Filipino Social Cancer: Prevalent Disease

I hated studying for history subject way back in high school and college. I just don’t see the point of memorizing all the facts when I knew that after the exam, my brain won’t be able to remember it. Exams were usually composed of identifying obscure dates or names of persons which has no personal significance to me except to comply with my course requirements. Although it reflected my poor emotional quotient at that time and it consequently made the teacher conclude that I have poor IQ (which I vehemently disagree, he he he), my not memorizing everything sort of made me feel smug. Maybe because I’ve managed to convinced myself that I was right.

Six years after college, I still feel the same way about the exam but not about learning history. When I say learn, I mean really learn history by heart. Not just being able to memorize dates and people. The reason for my change of heart is that I finally read “life and Works of Dr. Jose Rizal” (by Zaide). By doing so, my patriotic heart awakened in me. I even wished that if only Filipinos were half as patriotic and principled as Rizal, our country would be a better place.

Rizal proved with his life that Filipinos can be as great as any race. He testified this with his poems and novels and many other endeavors. He’s right. Filipino’s are ingenious and talented when given the chance. However, most Filipinos of today fall short on Rizal’s patriotism.

If I look at our country now, it was not better than the Rizal’s time. True, our government was administered by Filipinos but what of their value for our country? Philippines has remained the milking cow for people who wants to advance their personal interests. It’s as if the Spanish had simply shed their race and become Filipino so they can continue abusing the poor Indios. I say Indios because we are still ignorant despite our education. We failed to learn what Rizal and the other heroes had valiantly fought for: justice for every Filipino. What’s more saddening is that the injustice comes from Filipino.

The history of this social problem is very complex to trace. However, I can think one cure: patriotism. If only we love and value our country as much as Rizal, our social problems would be healed.

P.S. of course, this is for those Filipinos causing the social cancer and for those who remained complacent despite their power to do something.