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| Written by Audesti V. Miguel |
| Monday, 19 October 2009 04:28 |
 SENSATIONALISM sells. That is what commercial logic dictates in the current days of information technology and computerization. Politics and show business are clearly the most interesting of subjects for the typical Filipino. Such gullibility mirrors the Filipino’s attitude toward his own fate in an ever-changing world that is once again on the brink of change. This reality presses a serious challenge to Philippine Media in order to appropriately inform its public on the more critical issues that shall determine our future as a truly independent state. Obama’s popular ascendancy to the US Presidency may have proven a triumph of the US youth’s genuine will for change against an ailing hierarchy of old traditional politicians who for eight years have taken residency at the White House. The people have spoken and the Republicans had to leave the Oval Office –That is how Democracy works – at least in America. But enough about Obama and the Americans, What should interest us as Filipinos is how Obama’s presidency can affect and perhaps benefit the Philippines as a long-time ally and at the same time as an equal in terms of economic gains and political stability. A CIA Chief who was in Manila may have paved the way for President GMA to finally get a meeting with Obama. Such could be a coincidence, but once again what are far more important are the gains which we could get from that GMA-Obama meeting. Whatever was discussed in that meeting could be monumental as long as we Filipinos truly realize our worth as a people comprising an indisputably independent state, in other words, the question on whether or not the US treats us as an equal only begins on how we see ourselves as a nation. And so we ask ourselves: Are we truly what we say we are – sovereign and independent? History is such a great teacher that it helps us learn our past and be proud of the heroism our forefathers have shown even on the darkest part of our country’s history. The only problem is, history is usually written by the day’s victors and more often borders on fiction, if not fairy tale, as long as it puts the victors in a good position to perpetuate their stay in power – in a continuing evolution for an ever-changing world order. Any people who remain ignorant of its own past are doomed to commit the same mistakes in the vicious cycle of a country’s downturn towards national oblivion, and consequentially, that is not a very pretty sight. Our experiences are far too many to be taken for granted and it is almost pathetic, if not stupid, for us not to learn from them. Even better is for us to learn from other people’s experiences where patriotism and loyalty to one’s country would serve as a requisite for national pride as a fuel for an honest-to- goodness national development. The Thais are known to have never been subjugated by any colonial power and have displayed their love of country in the recent years just as the Germans were made to unite themselves under Bismarck’s “iron and blood” call for national honor in 1870. Our long-time partnership with the US has already coupled our history as a nation even before World War I and this so-called alliance have partly molded us into what we are today. However, it is worthy of note to put into perspective how we develop as a nation and as a people whose belief in American interest parallels that of our own – Could we really assure ourselves that what is good for the US can and will be good for the Philippines? Love of country must come above friendship and beyond the pleasantries of a false romantic past. We can only move forward as a country dedicated to our own cause of a true and unadulterated sense of patriotism. We can only prove that we have learned from the lessons of our true history by not committing the same miserable mistakes that have caught us in the quagmire of ignorance. We may not probably be much aware of our vast and rich experience as a former Southeast Asian military power in the early 60’s and also as one of the oldest republics in the region. Our national history deserves to have an enlightened citizenry with an ample political maturity. Our people deserve national leaders with a deep sense of patriotism beyond the theatrics of political propaganda. The 2010 election is coming and once again it will be the guns, gold and goons on one side versus the people’s will on the other. We, as a people must remember our past in order to steer ourselves towards an authentic and sustainable development for our nation’s future – The choice is ours. |