There’s hope

I often hear from the people around me that it is hopeless to live in a country like ours. They would say that the government is faulty and corrupt. That the quality of our educational system is fast declining. That it is very hard to look for a decent job, own a decent home, save a decent amount of money in the bank, raise a decent family, [and the list goes on] in this God-forsaken country called the Philippines.

I can’t blame them for feeling that way. It is true that living in the Philippines is really tough. Most of the time we feel so rusty to make a change thinking that it will not solve the gigantic problems our country faces.

And here is the very famous option of leaving the country. Looking for a greener pasture. For a more comfortable and peaceful life.

Honestly, I feel so bad whenever I hear fellow Filipinos disowning our country. I admit that at times, I’m one of them. Maybe it’s just harder to look for things that will make us proud of our country than to see its imperfections.

I don’t know but I don’t feel like permanently living in a foreign place. I have plans to go abroad but not for good. I just want to earn enough money and get a master’s degree (or even a PhD) and return to the Philippines to teach in a state university. Maybe the source of this inner drive is that I’m a product of the country’s public education system (Yeah, from grade school to graduate school). Until now, it’s the people’s money that sends me to school and I’m thankful for that. One day I will return this big favor to the people to whom it is due.

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I believe that the one key to progress is for us, Filipinos, to own our country. If we can’t love our own country, who will?