While an opinion can shape the esteem of any person, it can also deform one's honor when given out without restraint. I do not have control over what other people may believe in, but I can definitely rouse to demonstrate.
My husband and I have much insight to share, especially to our son. Since our son was still quite young he may not be able to take in everything in one stride. Hence, as we moved along, we opted to gradually enlighten him as early as now and allow him to offer us the questions he may not understand.
So when he comes of age, with all things said and done and no spared room for more questions, it will just be his bout to share his testimony. He may readily listen to our many ethical instructions now, but in the end, with rectitude as his utmost foundation, emulating the admirable deeds of his parents will be my greatest consolation.
It can also be calming to know that our son is aware of what we, his parents, stand for as regards our country. I know now that I love my country - The Philippines. No amount of theories alone bolstered my understanding and adoration for my homeland. It was culminated by my series of childhood and adulthood experiences and was reinforced by what I've seen, read and heard. My fervor for my country is so profound, with much dignity and pride, I am determined to always let our son appreciate its worth and equip him of my sentiments, so he will be able to carry on that same awareness to the next generations to come.
Even though people from all walks of life vary in opinions, what matters most is the truths and lessons learned from them, moreover, the conviction of taking part in doing something positive out of them. Many may disagree, and others may find some negative reports as turn-offs. To me though, I consider my observations invigorating, in turn, have constantly impacted me with a great moral sense.
Quite honestly though, my fervor for my homeland did not happen overnight. I qualify it more of a painstakingly slow, yet, convincingly steady process. No child is borne with inherent ardor for his/her country. Love for country, as I gradually realized, has to absolutely be admonished, comprehended, and most of all nurtured constantly to the children of the future generations. For the most part, parents play a noble and vital role as teachers of it. A noble teacher, therefore, is the one who mirrors themselves as an epitome of their homeland. I didn't experience most of these fundamental techniques, but my longing for independence may have paved the way.
This brings me down to my main objective of apprising our son of love for the country. Philippine History, when taken into its full context, can leave devastating setbacks to children of minor ages. I, therefore, should be more discreet in disclosing information as this to our son. What I needed to do, therefore, to reinforce our son's appreciation and zeal on such a homeland as ours, is to allow our son to learn the way his parents did.
Simply put, help him to focus on the following two main points: 1). Treasure the external beauty of the country, and 2). Follow suit on the internal beauty of its people that care about their country deeply.
I am fifth among the six children in our family. Being in that kind of framework limited my authority to select, hence, had always succumbed myself to the jurisdiction of my elders. Now that we only have a son, it is our call of duty to him to develop that sense of dignity in himself to balance power and humility.
As opposed to way back then, when computers were not known yet and were still out of reach, getting affirmations from other fellow Filipinos were quite expensive and taxing. Good thing too, my husband is a computer expert, the internet has become my virtual library. Extracting attestations from a handful of people from all over the world through the web is quick and effortless. Vital facts of a variety of topics can now be drawn in an instant.
Because of this, and just to ensure that I am not flimflamming on our son, I browsed on the subject in order to extract adequate reasonable comparisons, and figure out the level of consciousness for the Philippines. I was just expecting a few thousand from some Filipinos with the same stance as mine. Much to my pleasant surprise, I got a staggering 219 million-plus results, and counting, from various comments, blogs, articles, and videos professing that same conviction as I have. As I have only randomly read some articles and watched few videos, I was already immediately convinced. That headcount of 219 million-plus is substantial enough for me to join the bandwagon.
I come from parents with elaborate cultural ancestry. My paternal ancestries are entirely from Pampanga province and my father basically grew up in his hometown in Arayat until his adulthood. My mother's ancestries are combinations of Bulacan and Bicol provinces. However, she was fully orphaned at just the age of seven and forcefully lived under the care of her maternal aunt and siblings in Manila until her adulthood.
Despite these rich cultural backgrounds, I was born in Manila and brought up within Metro Manila by my parents. My father, though very much accustomed to his roots, very rarely brought us back to Pampanga for a vacation, even for just a brief visit. Moreover, because of past circumstances, my mother didn't have much of the chance to introduce us to her lineage. As a result, I came of age adapting mainly to the Manila culture.
I grew up in my toddler years with my paternal grandmother whom we call as "Mamang". Life with Mamang was pretty much intense and restricted. The four corners of our 2-bedroom apartment, with no toys and playmates around, were my only haven and playground. Which was why, even as early as 3 to 4 years old, I already yearned for freedom. Although there were hardly any chances, I have ceaselessly tried to find a way to get out of my shell. Until one time, when I was around 3 years old, despite Mamang's strong disapproval, my persistence made her to finally let me go to Iloilo with my paternal uncle's common-law wife.
I had tremendous childhood limitations, but my intense desire to know and quest for answers never stopped me from building my dreams. It took me quite a long while before I had to achieve that dream though. But for the time being, I had to make do of the minimal resources at hand, and survived in life exuberantly. I may have met many challenges along the way, but all have been my motivations, to create opportunities for myself instead, have that positive perspective in life, and look at success more differently. And now, I am all the more relishing in the prestige I am already reaping, together with my own family.
My first experience of leisure was when I was three on that brief stay in Iloilo. It was very much exhilarating and momentous. Lifestyle in Manila was nothing quite like it. Ways of life in Iloilo were so simple, spared from the guile of the urban city. Every day to me was literally and figuratively a smell and breath of fresh air. Our foods were mostly fresh livestock, poultry, carabao's milk and native chicken eggs right from my aunt's very own backyard. I felt peaceful hearing the roosters simultaneously crowing at dawn and the sounds of the crickets at night. It was also my first glimpse of the colorful butterflies, grasshoppers and dragonflies during the day, and watching intently on the fireflies sparkling at night, by the bedroom window of our nipa hut. I was not yet going to school then, so I had much of the time for myself, mostly playing until dusk with the genuinely friendly children in the neighborhood and the public school nearby.
My journey in Iloilo was the beginning of my thirst for freedom. Subconsciously, my desire to embark was slowly building up inside of me. Not long after my stay in Iloilo, my siblings and I joined our parents in Vietnam for more than a year or so. Although there was civil war going on in some regions in Vietnam in the 70s, to me, it was my ultimate sense of "liberation" from Mamang.
Having been married to a Filipino husband who is steadfast and resilient is a blessing too. He comes from a large kin. He is fourth among the nine children in his family. He grew up in a humble town of Rapu-rapu, Albay, in the province of Bicol. He was named after his late father. As diligent, decent, scrupulous, and prayerful as his father was, my husband's traits quite resemble his. Having my husband around allowed me to regularly put my acts in check with our son. This kind of setting made it a lot easier for our son to adjust and did not have to learn the hard way as I did. He'll just need to adapt to what is fitting to any kind of environment.
To add to my advantage, my siblings and I married Filipino spouses of diverse cultures. This eventually paved the way for us to explore some of the 7600+ islands of our country, and our son can now enjoy the rich culture we all embody.
My approach to adventure before was to travel many parts of the country. After a long wait for my moment to come, without dilly-dallying on that rare priceless break, however chances I may have had, I have visited as many regions in the Philippines as I could. To date, I have already ventured places quite considerably, and have returned in some places at least twice or so. Despite my travels, I sensed there were something still lacking, I wish to go back, if necessary, over and over. Now that I have my own family, travelling can be more fun and meaningful when I do more of that with them.
Of all the destinations I have reached, the landmarks I have seen were typically distinct because of their history, geographic location, and breathtaking sceneries. One of which are still existing old churches constructed during the Spanish Colony way back in the early 1500s. These edifices not only are remarkable in structures, but they also symbolize the breakthrough of Christianity to my country. We can find many of the churches all over parts of the lands, but the ones I saw quite breathtaking are in Ilocos and Visayas Regions. Other religions were introduced to my country way back years before Christianity. Arabs and Chinese traded resources with the Philippines, and most emigrated in Mindanao Island and introduced Islam and Buddhism. Ancestral homes dating back Spanish and American eras, are still preserved and upright in Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Laguna, Bataan and Cavite.
All the more stimulating and mind-boggling are one of God's finest gifts - the alpine mountains of Cordillera, Cagayan and Bicol Regions. Intricate landscapes of the hills and valleys are imminent displays of Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Visayas Regions. The fascinating spectacle of all active and dormant volcanoes remind us of past events they unfolded. The comforting reverberations of the undefiled waterfalls I have seen are mostly in Cordillera, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Visayas Regions. The grandiose complex caves and natural tunnels are plentiful in Cordillera, Cagayan, Mimaropa and Visayas Regions. The pristine white sand beaches, sandbars and small bodies of waters are all over Luzon and Visayas Islands. Lastly, the preserved mountainous and coastal territories of the country are sanctuaries to the forest and marine animals. I have yet to see many parts of Mindanao Island though. If time and opportunity permit, I will. Meantime, It's best to just settle on seeing this equally beauteous island through pictures shared on the net.
Combinations of these magnificent mountains, caves, waterfalls and beaches can be seen particularly throughout Palawan. As attested in April 2012 being one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in the World, the underground river in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, is to die for. As my husband's 46th birthday treat for me, my family and I had the chance to visit Palawan for the fourth time. It may seem quite ironic, but it never ceases to enliven me as if each visit was only my first time.
In addition, in the recent poll of 2011, being chosen the second-best beach destination in the world and the No. 1 in Asia for 2 consecutive years, according to travel website TripAdvisor, can be seen in my country, that is the 4.5-mile long Boracay Island of Aklan Province.
Equally fine white sand beaches, majestic mountains and islands are abundant in the Philippines. Some have become frequent destinations and settings for the popular reality TV show "Survivor" franchises of Europe. I am proud to say also, that Survivor US chose Philippines as their next plot this fall of 2012 entitled "Survivor Philippines". And all the more exciting, Manila was single-handedly chosen as the main plot by the Producers of the action-packed American movie "Bourne Legacy" shown in August 2012. Philippine Economy, I believe, is now beginning to emerge from its deep slumber.
The lists of admirable destinations in the Philippines go on and on. Appreciation of the physical beauty of my country is immeasurable. The rest of recognition is welcome for those who have not seen it yet and wish to come again and again.
Much is being said about the natural physical charm of my country. Many tourists come and go and consistently flatter us with words about it. I am almost convinced! On second thought, is it just the physical appeal or are there more to it than meet the eyes? The essence, I believe, has no actual secrets, but merely honorable people genuinely typifying it. In the entire places I've gone to over the years, only one thing I see common in most Filipinos, which brings me to my second main point, people with innate exemplary traits. Since I represent the same country, it makes me all the more proud to be a Filipino.
The Philippines is indeed fascinating, and in it are people that complement it. Way back countless thousands of years ago, Philippines had no unifying political state encompassing the whole 7,107 islands as one sovereign country. These islands were so divided among competing native rulers as datus, rajahs, or sultans. History showed that the Philippines experienced diverse cultural crossroads, where Malays, Arabs, Chinese, Spaniards, Americans, Japanese and its other neighboring countries, have interacted to forge a unique cultural and racial blend to my country. From diverse cultures lead off to 175 official and auxiliary dialects combined. Although each province has distinct sub-languages (dialects), Filipinos have embodied unified exceptional traits.
I am fifth among the six children in our family. Being in that kind of framework limited my authority to select, hence, had always succumbed myself to the jurisdiction of my elders. Now that we only have a son, it is our call of duty to him to develop that sense of dignity in himself to balance power and humility.
As opposed to way back then, when computers were not known yet and were still out of reach, getting affirmations from other fellow Filipinos were quite expensive and taxing. Good thing too, my husband is a computer expert, the internet has become my virtual library. Extracting attestations from a handful of people from all over the world through the web is quick and effortless. Vital facts of a variety of topics can now be drawn in an instant.
Because of this, and just to ensure that I am not flimflamming on our son, I browsed on the subject in order to extract adequate reasonable comparisons, and figure out the level of consciousness for the Philippines. I was just expecting a few thousand from some Filipinos with the same stance as mine. Much to my pleasant surprise, I got a staggering 219 million-plus results, and counting, from various comments, blogs, articles, and videos professing that same conviction as I have. As I have only randomly read some articles and watched few videos, I was already immediately convinced. That headcount of 219 million-plus is substantial enough for me to join the bandwagon.
I come from parents with elaborate cultural ancestry. My paternal ancestries are entirely from Pampanga province and my father basically grew up in his hometown in Arayat until his adulthood. My mother's ancestries are combinations of Bulacan and Bicol provinces. However, she was fully orphaned at just the age of seven and forcefully lived under the care of her maternal aunt and siblings in Manila until her adulthood.
Despite these rich cultural backgrounds, I was born in Manila and brought up within Metro Manila by my parents. My father, though very much accustomed to his roots, very rarely brought us back to Pampanga for a vacation, even for just a brief visit. Moreover, because of past circumstances, my mother didn't have much of the chance to introduce us to her lineage. As a result, I came of age adapting mainly to the Manila culture.
I grew up in my toddler years with my paternal grandmother whom we call as "Mamang". Life with Mamang was pretty much intense and restricted. The four corners of our 2-bedroom apartment, with no toys and playmates around, were my only haven and playground. Which was why, even as early as 3 to 4 years old, I already yearned for freedom. Although there were hardly any chances, I have ceaselessly tried to find a way to get out of my shell. Until one time, when I was around 3 years old, despite Mamang's strong disapproval, my persistence made her to finally let me go to Iloilo with my paternal uncle's common-law wife.
I had tremendous childhood limitations, but my intense desire to know and quest for answers never stopped me from building my dreams. It took me quite a long while before I had to achieve that dream though. But for the time being, I had to make do of the minimal resources at hand, and survived in life exuberantly. I may have met many challenges along the way, but all have been my motivations, to create opportunities for myself instead, have that positive perspective in life, and look at success more differently. And now, I am all the more relishing in the prestige I am already reaping, together with my own family.
My first experience of leisure was when I was three on that brief stay in Iloilo. It was very much exhilarating and momentous. Lifestyle in Manila was nothing quite like it. Ways of life in Iloilo were so simple, spared from the guile of the urban city. Every day to me was literally and figuratively a smell and breath of fresh air. Our foods were mostly fresh livestock, poultry, carabao's milk and native chicken eggs right from my aunt's very own backyard. I felt peaceful hearing the roosters simultaneously crowing at dawn and the sounds of the crickets at night. It was also my first glimpse of the colorful butterflies, grasshoppers and dragonflies during the day, and watching intently on the fireflies sparkling at night, by the bedroom window of our nipa hut. I was not yet going to school then, so I had much of the time for myself, mostly playing until dusk with the genuinely friendly children in the neighborhood and the public school nearby.
My journey in Iloilo was the beginning of my thirst for freedom. Subconsciously, my desire to embark was slowly building up inside of me. Not long after my stay in Iloilo, my siblings and I joined our parents in Vietnam for more than a year or so. Although there was civil war going on in some regions in Vietnam in the 70s, to me, it was my ultimate sense of "liberation" from Mamang.
Having been married to a Filipino husband who is steadfast and resilient is a blessing too. He comes from a large kin. He is fourth among the nine children in his family. He grew up in a humble town of Rapu-rapu, Albay, in the province of Bicol. He was named after his late father. As diligent, decent, scrupulous, and prayerful as his father was, my husband's traits quite resemble his. Having my husband around allowed me to regularly put my acts in check with our son. This kind of setting made it a lot easier for our son to adjust and did not have to learn the hard way as I did. He'll just need to adapt to what is fitting to any kind of environment.
To add to my advantage, my siblings and I married Filipino spouses of diverse cultures. This eventually paved the way for us to explore some of the 7600+ islands of our country, and our son can now enjoy the rich culture we all embody.
My approach to adventure before was to travel many parts of the country. After a long wait for my moment to come, without dilly-dallying on that rare priceless break, however chances I may have had, I have visited as many regions in the Philippines as I could. To date, I have already ventured places quite considerably, and have returned in some places at least twice or so. Despite my travels, I sensed there were something still lacking, I wish to go back, if necessary, over and over. Now that I have my own family, travelling can be more fun and meaningful when I do more of that with them.
Of all the destinations I have reached, the landmarks I have seen were typically distinct because of their history, geographic location, and breathtaking sceneries. One of which are still existing old churches constructed during the Spanish Colony way back in the early 1500s. These edifices not only are remarkable in structures, but they also symbolize the breakthrough of Christianity to my country. We can find many of the churches all over parts of the lands, but the ones I saw quite breathtaking are in Ilocos and Visayas Regions. Other religions were introduced to my country way back years before Christianity. Arabs and Chinese traded resources with the Philippines, and most emigrated in Mindanao Island and introduced Islam and Buddhism. Ancestral homes dating back Spanish and American eras, are still preserved and upright in Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Laguna, Bataan and Cavite.
All the more stimulating and mind-boggling are one of God's finest gifts - the alpine mountains of Cordillera, Cagayan and Bicol Regions. Intricate landscapes of the hills and valleys are imminent displays of Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Visayas Regions. The fascinating spectacle of all active and dormant volcanoes remind us of past events they unfolded. The comforting reverberations of the undefiled waterfalls I have seen are mostly in Cordillera, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Visayas Regions. The grandiose complex caves and natural tunnels are plentiful in Cordillera, Cagayan, Mimaropa and Visayas Regions. The pristine white sand beaches, sandbars and small bodies of waters are all over Luzon and Visayas Islands. Lastly, the preserved mountainous and coastal territories of the country are sanctuaries to the forest and marine animals. I have yet to see many parts of Mindanao Island though. If time and opportunity permit, I will. Meantime, It's best to just settle on seeing this equally beauteous island through pictures shared on the net.
Combinations of these magnificent mountains, caves, waterfalls and beaches can be seen particularly throughout Palawan. As attested in April 2012 being one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in the World, the underground river in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, is to die for. As my husband's 46th birthday treat for me, my family and I had the chance to visit Palawan for the fourth time. It may seem quite ironic, but it never ceases to enliven me as if each visit was only my first time.
In addition, in the recent poll of 2011, being chosen the second-best beach destination in the world and the No. 1 in Asia for 2 consecutive years, according to travel website TripAdvisor, can be seen in my country, that is the 4.5-mile long Boracay Island of Aklan Province.
Equally fine white sand beaches, majestic mountains and islands are abundant in the Philippines. Some have become frequent destinations and settings for the popular reality TV show "Survivor" franchises of Europe. I am proud to say also, that Survivor US chose Philippines as their next plot this fall of 2012 entitled "Survivor Philippines". And all the more exciting, Manila was single-handedly chosen as the main plot by the Producers of the action-packed American movie "Bourne Legacy" shown in August 2012. Philippine Economy, I believe, is now beginning to emerge from its deep slumber.
The lists of admirable destinations in the Philippines go on and on. Appreciation of the physical beauty of my country is immeasurable. The rest of recognition is welcome for those who have not seen it yet and wish to come again and again.
Much is being said about the natural physical charm of my country. Many tourists come and go and consistently flatter us with words about it. I am almost convinced! On second thought, is it just the physical appeal or are there more to it than meet the eyes? The essence, I believe, has no actual secrets, but merely honorable people genuinely typifying it. In the entire places I've gone to over the years, only one thing I see common in most Filipinos, which brings me to my second main point, people with innate exemplary traits. Since I represent the same country, it makes me all the more proud to be a Filipino.
The Philippines is indeed fascinating, and in it are people that complement it. Way back countless thousands of years ago, Philippines had no unifying political state encompassing the whole 7,107 islands as one sovereign country. These islands were so divided among competing native rulers as datus, rajahs, or sultans. History showed that the Philippines experienced diverse cultural crossroads, where Malays, Arabs, Chinese, Spaniards, Americans, Japanese and its other neighboring countries, have interacted to forge a unique cultural and racial blend to my country. From diverse cultures lead off to 175 official and auxiliary dialects combined. Although each province has distinct sub-languages (dialects), Filipinos have embodied unified exceptional traits.
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