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It is safe to assume that Filipinos, as a people, are among the
“easily pleased,” as compared to the other nationalities of the
world. This notwithstanding, they also get hurt very easily, very
onion-skinned in a manner of speaking. Little things make Filipinos
in general happy but even the slightest incident could also trigger
their disappointments.
Thus, a typical Filipino would always have
something to complain about. More likely, however, he will keep the
matter to himself than openly express, confront or even directly
settle his gripes. A Filipino would rather open his heart to, and
seek comfort from, people who are close and dear to him even if they
do not have any stake in his concerns. Many times, complaints are
settled, or even exacerbate, through the grape vine in the chain of
gossips and rumors.
Nevertheless, Filipinos love to communicate and
express themselves. The Philippines would not be the text capital of
the world if it were otherwise. Filipinos are everywhere in the
digital divide with their blogs. Internet social networks like
Friendster in fact are dominated by Filipinos. Filipino passion for
music as a form of human expression is simply amazing.
While Filipinos are generally expressive, it is
wonder why they would rather endure for as long as they can perhaps
up to boiling point, than break the status quo. Make no mistake
about it but the average Filipino has the heart for change, and
would always hope for it, but he will never stake his person on it,
especially if it would put his immediate family in jeopardy. He
would rather suffer and protest in silence in this case until the
clamor for reform or change has put the bandwagon in locomotion,
that is when the battle lines are drawn.
Filipinos would openly express their love foar
their country but judging from how they live their daily lives as
citizens, it is a source of wonder whether in fact they do. What
should have been good for the country more often than not has to
take a back seat in favor of convenience and parochial personal
satisfaction. Choosing between what is good for the country and what
is good for his very own or even his family’s interests (a usual
line to justify his actions), a typical Filipino would obviously
take the latter.
A typical Filipino would have big dreams, high
amitions and would love to idolize and look up at a role model in
pursuing his direction. What is disturbing these days is the
impatience of many Filipinos to embrace the dignity of labor and
hard work to ensure their economic success. Many are easily lured to
professions, false opportunities, and even criminal endeavors that
offer a quick fix. No wonder that when times are hard, there are
more Filipinos lining up lotto betting stations, the illegal number
game of jueteng continues to flourish, there are incidence of
corruption both in the public and private sector, the news never get
tired of reporting people being duped of investment and money scams,
and many young people abandon their dreams in favor of the career
fad of the times. Nowadays, the only perceived measure of true
success is money, and more money. Of course, this country is not
alone in today’s highly materialistic environment.
Filipinos are generally reactive than proactive.
They do not anticipate, or maybe refuse to aniticpate, difficulties
and problems before they arise. And when things go wrong, finger
pointing starts, there would always be somebody to blame, and seldom
would someone actually take responsibility for the mess.
In good or bad times, what is striking about
Filipinos is their ingrained nature of finding joy in simple things
and putting humor even to the most catastrophic situation. A
Filipino is usually affective and easily shed tears while at the
same time laugh at the situation without being necessarily happy
about it.
There is no mutual exclusivity in the psyche of
the Filipino. Anything goes so to speak. Whether this is good or bad
could be seen where this country is, right now.
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