The Dark Side of the Three Stars and a Sun

From everyone’s viewpoint, it is said that we Filipinos have one of the best characteristics in the whole world. As a nation, we are seen as a strong republic. Not playing words with the former President’s tagline, we’re just really a strong country. Just imagine, being devastated by a strong typhoon and losing the things and people we care and love then if a camera’s up front we’ll smile. See? We’re just one strong country. Moreover, people from different places across the globe have been complementing us for our deep faith. Yes, it’s our fuel that drives us into our everyday hardships and enables us in the end of the day to go back to bed, sleep and hope for a fresh, better and brand new day. One of our well known characteristic is being hospitable. That’s the main reason why people from all over the globe love us! A proof of this is during fiestas, you accommodate people you don’t know. We’re the only nation to do that! Despite of these things, there are some things that even we Filipinos despise among ourselves. Just like other nations, we have the dark side of our own culture and tradition.

            One of the well- known bad things about us Filipinos is crab mentality.  Everyone just hates that if we ever see one having such mentality, he/ she is despised by everyone else. The said “If I can’t have it, you neither can” mentality has been around for more than three centuries now. Which started as a simple friendly competition might end up as a fiery game with such mentality.

            Another is the Manyana Habit. Guilty of it, I usually run out of time in doing things. This habit disables us to do what we are supposed to do, thus making us hurry to catch up. From its meaning, it is a hindrance to productivity that makes us slump into the last place.

            Lastly is that most of us are always more than fashionably late. It’s what we call Filipino Time.  This is the reason why most foreign investors don’t want to invest here. Just imagine, the unveiling of an infrastructure was supposed to start at 8AM was done at 8:45AM because the congressman who financed the said project was late because of his “errands.” It’s just a matter of importance. The more lately you arrive, the better. It shows importance for them. Ridiculed enough by many, still many people, especially those who have positions in the government practices this hated time frame.

            Indeed, angels have their own wicked schemes but it does not mean that they are no longer angels. It just shows that neither perfect nor above somebody else. We Filipinos have many things to be proud of but we also have some things that we need to work on so we can be better people.