This is in reaction to Pin Orejana?s article titled ?Reflections on massacre: ?I?m a Filipino and I?m not proud?.? (Inquirer, 2/28/10)

In describing how she felt about the Maguindanao massacre and the Philippines, she said, ?And because I grew up sheltered, protected, and still naive, from what really happened, I thought, ?May pag-asa pa ?yan, meron pa.? ... At this moment, though, one thing?s for sure ... I am a Filipino, and I am not proud.?

There are 10,000 things that Orejana can say are wrong in this country?from the horror that was the Maguindanao massacre to the corruption in government, to the poverty of 90 percent of Filipinos, to the traffic, the heat, the misery that is everyday living in the Philippines. How can you not want to rail and scream at politicians who treat government coffers as if these were their personal bank accounts? How can you not want to tear your hair out at the heavens which, not content with flooding the country not just once but twice last year, are now out to scorch our country dry with El Niño?

And yet.

I love this country so much. The Philippines will always be my home, wherever I happen to be in the world. I could never be anything other than Filipino. I?ve never considered myself particularly nationalistic, but hearing about friends who have become citizens abroad, I would surprise myself with tears. Reading about someone living in New Zealand and proclaiming that they are not proud to be ?Pinoy,? I surprise myself with my anger.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with shining a light on what is wrong with the country. The Lord knows that there?s nothing like turning a blind eye for evil to perpetuate. Nor do I have anything against those who, for various reasons, have decided to leave the country. But unlike Orejana, I don?t believe that it is naive to think that there is hope for the Philippines. And I am offended to my very core when someone says that they are ashamed to be Filipino.

Before we do a Pontius Pilate on our country, before we congratulate ourselves for being right about how the Philippines is going to the dogs, before we go about proclaiming that we are not proud to be Filipino, should we, maybe, not take a step back and ask ourselves what we?ve done to make it better?

It is us Filipinos, all 90-plus million of us collectively, who ultimately make the Philippines what it is. And I believe with all my heart that if we hope and act together for the Philippines, we can make a better place for ourselves and for our children.

Sino pa ba ang magmamahal sa Pilipinas kundi tayong mga Pilipino (Who else will love the Philippines but us Filipinos)? As for me, at this moment, one thing?s for sure: I am Filipino, and I am proud!

?DENISE PENA,
nissygrl@yahoo.com