Y-Speak: True enemy is one of our own

IN THE words of General Antonio Luna, he said “Brothers, our greatest enemy is ourselves.”

Indeed, the supreme enemy of the Filipinos are the Filipinos. The biggest critic of the Philippines is the Filipino themselves like Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the country.

According to some books, he let the Americans colonized the country and ordered to kill Andres Bonifacio. Is he really worth to be called a hero despite his questionable stance in history?

Real heroes are willing to give up their lives for the freedom of the people. Meanwhile, Aguinaldo with his self-serving motives brought the country to fall to its enemies.

How about the Philippines being the ‘puppet’ government of the Japanese? About 74 years ago, the declaration of the Philippine Independence was read, and the Puppet Republic was formally inaugurated. Jose P. Laurel was declared as the President of the Puppet Government.

Even though the invasion of the Japanese gave good influence on the country, it still resulted to negative effects. Many Filipinos died during the all-out war in the air, on land and on water. Hundred of cities, towns, and barrios were destroyed. Millions of dollars’ worth property was lost.

Fast forward to President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration. Many people are thinking that he is failing as President of the Philippines despite all the achievements he made to the country so far. Their mindset today when the name “Duterte” is being mentioned is that he carried out war on drugs that has led to thousands of extrajudicial killings and he is currently focusing on the Trillanes crisis than ending the agony of some Filipinos.

When we think of it deeply, have the decisions of the "heroes" and leaders made the country even better? Take note, these were only some of the events in our Philippine history.

Now, can we correct the past knowing the mentality of most Filipinos in the present situation?

Majority of the Filipinos today are pessimistic and self-centered. The clear evidence is the world’s news media. They are focusing on headlines that are negative like corruption, murder, terrorism, celebrity scandals.

“Not that I am saying that it is not good to give attention to bad news or the consumption of negative news is abnormal, we should not focus on it because it will just give us an unfair view of the world," Paul Mart Matangcas, a 3rd Year Mass Communication student in University of Mindanao, said.

This generation is also branded as being oversensitive, apathetic and disconnected from reality.

According to Marevic Jean Lutog, a graduating student of Holy Cross Davao College, Filipinos focus on what is wrong and what is missing.

“Either big or small issues, they bash each other through social media. Sometimes, they even support other nations and criticize the flaw of our nation. Another thing is Filipinos tend to abuse their right to freedom of speech. If people won’t accept their opinions, they drag them down. Sometimes, this leads to bullying,” she said.

Airnel Talatala Abarra, a History teacher in Ateneo de Davao University, said, “The structure that made us to think and do things this way. The apparatus which are controlled by others that make Filipinos dumb. That’s the reason why we think our co-Filipinos are the worst enemies."

Based on the book of F. Sionil Jose, Viajero, we are our own enemy. And we must have the courage, the will, to change ourselves.

Filipinos are cursed with bad habits. Ever since day one, they are fighting the wrong enemy. They are fighting with each other instead of fighting together for the betterment of this country.

These types of mentality could lead to diversion of the society and this division could lead to everyone’s downfall. Truly, the true enemy is one of our own. (Allan Acera Jr., AdDU AB Mass Communication)

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