipino for we are in prior to what is beautiful, what is good, and what truth is and furthermore, we are always concerned to a so called social acceptability, where Filipinos are more conscious to our connection to other people. Anyway, with much appreciation to what Filipinos are, perhaps we must also be concerned to what are the things to evade from the natural consciousness and culture of being a Filipino. What are these?
We Filipinos are good in every way that we want to be and in every way that we want to have; however, there are things that are somewhat unacceptable or improper to the awareness of others and also in the self then because of such sub-consciousness that we have, we are not aware that what we are doing is not right. In the end of each certain situation, we are then aware of such improper act and as a result, we felt such apology. This is such an illness. However, time comes that instead of such renewal, we sometimes repeat such mistake. And what are these illnesses that I mean. First is the mañana habit. It is a habit on doing such task or responsibility on the other or later times though it can be done in the very present moment. I know that I am also guilty in this habit for I am sometimes used to it. Why? Because as far as I am concerned, we Filipinos prior leisure rather than work. And by having such appalling attitude, the rest of the succeeding responsibilities are then also taken for granted. And for sometimes, because of this habit we would have such regressions and apologies in life for we had missed the opportunities behind those responsibilities. And with no more such a do, maybe it is better to step by step avoid this nuisance in our identity being a Filipino for by this mañana habit, we take things for granted and it is not good for developing such maturity in our life being a Filipino. Second is the Ningas Kugon. What is this all about? This kind of attitude speaks about the capability of Filipinos to be ignorant. By this kind of attitude, we do things better at first, but the quality of this deeds in the subsequent moments of days slowly fades. For simple, Filipinos are best at first but Filipinos are getting worse time after time and the quality of performance lessens. And we Filipinos will then say: “Anyway, the situation might still be the same.” And by this, it is undeniable that we Filipinos are also ignorant for some situations. Looking at this very perspective, it is very proper for me to say and actualize to avoid this though I know in the very first place that I can’t do it in the very instant. I know very well deep within me that I am guilty in this Filipino attitude that we have for I sometimes take things for granted resulting me to be more ignorant. However, there must also be the moment for me and for us to say to somewhat slowly avoid this kind of attitude because, the results made by this might be undesirable. And in order to slowly renew from this, better take things and means in a very excellent way to the best that we can by not taking this dreadfully serious but with great enthusiasm. Doing activities with proper exertion of effort, with constancy, and with looking at the goodness behind this endeavor makes the work done with such a great surprise of success. Well, it is not that easy to evade ningas kugon, but it is easy to refrain from it by start doing things right. Third are the superstitions. We Filipinos are pretty much observant in such beliefs plus spiritual and invisible creatures in our surroundings and thus, the fears that are struggling within us makes us vigilant. We are so to say afraid to be moved by these elements for we don’t want to have such karma, according to our own dialect. Karma in a sense that we don’t want to experience such suffering done by these supposed elements and fear emerges within for we are afraid to be hurt by someone whom we can’t be revenged physically. However, these superstitions are just irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear. Well, I can say that we are do believe in these beliefs prior to our ignorance. Better deal to what’s more practical and to believe to someone who must believe in, and that is no other than God and no one else. And in order to gradually avoid such superstitions, better try not considering this first and always think for what’s more prior and who’s more to put my faith.
To avoid these three is not that easy, but it will just flow if it would be started to elude gradually. Everything starts from small things and it better to do every single step to do something practical and something moral before we might say in the end that it’s too late to apologize. Being a Filipino is fun for we would always say: “It’s more fun in the Philippines”; but it is best if we try something worthy to do in order to enhance our Filipino lifestyle. We must not only progress in innovations but also in our behavior. We must hopefully start ending these fixations in our Filipino lifestyle and we must try to modify them in their opposites in order for us to say in the end: well done fellow Filipinos, Mabuhay tayong lahat!
– Alan Christian Tabaosares
3rd Year Philosophy
Philo Notes 