My Street from Apathy to Patriotism

My Street from Apathy to Patriotism

July 24, 2009 by Andoni Valencia Comments (1)
by Andoni L. Valencia
Many people often times ask me why I love the Philippines so much. They ask, “Is there really a cause for loving your country?” Why do you hold on to old dreams that change will still come and is achievable to our beloved country? When obviously looking at the situation of our government, politics, issue on social justice and the current plight of our people shows there is no hope for change or reform?
I always answer them with a big “YES”. Why? Because I believe that change will come if we ourselves would change from apathy towards genuine and radical patriotism. It is human nature not to react unless you are really the one affected. You cannot see the injustice unless you experience it. You cannot feel hunger unless you do not have food. You cannot see the importance of a home unless you experience not having one. And finally you cannot see the importance of patriotism unless you realize the need to do so.
The turning point in my life why I’m like this, from an apathetic, happy go lucky Filipino youth towards a conscientious and patriotic youth came when I had the opportunity to support a man who made a difference in this degenerating nation. He is Bro. Eddie Villanueva who ran last 2004 presidential elections under the Bangon Pilipinas Party. He offered us genuine change thru righteous leadership in government. He advocated that change is achievable if the principles of truth, justice and righteousness are instituted in the Philippine society. He was willing to fight the goliaths under a rotten and bankrupt political system for the sake of God and the future of the Filipino people. Some even say that Bro. Eddie’s cause was like a “suntok sa buwan”. But nevertheless I was deeply inspired by the life of this man from a former political radical activist and Marxist communist during Martial Law, fighting against social injustice and rallied people under the cause of the National Democratic Revolution. Taught economics and finance in PUP and later on as he questioned the legitimacy of the path that he was all along walking on fighting a Godless cause to establish a just and humane society. It led him to the Holy Scriptures. He began to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and started a movement from fifteen college students now about a membership of seven million here in the Philippines and abroad which is now called the Jesus Is Lord Church.
Since 2004 up to now, I have always embraced and advocated the same cause. National change and righteousness is possible if we ourselves turn away from apathy and start opening our eyes to the truth. And the truth is people are hungry, people have no homes, children do not have education, people are dying because of poor health services, the rich is getting richer and the poor is getting poorer, the trend that justice is only for the rich, oppression and exploitation are rampant since time in memoriam. Corruption, immorality, bribery and political instability brought about by the illegitimacy of the current president and her unconscientious allies in government.
I think it is high time that we stand and fight for genuine change in the government. Let us demand it! Make noise about it! As Mahatma Gandhi said “Be the change that you wish to see in the world” and Jesus Christ also said “Love thy neighbor as thyself”. If the message of Christ’s love be put to practice by all Filipinos what a country we could have, when people are helping one another, feeding one another and having love and compassion for people who are anguishing in abject poverty. Let us not think of our different religious beliefs or political persuasions but rather think of our poor brothers and sisters because Jesus Christ himself fed, loved and chose to be with them. As what Bono of U2 put it “God is with us, if we are with them (poor)”. Love for God and country are inseparable. When you learn to love your country, you love the eighty million plus people in your country.
There have been many instances when I get frustrated with how cruel this government is. And tell myself why care about it? When you can’t get anything in return anyway? But every time I step out of the La Salle campus and see street children begging for food or one peso coin just to augment hunger for the day. It really crushes my heart and my idealism keeps getting stronger and stronger and once again my cause and advocacy for change and righteousness comes back to me. Patriotism is already in my system and I thank God for it.
I call on my fellow political science students, members of the La Sallian community and all Filipinos. Let us take on the cudgels for genuine patriotism. If we want to inherit a corrupt and unjust society then don’t do anything but if you wish to see a transformed nation then we must act now because later could mean too late. Join the wagon for truth, justice and righteousness.
As Dr. Jose Rizal once said that we are the hope of the nation but let me also say that we are not only the hope of the nation but we are the nation and we must take over. We should not be only the hope but we should also be of service to our motherland not tomorrow but now because the future of our generation is the one at stake here. We should learn to take risks because we become stronger thru risks. We should de idealistic, incorruptible and principled patriots. We should be radical nation changers and we should be willing to fight and die for it at all cost.
Let us tell our politicians that we will not allow you to fool us anymore as Abraham Lincoln once said “You cannot fool all of the people all the time”. Let us look up and be inspired with people like Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Che Guevara, Martin Luther King, Among Ed Panlilio, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Tony Meloto and many others. For the lives of these men are stories of great conviction to achieve a cause. The former US Secretary of State, George Marshall once said that “Mahatma Gandhi has become the spokesman for the conscience of mankind; he made humility and simple truth more powerful than empires.
We can change the Philippines if we say with faith we can. We could turn this nation around if we truly learn to love this country and stand for what you believe is right. Influence your fellow youth that your stand on what is right and wrong should be as clear as black and white. Let us value honor, our word is our bond. Let us inspire our entire nation to work as one to do great things. Our love for country should be greater than love for one's self and family, and who shall be willing to march into hell so that the Filipinos may have heaven on this planet. Aristotle said that "The salvation of the community (nation) should be the common business of good citizens." And Edmund Burke added that “Evil triumphs because good men do nothing”.
Allow me to end this with words from Bro. Eddie Villanueva “Buhayin natin ang diwa ng pagmamahal sa bansa, at sa karangalan ng lahing Pilipino, Ibangon ang Pilipinas!”
The future of this country lies in our hands. The question is, are you willing to fight for it?