Pinterest

If you’re reading this article and you’re online, then you’ll be most likely aware of social networks. Hell, “aware” is the very least you’ll be, and you’re more likely to be a member of one, two, three, or more of these famous pervasive entities. To be honest, I belong to an excessive number of them, though you can count on one hand the number on which I’m truly active.

Social networks exist to provide our needs that allows us to keep in touch with friends and family, share photos with one another, talk about current events, and make new connections. In reality, most are businesses out to make money by inviting us in to their webs where they’ll consume our data before spitting it out into the laps of anyone willing to pay for it.

We all know this is true, and yet we still play along and we even have our favorite social networks. I’m an avid fan of Pinterest. It is an online board wherein you can post your favorite images which was launched in 2010. Unlike other photo sharing sites, the emphasis here is on the discovery and curation of other people’s content, not storing your own. This visual aspect of the site is one reason why it’s captured the interest of so many businesses, from retailers to photographers and designers, who are using it as a portfolio or product catalog. I don’t feel the need to look for friends but I rather find out what their interests are. Don’t get me wrong, I love following other interesting people in the world and see for myself their discoveries that I might get interested with. My biggest concern is it is too open. I don’t like that there is no approval for following boards and people even though they are private. It is a unique platform and one of the reasons why Pinterest has captured the imagination of people like me.

One thing is clear whether you're on Pinterest for personal or business reasons; the best images whether they are funny, beautiful or thought provoking, attracts the most attention and followers. In the near future, another social media verb — “pin” — will likely be as commonly recognized in our lexicon as “tweet” and “Like.” This adoption was certainly helped by the inclusion of “pin” in the initial rollout of Facebook’s social actions. Given Pinterest’s current growth rate, I expect that’s just the first of many ways this site will take over all of our lives.

“Heroes”

What comes in your mind if you heard the word “hero”? Personally, I will think of Superman, Batman, Wonderwoman, Thor, Ironman or Spiderman. These heroes are admired for their special abilities that normal people doesn’t have. But what is a hero? What exactly makes a person a hero? Is it bravery, being fearless when others run away? Or is it putting the needs of others before your own?

Being a hero doesn’t really mean whether or not a person has superpowers. A hero is someone who is admired for his achievements and noble qualities. They are often the central figure in an event, period, or movement. These important people from the past have influenced the whole society such as Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Lapu-lapu, Ninoy Aquino etc. Last Aug. 17, we had a forum at the Asia Pacific College Auditorium about “Bayani ‘ba to?” it was a very enlightening activity, and I have acquired so many information and knowledge about Hermano Puli who is considered as a hero in Quezon but wasn’t recognized by most of us. He is the one who connected people through one faith but got himself killed because of this. They defined that hero is just heroism x pag-ibig. The x there is you. Anyone can be a hero even you. You just have to find it in yourself. You can start by taking small opportunities to help those people around you. Anyone can contribute something to make a difference.

The moment we decide that no one else has the power over our well-being, our happiness or our best lives except for us, we become our own savior. We must create our own legend even if that legend is confined within ourselves. We must create our own story with the world as a witness. So, no more waiting for the superman. Because the only hero you'll need is already there within you.

The Comics' Rockstar

You might have heard the name Manix Abrera before, and why not? His works are almost everywhere. Manuel Luis Lorenzo Abrera also known as Manix Abrera is best known as the author of the daily comic strip entitled “Kikomachine” that runs in the Inquirer’s comic page. He has introduced some of the iconic characters in the local comics’ industry today such as the grumpy Bertong Badtrip, the philosophical Alpha Omega, and the terror professor you wouldn’t want to meet.

No one else does what Manix Abrera is doing- figuratively and literally. He has attracted many fanatical readers because of his quirky and yet accessible observational humor.  He started drawing the “Kikomachine” comic strip in 2000. But the purest expression of Abrera’s artworks is his wordless comics. He released “12” in 2009 which is a silent graphic novel featuring twelve connected stories. The story is funny, sad, really weird and utterly unique.

Manix Abrera is not just an ordinary guy. For one thing, he creates comic strips for a living but he isn’t also your stereotypical artist either. Manix is also athletic. In fact, the closest thing he has to a routine is rowing with the UP Dragonboat Team thrice a week. Apart from that and his deadlines, everything is up in the air for the 28-year-old rock star of the comics’ world.

Manix comics is such a hit not just because it makes people laugh. The thing about his comics is it has a lot of heart, and so too the artist who will encourage others by telling them it isn't about skill or talent, but desire.

Manix have observe a lot of things and uses these observations to make funny and witty stories. He is a genius and he would surely keep us laughing and smiling as we see ourselves in the stories he has created for a decade. 

Plagiarism

According to Meriam Webster dictionary, plagiarism is an act of using another person’s words or ideas without giving credit to that person. It comes from a Latin word “plagiare”, which means to steal. This includes copying word for word, portions of it or paraphrasing some of the passages or information. All published or unpublished works are included in this. This is a serious offense that brought the attentions of the Dean and the President. If you are found guilty of plagiarism, you might lose credit for that assignment, be given a zero in the course or face a suspension from the university.

We should acknowledge the ideas, works, and data from others because passing someone’s work as your own is unethical. It also means that you didn’t acquire more knowledge while you are studying. That is why we need to avoid plagiarism. We go to school to learn to understand and share what is in our mind and not to copy ideas from others. Maybe it is difficult to create your own ideas so you will see yourself getting ideas from other writings as you try to understand and analyze what they are saying. However, it is necessary that you create your own voice. You are not expected to be an original thinker but to be an independent one by analyzing other’s work and giving your own conclusions.

            The best way to avoid plagiarism is to learn and apply all your skills to make your work good. Quote and cite your sources. Make sure to double check it for thoroughness. It is important for us to appreciate the abilities and skills we have acquired. We should avoid plagiarism because we aim to produce work with high quality. Avoiding plagiarism is not just making sure your references are correct, or changing an adequate amount of words so it won’t be notice because it entails credibility and authority to our work and shows our commitment to intellectual honesty.

Reinventing Yourself

According to anonymous, “When something bad happens you have three choices. You can let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.”

Change is the only permanent thing in this world and it means reinvention. Each time we experience a huge change happening in our lives such as leaving a job or moving on from a relationship, or losing someone you love; we have to be in control of who we will be or risk failing by never reaching our full potential.

We should challenge ourselves to leave our miserable lives to pursue our passion and find something that will make life more meaningful. We could all make these things happen if we will just have faith and belief in ourselves.

           Reinventing yourself can be inspiring and alarming both at the same time. We should be confident to trust ourselves in every trials we will face. By that time, we should know what we are striving for and we can start this path by doing a few things.

          We should stop pleasing everyone else because the more we please others, the more we keep what is inside of us. Learn to say no to people sometimes. Let us stop wasting our time in worrying and doubting. If we focus ourselves on negative things or things that might happen, we are just withdrawing ourselves from all the possibilities. Lastly, accept failure and learn from it. When we fail, recognize it, learn from it and move on.

       Sometimes I wonder why we let our own fear, pride or insecurity get in our way so instead of doing it, we let these opportunities slip away. Don’t hesitate by the time we have an opportunity because you are the only one who can pave the way to reach your dreams. Even when that dream slips away, there are still a lot of opportunity for you. There is an old saying that “True courage isn’t about not feeling fear, it’s about feeling fear and acting anyway.” No matter what happens, choose courage instead of letting our fears choose the future for us.

My Favorite Teacher

Did it ever cross your mind a teacher who seemed to stand out others? Maybe because that teacher knows your weakness in their subject well so they give more attention on you to improve you better. Maybe because you were impressed by their personality trait. I am one of those students who had an affinity for one teacher. His name was Mr. Mark Ernest Dizon also known as Sir Mackie, and he was my 1st year math teacher from Asia Pacific College. He was my favorite teacher of all so far. Sir Mackie would teach math in a way that I have never experienced before, and he did it in a fun way that helped me to recall the information. He is one of the best teachers I ever had. He loved math, but even more than that he loved people.

Sir Mackie loved all of his students even though he have students, like me, who are struggling with math. He was willing to teach us as long as we showed effort. He didn’t care who you were or if you are misbehaving. He sees every student equally and he worked really hard for everyone to pass the subject. I got good grades in his class because he assisted me and always encouraged me. He build my confidence and told me that I could do the work even if I was doubting with my capabilities. As I look back, I think to myself that I am lucky to have a teacher like him. Sir Mackie would give us a lot of trial and error to get the answers right and pass our tests. He always made me feel capable and told me that I achieve my goals if I just put my heart in it. He was right.

Sir Mackie had a lot of different ways to teach math. He was one of the funniest people I ever knew. He didn’t just stand up and talk at the front but he teaches us in a very interesting way. I remember that when the class seemed to not understand the lesson, he would say it in different way and even make jokes so we could remember the important ideas. Sir Mackie would tell us real-life examples of how math is used in everyday life, so we would stay motivated and focused. Sometimes he would make us do things which were annoying but we will enjoy and have fun ourselves.

Besides the fact that Sir Mackie taught us math he also taught me other things about being a good person. He would teach our class how to work together in groups. He noticed everything and knew when any student was having a hard time. He would make sure we all worked together and would make us laugh when we were stressed. He was a role model for the class that treat each other with respect. 

Even though he was strict at times, Sir Mackie was still the teacher that I considered for help. He was always ready to answer any question I had in mind even if it is not related to the subject. He was the kind of teacher who would always go the extra mile to help out any student and make sure they learned and were doing okay overall in school. Everyone should have the chance to have a teacher like Sir Mackie at least once while they are a student. He will have an important place in the hearts of his students, because there has never been a teacher that can bring a subject to life the same way he does.

Vegan or not?

There are many eating habits all around the world and one of these is vegetarianism. According to The World Book Dictionary (1989) vegetarianism is "the practice or principle of eating only vegetable foods and refraining from eating meat, fish, or other animal products". This definition, though accurate, seems somewhat limited, as being a vegetarian is so much more: it is a lifestyle choice, a way of thinking, and a way of behaving. An increasing number of research shows there are health and ecological benefits for being a vegan. But is it the right choice for you?

There are many reasons why people choose the vegetarian diet. Mainly, there are beliefs that meat is unclean and can give various diseases. Most animals are injected with steroids, hormones and other drugs in order to make them bigger to produce more meat; this can cause cancer so people go for the vegetarian diet more since vegetables contain fewer chemicals. Another reason for the choice of vegetarian diet can come from a person's cultural background or religion. For example, Taoists, who believe that a person can be reincarnated as an animal depending on the karma level, abstains from meat since they feel that if they are eating meat they are also eating a person. Another example is Hinduism; where people believe that everything living thing including animals are sacred, thus they abstain from meat for the purpose of animal rights.

Some people acknowledge that a plant-based diet can do wonders for both your health and the health of the planet. And according to a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences—the first of its kind to link both individual health and the Earth’s—a vegan diet, which excludes meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy, can really up the ante on both fronts. The study shows that 8.1 million deaths can be avoided annually across the globe if more people adopt a vegan diet.

A vegetarian diet has its several advantages. The main advantage is that there is less risk of obesity and heart diseases. This may be partly the result of higher consumption of lower-calorie, more filling foods, such as vegetables, fruit and beans. Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes and some types of cancer. Cardiovascular benefits also come from avoiding fatty meats, which are high in saturated fat. In addition, vegetarian diets are low in dietary cholesterol, which is found only in animal-based foods and which can raise your levels of unhealthy low-density lipoprotein, or "bad" cholesterol, and your risk of heart disease. Vegetables also contain fewer preservatives than meat since it is usually eaten raw. We can easily obtain a better physical figure since vegetables have less cholesterol as I mentioned a while ago. It also aids in digestion since vegetables contain more fiber.

However, a diet that excludes all animal products does have some nutritional disadvantages. First, consumers are lacking some vital nutrients which can only be found in meat. Calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B-12 and folate are some of these nutrients that are present in meat and dairy which a plant-based diet can lack. Over time, insufficient consumption of these may result in a number of problems, including bone loss and muscle mass. The risk of being underweight or malnourished is higher from lack or some fat from meat. Lastly, protein supplements like nuts, tofu and soybeans may not be enough for the vegetarians to substitute as meat.

Everyone has their choice whether they want to eat meat or not but I believe that there should be a balance of both vegetables and meat. We have heard of the food guide pyramid in which it depicts how much each type of food should be consumed so this means that vegetables and meat should be both consumed to make up a complete meal. You should make the right choices because it is your own body we are dealing.

"TESDA MAN" for Senator

Secretary Joel Emmanuel Villanueva also known as “TESDA MAN” is running for senator under the Liberal Party. He says he wants to lead people to employment, raise their incomes, and eventually make them part of a strong middle class.  His platform is connected into TESDA – which stands for Trabaho, Edukasyon, Serbisyo, Dignidad and Asenso (Employment, Education, Service, Dignity and Progress). His advocacies are education and giving jobs to people.

We should vote Villanueva for his sincerity in serving the Lord and the country. We should retain people like him who truly serve our country. He has proven all of this through TESDA. During his time as director general of TESDA, Villanueva helped increase the employment rate of TESDA graduates by 72 percent in 2014 from only 28.5 percent in 2008. He extinguishes the stigma to tech-voc studies and the difficulty for the Filipino’s to get college diploma. TESDA created a big change in the connotation of tech-voc. It has removed the “Tesda lang” mentality among the Filipinos especially the youth.

Villanueva is proud of his of what he had done and what the TESDA has accomplished in years.

I would like to see this honest, sincere, hard-working man in the Senate because of what he had accomplished for the Filipino. I know that Villanueva being a senator is a right decision and he will give his best to bring the same success he gave in TESDA to our country. Joel Villanueva a.k.a “TESDA MAN” is my senator for 2016.

Traffic Congestion in Manila

How do we feel about traffic? That’s a no-brainer. We hate it. And we feel the same for its synonyms which all mean that we’re going to be late for work again, words like “gridlock” and “congestion”. Anyone who has ever visited, worked in or lived in the Philippines would know how bad the traffic jams are in the cities, particularly Quezon City, Manila and Makati. The main avenues of these cities and even the secondary roads are often congested, and the problems of traffic congestion have become so serious that the economy is affected in no small way. I, myself has also a personal experience with traffic congestion. As a student, it is difficult for me to wake up early but I had to so I won’t be trap in the traffic by going to school even if I just reside in Villamor and my school is just on Magallanes. I need to wake up early and leave the house one hour before my class start. I always ride three vehicles to go to school. First is tricycle to get to the terminal that goes to Rotonda. In the terminal, it is usually difficult to find a ride because the vehicles came from Edsa and when there is traffic, they are having a difficulty to be back soon. If that is the case, the commuters tend to form a line and wait for their turn to ride and that takes time. After waiting for so long, you’ll get your ride but you will still face the traffic in Andrews Avenue. The traffic is really worse there because there are vehicles going to Baclaran and Rotonda. The traffic is due to the jeepneys that loads and unloads passengers in anywhere they want to or even in a go signal and the vehicles that tend to change routes from time to time. That is really frustrating if you are rushing. Same thing goes when I ride the jeepney that goes to my school after getting off my second ride.

It is inarguable that the worst traffic in Philippines is in Metro Manila, the center of economic activity in the country. Daily travel in the metropolis for an ordinary commuter requires two to four hours a day.

For every minute a commuter languishes in a traffic, the longer he or she is subjected to stress and pollution, translating to higher incidences of sickness and cost of medical expenses. The longer hours lost in traffic means fewer time spent for family, rest and recreation.

Metro Manila commuters are exposed to greater air pollution and extreme doses of toxic substances that could cause many diseases— including cancer. In 2009, the Philippines had one of the highest incidences of breast cancer in Asia and several cities in Metro Manila had a much higher incidence than most cities in the country.

According to the government, 85 percent of air pollution in Metro Manila comes from vehicles in spite of PH having one of the lowest motor vehicle concentrations in Asia. In 2010, World Bank estimated that PH had only 30 motor vehicles per 1,000 people while US has 797 and Thailand 157. However, one-third of all vehicles in the Philippines are in Metro Manila.
Worsening traffic is clearly becoming one of the major economic, environmental and health concerns of Metro Manila citizens.

The worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila can be attributed to too many Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) in the metropolitan area. Public transport in Metro Manila is most commonly provided by train, bus, jeepney and taxi on main roads, and tricycle and pedicab in small roads. Transportation on the roads, specifically buses and jeepneys, are mostly responsible for the clogs along the streets which always result to traffic jams along highways and main roads, causing the transport of commuters to be delayed and their time wasted. Another means of transportation is via trains, which do not make use of roads. Among these are the LRT 1 & 2 Lines (Manila Light Rail Transit System) and the MRT Line 3 (Metrostar Express). Transportation via trains can guarantee commuters of avoiding road traffic, however there are still factors that affect its ability to transport passengers efficiently such as congestion of people and technical problems. Thus, public transportation in the Philippines does not promote effective means of transportation, due to the inefficiency of Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) present on both the roads and tracks.

Land Transportation in Metro Manila should be improved in order to properly manage commuting problems such as traffic in the cities or congestion of commuters in trains. The inefficiency of public transportation may be solved through numerous ways, in order to solve the problems that commuters are coping up with. First solution is to regulate sorts of PUVs on the roads. According to Winston Ginez, a Regulatory Board chair, traffic among highways are mostly caused by the volume of city buses being more than double what a highway can accommodate. Adding to this is the problem of traffic along the roads which commonly involve jeepney drivers who go through risky actions just to carry as much passengers as they can. These PUVs often tend to choke up the roads, therefore causing traffic gridlocks that affect the flow of traffic in Metro Manila negatively. Furthermore, according to Andrei Medina from GMA News, “the local government of Manila is now eyeing to implement stricter road regulations on jeepneys, tricycles and pedicabs to decongest traffic in the city”. With the bus and truck ban already implemented, Mayor Joseph Estrada said that the implementation had greatly reduced traffic in Manila. He believes disciplining drivers of public utility vehicles would further benefit the city. This proposed solution may be put into action by eradicating colorums, or unauthorized motorized operations – meaning illegal PUVs, along the roads so that traffic may be reduced.

Another solution is to have a better route plan for the jeepneys and buses, and to designate terminal areas where commuters would load and unload from the said PUVs. Through this way, traffic along other roads may be lessened when there are better route plans, and this also paves a way for a more convenient route for commuters. Since jeepney and bus divers usually unload and load passengers everywhere they want to, even if they are in the middle of the streets during a go signal, they cause delay for other vehicles and instigate obstructions along the flow of traffic. The designation of terminals would be a solution for this which may progressively reduce the traffic along the roads. The former mayor of Manila, Alfredo Lim, has quite taken an action regarding this issue by abolishing illegal jeepney terminals on street corners and street intersections around the city. The planning of a better route and designation of terminal areas may be advantageous to both the commuters and other public and private vehicles since they promote a smooth flow of traffic.

The present conditions of public transportations are alleviating persistently. Traffic couldn’t be completely avoided due to the high numbers of private and public cars in the metropolis. Ongpin also said that “Traffic will become even worse the coming months and years as infrastructure, long needed and long delayed, is now commencing construction”. However, with vital measures, traffic may still be minimized by applying these solutions in order to prevent traffic clogs and jams among vehicles. In effect, the time wasted on commuting or in traffic may be allotted instead into a more economical aspect for commuters, and this would promote the growth and productivity of both the commuters and the economy.

Leni for Vice President

Leni Robredo’s candidacy as vice president of the Philippines started as the Impossible Dream. It has now become a national crusade not just a political campaign. To a growing number of Filipino voters, she has restored faith in the democratic process.  She is proving that a person of integrity, humility and simplicity can still run and win a national position in this country.

Her late husband, Jesse Robredo, once said in a speech: "Our country is dire need of servant leaders whose sense of compassion and service are truly awakened. We cannot bring the Philippines to lasting greatness without leaders of this calibre working in government." Those prophetic words are how people are now describing his widow. 

These emotions are best shown in the words that different people have used to explain why they are voting for Leni. For some people, it is because they believe that she shares a common cause like a group of alternative lawyers, legal advocates and human rights defender who recently expressed their support in a public statement.

Among the many reasons they stated were the following: “We enjoin voters to choose Leni for her commitment to transparency and reform ... Our endorsement for a true public servant like Leni is equal to our continuing commitment to the advocacy for programs and policies that empower communities through equal access to education, employment, food, land, and other resources and justice. Let us not simply vote for personalities with tainted political histories and short sighted promises.

We want a transparent leader who will espouse and enable our own engagement and participation in good governance, and we believe vice presidential aspirant Leni Robredo has exemplified these features throughout her career as an alternative lawyer, development worker and legislator. “

She is not one who will bombard you down with long speeches and promises and wouldn't flood you with political ambition. Instead, Robredo is a gentle presence but leaves such a great impact. An articulate lawyer, she is very conscious about serving people in the grassroots and in the margins of society--she spent all her weekends as congresswoman going in far-flung, underserved barrios in her province. In fact, she had been helping her kababayans as a practicing lawyer whose focused on cases involving the marginalized sector. She is connected with the Naga chapter of Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Pang Legal (Saligan), a national alternative lawyers’ group helping farmers. She founded Lakas ng Kababaihan ng Naga, was the past president of the Naga City Council for Women, and a member of Federacion International de Abogados. 

She also worked with the Public Attorney's Office. Her legal career was devoted to defending the rights of farmers, fisher folk, women and all those who could not afford legal fees.

During her term in Congress, the bills she supported show her preference for pro-poor and people empowerment legislation. These bills included People’s Participation in Budget Deliberation; People Empowerment; Freedom of Information; Full Disclosure; Tax Incentive Management and Transparency; Anti-Discrimination; National Food Security; Agrarian Reform Commission; National Land Use and Management; Healthy Beverage Option: and, Mt. Isarog Natural Park.

FATHER. Leni Robredo's father was a Regional Trial Court judge in Naga City. Photo from Robredo's Twitter page

If she wasn't thrust into politics in 2013, Robredo could have been a regional trial court judge. Before her husband's death, she had been shortlisted to become presiding judge in any of 3 regional trial courts (RTCs) in the Bicol region and could have followed her father's footsteps, the late Antonio Herona Sr, who was an RTC judge in Naga City. Leni withdrew her nomination when husband Jessie died. She then applied as judge for any Quezon City regional trial court so she could be with her daughters but her plans were derailed because she had to run for Congress in the 3rd district of Camarines Sur.

And get this, when she was asked in an interview that if she were elected Vice President, and a new President would ask her if she wanted a Cabinet portfolio, she said that she would request an anti-poverty assignment, even if it were a task force and not a department. "Because of my background, I see things from the point of view of the people on the ground," she said.

Robredo said she is prepared for all the difficulties and frustrations of government service. She's had her share as a legislator, and saw them herself during the stint of her late husband Jessie as the DILG chief and that was no piece of cake. "Not everyone is called to serve. No matter how small the role you're given, it is still an opportunity to make a difference. So whatever is given to me I will do my best to do it," says Robredo.

RIGHT REASONS. Liberal Party vice presidential bet Leni Robredo tells local officials in Negros Occidental on October 6, 2015, that she hopes they will join her not out of pity but because they believe she will be good for the country. In the photo withe her are (from left) former Governor Rafael Coscolluela, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr, former Governor Daniel Lacson, and Bacolod Representative Evelio Leonardia. Photo by Marchel P. Espina/Rappler

On her first sortie after declaring her vice presidential bid, Leni Robredo of the Liberal Party (LP) told voters here on Tuesday, October 6, that should they vote for her, it should not be because she’s the widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. “It should not be hinged on sympathy, because you’ve taken pity on me). It should be based on what the candidate has done in the past,” Robredo said in a speech before local officials at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.

There are still those who believe Leni lacks the necessary experience because they are not aware of her record as a public servant. This is how she introduced herself in speech during a Vice President Forum:

 “I may be new in politics, but I am a veteran in public service. I have dedicated my professional life as an alternative lawyer, working with and serving farmers, fisher folk , abused women, laborers, and others in the margins of society. My work has allowed me to walk closely with sectors of our society that are hungering for justice and a better life such as the Sumilao farmers in 2007 as they marched in protest to get the land that is rightfully theirs.

“This brand of leadership – one that listens to the people, gives voice to the margins and inspires people participation  – is what I strove to continue during my term as representative of the Third District of Camarines Sur.”

There is one story about Leni that has endeared her to those who have heard about her. When she was Congresswoman, she had to attend the regular sessions at the Congress in Quezon City. Every week, she would ride a bus – yes a bus – to go home to Naga City, Camarines Sur. There are now many who are saying that she will change her lifestyle since she is now a national celebrity. It is to Leni’s credit that she understands the siren song of power and fame.

I am sure that the Philippines “will be better for this that one woman...strove with her last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable star.” Leni Robredo for Vice President of the Philippines.

What it means to be a Filipino

The concept of national identity is a tricky one. Asking what it means to be Filipino is basically the same as finding what it is that brings 94.85 million people together. Is it the fact that we share the same land? 7,107 islands beg to differ (at least when it’s low tide). Is it sharing a mother tongue? We have 185 languages between us. Is it having the same blood running through our veins? Whether we’re aware of it or not, almost all of us have a mix of Chinese, Spanish, American, or some other foreign blood.

Or it might not be the factual attributes as it is the cultural that matters, though culture itself is something continuously changing. When we once wielded bolos or wrote upon leaves and tree barks, we now dress in Western styles and use touch-screen gadgets.

Still, we have been faced over and over with the same blinding question: Does a unique Filipino identity even exist? From wading in knee-deep floodwater to our unique love for all things basketball, we delve into the rare attributes of Filipinos and their rich heritage.

One thing that a lot of people love to complain about in the Philippines is that we are a country without a culture. Indeed, regionalism is somewhat strong in the Philippines; some of our southernmost regions keep pushing for secession, many regions have stronger loyalty to their ethnic groups than to the Philippines as a whole; and Manila’s reach is somewhat hard to feel in some of the farther-off areas, especially due to the Philippines being an archipelago.

It’s a big challenge trying to sum up what it means to be a Filipino in just one article. Yet, there are some things that stand out about us as a people.

To be a Filipino is to adapt, endure, and somehow find happiness.

Filipinos have to embrace duality in many aspects of life. Having gone through three different occupations that lasted hundreds of years, we have learned to adapt and mold different cultures. For example, most Filipinos are Catholic, yet we also grew up with many decidedly pagan beliefs. As children we were taught to be good and to fear God; yet we were also quieted by our mothers and maids with threats of being carried away by dwarves or tikbalang (a sort of half-man half-horse creature; think a reverse centaur). We pray the rosary and visit churches to ask for favors; yet sometimes we also call in the local albularyo or folk healer.

Filipinos are also known for being able to adapt easily to life abroad. There are significant numbers of Filipinos in the United States, Middle East, East Asia, Western Europe, the United Kingdom and Australia. Remittances from these Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) totaled about 10-12% of Philippine GDP in 2010. OFWs know that their earnings are a boon to the nation’s economy; but they know even more that it is this money that allows their families to live better lives. That’s why they do it – it’s a big sacrifice to be away from family and friends for so long, but this is a small sacrifice to pay for a better life. Yes, it’s also an adventure and a chance to grow, but you have to understand how important family is for us Filipinos. To leave for a foreign land with no guarantee of returning to the Philippines for good is one of the hardest things to deal with. Technology eases the sting somewhat, but considers that Filipinos have been doing this for decades before Internet use became widespread. Filipinos before would cope by forming their own communities, and by bringing over what things they could of home, such as food (Filipino restaurants like Jollibee, Red Ribbon and Max’s have gained footholds in LA, for example), and by writing back home every so often.

Let’s look back earlier in time. History shows that when the Spanish, Americans and Japanese all came to conquer the Philippines; we did resist. Yet, we had to surrender when it became clear there was no way to resist. By all accounts, most of our leaders and our people were able to adjust remarkably well by cooperating with the new leadership. Some would call it cowardice; but most would agree that it was merely practical survival. Several revolts did spring up throughout the years, but sadly, most didn’t get very far.

Towards the end of the Spanish era, the members of La Liga Filipina, a civic organization devoted to achieving independence, would split. Some would advocate seeking independence through armed revolution; some would argue for using the strategy of propaganda and institutional reform. Again, neither group quite succeeded. During the American era, Filipino politicians were also split: some were quite aggressive towards the Americans, while some wanted to work with them and prove that the Philippines were ready for self-governance. During World War II, under the Japanese, some Filipinos took to the hills to wage guerilla warfare, while others stayed in their posts to act as a buffer between the Japanese and the Filipinos.

There were two widely different strategies, yet both had the same aims.

This is because we Filipinos do our best to endure. Yes, there comes a time when we have had enough, and we do fight – the EDSA Revolution of 1986 played a key role in forcing an ailing Ferdinand Marcos from office, for example. However, as long as things can be endured, we will find a way. Some argue that this is a bad thing – that if we had not been so patient, we would years ago have risen up and taken power away from the rich few in Manila who influence the way the country is run. On the other hand, it is a testament to the hardiness of our people that we somehow make the most of what little we have, and slowly, we grow.

In today’s highly globalized world, it has never been more important for Filipinos to act with an inherent national pride in doing things, from the littlest to the most ground-breaking, from crossing the street to paying taxes, from being the best in school or at work to engaging in social entrepreneurship.

Only when people attach being Filipino within themselves will they realize their vital role in continuously defining and re-defining what Filipino means and what it stands for.