Freedom
Prior to the celebration of the Holy Mass, the presiding priest started by saying that it was the feast of Saint Barnabas. When we were asked if we knew who he was, no one had the answer. In the Bible, Saint Barnabas was a Christian disciple associated with Saint Paul. His name literally means son of encouragement.
Hearing the word sparked an instant reflection, and somewhere along his opening remarks, I got lost in my own thoughts. In a room full of past, present, and future leaders in the pediatric medical community, I asked myself how much and how far we had gone to encourage people. I mentally resurfaced in time to hear him talking about the sad state of our country, and that the next day was to be our Independence Day. This sent me into another trajectory with the key words that stuck: encouragement, country situation, Independence Day. Have we contributed to the betterment of our society since we earned our independence? It has been 128 years since then. Seeing where we are now, it is becoming clearer that the oppressors are not really foreign hands, but, ironically, our very own. How can you explain the rampant corruption, the blatant display of shameless greed, the lack of conscience, disrespect for both the law and the Almighty, and the drama that continues to unfold?
You and I must have heard and seen enough.
However, let us remind ourselves that the choice to either be dragged into negativity or believe that there is hope for us as a nation will always be up to us.
One book that I read on repeat is that of Alex Lacson and the “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country.” Of the rules, I will choose to expound on the last, which states: “Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country,” and use it as a jump-off point to share some personal thoughts.
We are our children’s first teachers. As parents or parent figures, it is our responsibility to raise respectful, law-abiding, and God-fearing citizens. Let me add that it is also our duty to teach our children about our rich history and the unique qualities that make us Filipino.
Where do we begin? For starters, we can encourage our children to cultivate love for the native tongue.
A colleague shared that her daughter, a theater actress, was in disbelief when her young students couldn’t even translate the word “love” into Filipino. Her own granddaughter speaks with a British accent, largely from her constant exposure to “Peppa Pig.” I could only nod in agreement after hearing parents complain about their children having dismal grades in Filipino to the point that they hire tutors. A couple of years ago, I remember raising an eyebrow upon learning that the daughter of a niece couldn’t speak but could understand it. How can that be possible? She was born and lives in the country. While it is not a crime to prefer to speak or know English, one should also appreciate the beauty of one’s own language.
Promote local tourism and teach them to embrace nature. Travel will always be an experience and a form of learning. Shouldn’t we start by seeing what the Philippines has to offer before exploring others? Some may argue that it is cheaper to travel out of the country. While this may be true, let me say that you need not go far. How about taking your children to a museum or a local park rather than spending your weekend in the mall? Have you ever watched or experienced the thrill of seeing the sun set or the sun rise with them? Our country is blessed with an abundance of nature. Let them revel and bathe in what is simple and free. Educate them on why patronizing local products helps boost not only our economy but also our national identity.
Teach them to respect and raise the flag. Make them memorize and know by heart the meaning of the words of the national anthem.
In our society’s thread, a colleague wrote: “The days when flags used to hang in our homes during Independence Day are long gone, but we raise the flag with the work that we do.” Let your children know how your work contributes to nation-building beyond just being a source of livelihood. Involve them in community outreach projects and make them aware of their civic and social responsibilities.
Teach them to speak well of our country. I am sure you have had your share of people who have either praised or undermined us as a country and as a people. While I am not blind to our faults, I have learned to magnify what is good in us rather than dwelling on what can be improved upon. After all, who can really love the Philippines more than the Filipinos?
Let lightning strike where it should.
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