Tuesday, October 21, 2008 Speak out: Belief in the Filipino By Shawn Maragni Cebu City
I AM a US citizen and have been a proud resident of the Philippines for the past nine years. My wife is a Filipino citizen and my son is native born and being brought up in this country. Living in the Philippines for all these years have left many pleasant memories in my heart for the Filipino and for this nation in which we reside.
I have been blessed by the hospitality of the people, inspired by your ability to serve, and amazed at the strength, power and courage that the Filipino possesses when rising up together for a good cause. Truly, in God, the Filipino possesses greatness and should never be underestimated.
I have come to deeply love the Philippines and its people, but I am saddened in my heart as I watch the everyday Filipino underachieve his or her dreams and visions because of matters in the environment that are producing negative influences upon the people which do not promote the welfare of the people.
I believe the strength of the Filipino is when the people unite together for the common good of all, not for selfish gain, but for God, man, and country.
Though, it is evident that many Filipinos seem to have lost their love for their own people and country. And because times are hard, it has become easy to say, “Every man for himself.” Though when a people forget God and their fellow man only the strong survive, the less fortunate become neglected and unseen, the young generation becomes left without any commitment to their success from the older generation, and one man goes on exploiting another all for selfish gain. This is not love and it should not be.
But I do not believe this is who the Filipino is. I will not believe the lies that I see and hear about the Filipino. Many of you have lost your way and just need to be reminded of who you are. The Filipino is kind, peace loving, generous, hospitable, courageous, helpful, committed to God and to others. It is balikatan, side by side, hand in hand, and shoulder-to-shoulder—that’s Pinoy.
It is for these reasons that I take confidence in you as Filipinos that you can and will arise to be voices in the land for God and country, so that your families, children, churches, communities, cities and nation will prosper. And because I have confidence in you, I will gladly make my request concerning matters that I have observed to have negative influence on Cebu City, and especially on the younger generation.
So, I appeal to you my Filipino brothers and sisters in the sight of God and man for the removal of all lustful advertisements that are exploiting our children, teenagers, women, marriages, churches, and city. I petition the mayor’s office and his counsel to please have removed the large billboard advertisement in Fuente Circle called “Sexy September Affair,” which was held in the Waterfront Hotel last month.
Let there be stricter laws that prohibit such disrespect to this city, and especially to our children and churches. To the businessmen and -women who endorsed “Sexy September Affair” by placing an advertisement as such to further your own pocket books: next time please ask yourselves if these kinds of advertisements will be in the best interest for all the people living in the community. You should not impose upon all who drive around the Fuente Circle to see what is not pleasing to God. Yes we want your businesses to prosper but not at the cost of demoralizing our community. Please remove your advertisement for the sake of all!
Finally, Filipino people may you arise to bring about God’s blessings back into this City by standing up for what God desires for Cebu City. May God’s strength be with you all!
