Love of country

Rodel Rodis, Jul 20, 2005, Philippine News

In his 1987 Atlantic Monthly essay, "Damaged Culture,"
James Fallows observed that there was a noticeable
lack of nationalism, or love of country, among
Filipinos compared to other people in other countries.
One American he met in Manila explained that "This is
a country where the national ambition is to change
nationality" citing a 1982 survey of 207
Filipino grade school students who were asked their
preferred nationality. Less than five percent (10
students) answered 'Filipino.'

Nationalism is valuable because, as Fallows wrote,
it causes people to look beyond themselves rather than
pursuing their own interests to the ruination of
everyone else. Japan is strong because its ethics
dictate that all Japanese deserve decent treatment. In
contrast, Fallows notes, Filipino culture places more
importance on loyalty to one's family,
compadres, and members of his or her region rather
than to the nation or people as a whole.

"When observing Filipino friendships," Fallows wrote,
"I thought often of the Mafia families portrayed in
The Godfather: total devotion within the
circle, total war on the outside. And since boundaries
of decent treatment are limited to the family or
regional group, they exclude at least 90% of
the country. Because of this fragmentation - this lack
of nationalism - people treat each other worse in the
Philippines than in any other Asian country."

Most Filipinos will tell you that the main cause of
poverty in the Philippines is the endemic and systemic
corruption in the Philippines. It is so demoralizing
that, because of it, many Filipinos want to "change
nationality."

But a Korean student by the name of Jaeyoun Kim begs
to differ. In his essay which has been circulating in
the Internet for years, Jaeyoun wrote: "Filipinos
always complain about the corruption in the
Philippines. Do you really think the corruption is the
problem of the Philippines? I do not think so. I
strongly believe that the problem is the lack of love
for the Philippines."

"Let me first talk about my country, Korea. It might
help you understand my point. After the Korean War,
South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the
world. Koreans had to start from scratch because the
entire country was destroyed completely after the
Korean War, and we had no natural resources. Koreans
used to talk about the Philippines, for Filipinos were
very rich in Asia. We envy Filipinos. Koreans really
wanted to be well off like Filipinos. Many Koreans
died of famine"

"Korean government was awfully corrupt and is still
very corrupt beyond your imagination, but Korea was
able to develop dramatically because Koreans really
did their best for the common good with their heart
burning with patriotism. Koreans did not work just for
themselves but also for their neighborhood and
country. Education inspired young men with the spirit
of patriotism. Many Korean scientists and engineers in
the USA came back to Korea to help develop the country
because they wanted their country to be well off.
Though they received very small salary, they did their
best for Korea. They always hoped that their
children would live in a well off country."

Jaeyoun's fervent message to Filipinos is this:
"Please love your neighbor and country. If you have a
child, teach them how to love the Philippines.
Teach them why they have to love their neighbor and
country."

We can follow Jaeyoun's advice and teach our children
how to love the Philippines. But can we teach it to
the leaders of the Philippines?