Saturday, December 05, 2009

Filipino Old Schools

There is just a full string of Filipino cultures that in my humblest opinion, needs revisiting – if not awakening. I can typify these to why we have not moved forward for the longest time, and maybe, yes maybe, this is why we are stuck into where we are until now, leaving us drooling to the progression of other countries surrounding us.


This write-up may not necessarily be correct and accurate, but let me go on anyway. Whether I am wrong or not, it can still be educational both to those who subscribe or differ to my thoughts. And while for the non-believers, then at least they can see the deficiencies opposite my narrative, and may offer the real pictures accordingly on how things affect their lives.




Dependency:

It is always good to see those who have more sharing their blessings to those who have less. But as the saying goes, beggars can’t be choosers. They had their time on their hands. And whatever circumstances they were endowed, there is imminent manifestation that they did not maximize their efforts, and defied their wisdom for a better life. They practiced free will, and when they made up their minds, they did not involve anyone. But then, why is it that when people realize they made the wrong choice, they tend to look after the fruition of the go-getter? With that, I’m a bit lost.


But in reality, this can be attributed to close family ties. There is always the cling on assistance. The motivation to greater leaps is hindered because of the thought that someone shall always look after one’s shoulders. There is no push to gun to realize young dreams via intense enthusiasm. There is always the thought on solicitation of support – as if it is even mandatory. We see it everyday; in the neighborhood, in the papers, on TV - the failure of next of kins is often blamed on the success of the hard workers. Annoying, but true.



Compliance:

For those who go off shore – either for visit or to live, they deem wary even to the most basic rules of the host country. They would never let their guards down. They don’t want any snag. Of which is perfectly in contrast to the behavior that we encompass in our own turf. Ordinary people, learned, uneducated, elites, politicians, regardless of status, age and gender – it is all the same. We care more on how to go around the bend instead of just complying with what should be and go home to be happy with our families, and sleep trouble free.


While for other races that come to visit us, we expect things the same way it is expected from us to be doing that we do not. Double standard, maybe? Undeniably, that’s us.



Paradigm:

Tons of superstitious beliefs that even with the kind of advance education and technology that we are endowed, we still tend to subscribe. We create our own ghosts, and get frightened of our own creation. We clip our minds, and cuff our own selves. Instead of moving forward which is expected to be the ideal thing to do, we prefer to either stay still, or worse, step backwards. For one; there is no such thing as sunrise and/or sunset because the sun never moved. As if anyone still doesn’t know, it is the earth that revolves around the sun. That must have been taught in elementary science already, and it seems that to this date, our teachers had always been wrong.


We should be like a memory-card that just continues to absorb and store new things. And for the old files, I bet we tend to delete them, or archive somewhere. We should respect reality at modern times. Betamax is long gone, or you may choose to ask your kids about it for a frown. We may still keep them for reference, but whether we like it or not, we can not put them in use at these times anymore.



Ever-forgiving:

Sleep with someone else and admit to your spouse later, and you will be forgiven for being true and honest. Sow kindness and/or be famous and steal big time later, and you shall easily be forgiven because what you did was only a misdemeanor. And the likes, etcetera, and etc… Anything you do becomes a juvenile, with worst consequence of a “please next time don’t you ever do that again”. Hands down, with the absolution already at hand even before a wrongdoing is obligated, it is always welcome to make mistakes. To others, it is even encouraged. That is why the doers would not much show remorse because they know what they shall be accorded anyway.


And we expect those who violate us to be accordingly dealt with? Please… The greatest trick the devil ever did was convincing the world that he didn't exist. We see and we know something not right is happening and we choose to close our eyes, or worst turn blind and outrightly forgive instead of chastise. That’s us, very soft-hearted as a tofu.


Bureau-crazy:

This is the worst trait that Filipinos tend to hug tightly on. It is not what you know, but whom you know. The friendship outstands between what is right and wrong. What is idyllic is shadowed by relationships. We elect to dwarf ourselves from the permissible. We side with emotions over morality. Though we show sympathy to the underdogs, it appears to be just a stunt for the show. In reality, we do not accord to the accurate definition of fairness. Our hearts would more often rule over our brains. We just can not discern when to loosen up the ties. We’d always favor to live according to individual benefits. And then we go to church every Sunday to say our thanks for the graces – and for spiritual fortification. I just don’t get it.


I can go on with my list, but these are just some of those that I hate much from the good traits that we Filipinos have. It is not as if I was never integral to these syndromes, but my wisdom dictates me with optimism that one day, we shall get over with from these obstacles for a better standard of life. Maybe it is something that we can dream for our kids and for the next generations – that life would offer them greater experiences as we grow old, and that when they have to back-read on the “renovation” of Filipino culture, they would see our smiles curved in every advantage that they pound on as compared to what we had in our own version of our medieval time.


Whatever, however, whenever – if ever, it may be everyone’s dream to be enjoying better things like other races do, without sacrificing our own Filipino values, morality, and principles. It may just be my prayer now, but I sure hear a lot humming…

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