A Call to Return to Culture

From Ben's Blog: Building non-profits

The Philippines is home to more than 90 million people, more than half of which are either too poor to go to school or don't get quality education. On the other side of the fence are those who either are bound to leave the country, pursue a career for other personal purposes, or simply do not know what to do. There is no one really to blame about this phenomenon, but it is happening. We have lost our love for our country and would rather manage a smaller group: ourselves, our family, our friends. I admire this loyalty, but sometimes, we must return to the community of which we have been born out of.

The Philippines is lost in translation. What was once the Pearl of the Orient is now another developing country. Historically, we were as rich as any European country because of the Galleon Trade, but today we are scraping our knees on the rocky ground, looking for some sort of gem that we can regard as treasure. Not too many people know this, or even feel this suffering. We are content and blind. We have lost not only our love, but also our glory.

So what is our mission now? Many a politician disregard this statement, but it is true. We must return to the community as a cultural peoples whose history is as rich and beautiful as any other. We have something to be proud about, and that is the Filipino spirit. Too long have we overlooked the power within us... but to reclaim it is a daunting task, but possible enough. We have to answer that call to return to cultural reform. We must remember our pride as Filipinos who revolted for freedom in both revolutionary and peaceful manners. We must remember that Filipinos are geniuses in the arts, and that our ability to adapt artistically is a rare and unique gift.

We must remember that culture will never escape us, for it is us... it is the stuff that makes this country the Philippines. And this is my mission: To remind everyone that culture is calling us. We must respond and creatively and courageously destroy that mediocre status quo of blind consumerism. We are better than this; we are Filipinos.