The Philippines: Love it, Hate it, What does it take?

[circles122345]

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tinood na bai? pweede ko tan aw sa pic if ge unsa?

thanks.,

[MagLu2TaYo]

ay i saw that!!!! kalokah!

when i was in high school and nasa uso pa ang CAT..... sus mabasa lang mi tawn kay no time to get umbrella when the rain falls... have to get the flag off the flagpole.

[circles122345]

sus! grabe ka bad na inyong gebuhat sa flag oi....remember oi ang flag nato maoy simbolo sa atong nasud og sa imong pagka filipino unya inyo lang ge ingon ana...tsek tsek tsek....

[rudjard]

btaw kada away aning pacquiao naa gyd tai makit-an sa video nga nagdala ug flag nya naai ibutang pakapin in favor of manny ---- no disrespect to manny pacquiao... cgro next time lang mo dala ug banner ani nila to abiba pacman will be not our flag with writing on it. pwede ramn cgro ibandera nah without any writings...
kahibaw naman tah nga pinoy na c pacman. :mrgreen:

karon ra sad ni nabantayan dah....very disrepecting btaw nah ... aw kana sad diay naa sa rally nga magsunog ug mga flags...

[td209]

di ra man kang manny pacquiao gi violate atong flag. mismo pag ASEAN man gani sa CICC kadako ato nga violation sa pag display sa atoang flag. nya kana pang mga pulitiko nga ibutang ilang nawng sa foreground sa flag. ang nakapaet kay pipila lang ka gov't officials kibaw sa flag code. and those who know usually don't care. IMHO, nationalism should be promoted and proper respect for the flag should be observed.

[Shofu]

Mao ba? Wko kakita sa fight ni Pacquiao. Our flag maoy simbolo sa ato pagkatao ug pagka Pilipino by direspecting it only shows unsa na mga attitude sa uban Pinoy karun. Even in theaters inig last full show, makita jud nmu unsa kabastos reaction sa mga moviegoers mag cge katawa, dle pa mobarug magtabe ra and some mauwaw gani placed dyr ryt hand sa dughan.
Schools should also teach their students the importance and value of our flag.

[circles122345]

bisan gani ang mga titser sa school dili man gani kahibalo na unsaon pag respect sa flag..kabalo nag sugod na kanta sa nasudnong kanta sigi lang ge hapon og katawa, storya, og pamaypay...grabe gyud ka bastos ning ubang tawo sa atong nasud ron..mismo Flag nato dili kahibalo mo respetar..

[janvier]

i still remember when i was in my elementary or even in high school, when we started singing the "lupang hinirang song" all of the people around including jeepneys, tricycles or even the people who are just passing by will really stop and let the song to be done before going back to what they were doing....but now is totally different...when you hear this song today, especially graduations, people just keep walking around and it seems like an ordinary song for them...not too bad kay i can still see it in some cinemas kung mutan-aw kog movie...lol...

well what i am trying to say is that not only our own flag is being violated, even our national anthem...

[carpet95]

up... everyone should read this...

[akosabni]

you might want to read this also ...

A Truer Face of the Philippines, a Face Hidden from Americans
Bob R. C. Kemerait, Ph.D.
Department of Plant Pathology
University of Georgia
Rural Development Center, Tifton
(229) 386-7495
The day after the mudslide on the island of Leyte in the Philippines was
reported in the United States, I received a worried phone call from a
colleague here at the University of Georgia. Tim had seen footage
of the tragedy on the evening news. Though unsure wh ere in the Philippines it had occurred, he was concerned that my wife Pam's family had been caught up in the event. I thanked him for his concern and responded that I was confident Pam's family wasn't involved. Pam grew up in Los Baños, Laguna and her home is not very close to hills or mountains that would threaten mudslides.
Over the next week my assurance to Tim was repeated to many others who were concerned for Pam. I was grateful that they cared enough about her family to ask for clarification. On long solitary drives across Georgia that week, I had plenty of time to think about this latest tragedy in the Philippines and to ponder its implications.
My first realizations were that good news from the Philippines is rarely
reported in the United States and that most Americans know very little
about the archipelago nation. Our countries have shared a very close history over the past 100 years; the Philippines was a protectorate of the United States for nearly 50 years after the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. American soldiers fought and died alongside Filipino troops in the battles against the Japanese in World War II. Strategic American air and naval bases were maintained in the Philippines until the early 1990's. Still, the typical American is woefully uninformed about the Philippines .
More importantly, the little that is known paints a picture of this country that is, at best, skewed, and at worst perpetuates regrettable stereotypes of the culture and citizens. The printed and network news that reaches the American public largely shapes our view of the world. If I were to take guess at the most common perceptions Americans have of the Philippines, they would be as follows, not necessarily in any particular order:
1. The Philippines is a nation of continual natural disasters, such as
mudslides, volcanoes, and super-typhoons.
2. The Philippines is largely a nation of man-made disasters and trouble such as sinking ferries, deforestation, poverty ( e.g. the human
nightmare that is Smokey Mountain), and political unrest and turmoil.
3. The fact Americans are most likely to know about the Philippines would involve 3000 pairs of shoes from Malacañang Palace.
4. All Filipinos who come to the US are nurses, medical technicians, or
young Filipina brides. (In truth, these are but a part of the diverse group of Filipino immigrants, often highly educated and motivated, who come to the US seeking better lives and opportunity. )
5. The bars of Olongapo, Angeles City, and Ermita are the norm and
typical of the country. (In fact, much of this has changed in all three
locations.)
6. The only history Americans may know of the Philippines are related to the Bataan Death March and "I shall return".
7. Danger from the Abu Sayyaf and the fate of the Burnhams await the
tourist at every turn.
8. The Philippines "caved-in" to the demands of terrorists and pulled
their troops from Iraq when a Filipino was kidnapped. (Most Americans do not realize how vulnerable vast numbers of Filipino overseas workers across the Middle East are to abuse and terrorist attacks. The government in the Philippines can do little to protect them.)
Although each of the above points does have some basis in fact, they do not accurately represent this island nation with a rich and very diverse cultural heritage and a people for whom warm hospitality and lasting friendships are a way of life. I believe that creating an image and reality of the Philippines based upon the perceptions above would be the same as defining the United States as a land of gang violence, drug abuse, obesity, and lack of regard or consideration for anything that is not "American".
Because my wife is from the Philippines, I have had the opportunity to be immersed in Filipino culture here at home and on visits to her home in Los Baños. As I was thinking about the stereotypes of the Philippines that are prevalent in the US, I also thought about my own perceptions of the Philippines and Filipino culture. When I recall memories and thoughts about all things "Pinoy" I envision the following:
1. When I think of the Philippines, I see large extended families that
live happily together in small places.
2. I think of large families that remain not only physically close, but
emotionally close as well.
3. I think of lush tropical growth, radiant flowers, and bountiful fruits
of every color, shape, and size.
4. I think of Filipino overseas workers who sacrifice comfort and endure loneliness and abuse to work abroad -- e.g. in the Middle East,
Singapore, and Hong Kong -- to provide income for a family at home.
5. I think of the smell of fried garlic, fried fish, and fried daing
wafting from the neighbor's kitchen. (Both because of the close
proximity of the homes and because of the hospitality where one is
welcomed and expected in the neighbor's home.)
6. I think of barkadas (a group of very close friends), potluck dinners,
and LOTS of merienda (mid-afternoon snacks).
7. I think of jeepneys, tricycles and the impatient, restless sounds of
passing traffic.
8. I think of brightly colored bandanas pressed tightly to the noses and
mouths of pedestrians.
9. I think of the solitary cry of "Taho!!" (bean curd) coming from out on the street early in the morning.
10. I think of warm smiles, courtesy, cheerful bantering,and "Hey, Joe!" as I walk through Los Baños.
11. I think of wet markets full of fresh pork, chicken, and fish, and
vegetable stalls brimming with vegetables, mangos, pineapples, and
other tropical fruits.
12. I think of boys walking with an arm over their buddies' shoulders and girls walking hand-in-hand.
13. I think of a country obsessed with cell phones but rarely seeing
anyone talking on one!
14. I think of heat and humidity and rain.
15. I think of San Miguel Beer, fighting cocks, and Jollibee Burgers.
16. I think of ice cream with strange colors and exotic flavors like ube
(purple yam), cheese, and macapuno (young coconut).
17. I think of exuberant children everywhere.
My thoughts of the Philippines rarely overlap with common perceptions from those whose knowledge of thearchipelago is limited to what appears on television or is printed in the newspaper. Sure, as in any country, there are serious problems in the Philippines.
In fact, the problems facing the Philippines are so severe that one must
wonder if the country can ever truly overcome them. However, it is my experience that the richness of the culture, the warmth of the people, and the sheer beauty of the land and sea overshadow these problems in my memory.
I wish that more people in the United States could visit the Philippines
and share in a culture and people that have enchanted and embraced me. Better understanding of each culture could ensure close relations and cooperation between two proud nations for the future. Without question, Americans visiting the Philippines would be warmly welcomed and enjoy a destination of great exotic appeal.
Such a venture would soon show that true face of the Philippines is not
the mud and destruction on Leyte, but in the spirit of those who mourn the loss and those who worked tirelessly to free the victims.