Do you remember the film Heneral Luna?
I was deeply moved and captured by that movie. One of the things that Heneral Luna said in the film that I will never forget was: “Kaya nating magbuwis ng buhay para sa pamilya pero para sa isang prinsipyong makabayan?” (We are able to risk our lives for our families, but what about for a nationalistic principle? What about for our country?)
I am Filipino-Chinese, but I consider myself 110% Filipino.
This is where I grew up. This is where I learned how to speak Filipino. I grew up reading comics.
I used to play out in the streets every afternoon. I would eat fish ball and cotton candy…
We only have one country. This is why whatever happens, whether good or bad, we should all make it a point to always unite and be ONE people. Together, let’s all strive together to do whatever it takes to make our country better.
Every Filipino has a duty to fulfill in this country. The fact that we are not holding a position in the government isn’t an excuse. Whether or not we are in office, we have a responsibility to the
Philippines, and we are all expected to move and to do something for our country.
The solution to our country’s problems doesn’t lie in blaming the government or pointing out who is right or who is wrong. Sometimes we can easily get caught up with who to blame. But we keep forgetting that our country’s current state of affairs also has to do with how well we are serving our country. The current situation of our country isn’t just a product of our government.
It is also a product of its people – us, the countrymen.
What we need to do as Filipinos is to fulfill the responsibility and duty that we have to our country.
Whether or not we admit it, we all have our own shortcomings. I would like to let everyone know through this blog that there are two types of mistakes, shortcomings, or faults.
The first one by COMMISSION.
A mistake or a fault by commission means that you did something to make the mistake. There was an action involved. Examples of this include littering on the streets, burdening our neighbors, causing other people harm, etc.
The second one is by OMISSION.
This type of mistake or fault has to do with something that we did not do. These are the faults, mistakes, or shortcomings that we know we should have done, but didn’t do.
For example, maybe you are a parent, and we all know that as parents, we should take care of our kids and give them a good future. We might say that compared to other parents who beat their children, take drugs, and have a gambling addiction, we’re better off. However, if we neglect our responsibility to provide for our children, to be good role models, and to discipline our children, we are not better off at all. Yes, other parents may be doing something wrong in the way that they are raising their child, but if we neglect to do certain things, we are no different from others.
We are all the same.
In the workplace, we need to make sure that we are doing our work well. We can’t keep on slacking off at work and just be on Facebook the whole day. We can say that we are not stealing from the company or causing to harm our officemates like other people, but if we are not fulfilling our roles and duties in the workplace, then we are no different from them. We are all the same.
If we are a citizen of this country, then we need to obey the rules. We may say that we are not like other people who sell drugs, or mug or kidnap people on the streets, but if we neglect to follow traffic rules, or if we neglect to pay our taxes, then we are no different from other people.
We are all the same.
So again, let me repeat. There are two kinds of mistakes, faults, or shortcomings. These aren’t seen just in our own personal lives, but also in our lives as Filipinos.
The first fault is doing wrong to our fellow people – commission. The second is neglecting the needs of our fellow people – omission.
Yes, we all hate corruption.
We don’t ever want to have politicians who are CORRUPT!
We want people who are STRAIGHT, people who are not easily influenced or easily tempted to steal from the country. Well, what if this person doesn’t know how to steal, but he/she is also not doing anything to stop corruption? What if he/she is not using his/her authority and power to correct the wrongs in the country? Then this person is no different from the others who are performing acts of corruption.
Some people do the wrong thing, but some people do nothing about the wrong things.
These people are one and the same!
Isn’t it frustrating to know that there is something that needs to be done, but no one is doing anything about it?
The truth is, the solution is simple. If we all just act, take part, and choose to do something for our country, the impact can be monumental. Let’s not only boast about the things that we are doing, but let us also consider the things that we are not doing. Let’s consider the roles that we should be carrying out but don’t, and the duty and responsibility that we should be fulfilling, but fail to do so.
THINK. REFLECT. APPLY.
Commission or omission?
It doesn’t really matter.
What matters is that WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER, if we all make an effort to unite!
