“THEN conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the Star - Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave” (Star Spangled Banner)
As we end our visit to the land of the free and home of the brave, we realize culture of care, the goodness of people, the orderly system, the freedom with a cost and the respect that is easily extended. A country with people so proud; of itself, its history, its power and its accomplishments fully aware of the things that come with it. Meeting the Igorots and other American in the international conference has them fully proud to be an American. Passing through the back roads we see flags waving with the wind that signifies freedom and prosperity.
They pay tribute to the men and women who paid lives and service for their freedom. When we visited the medical centers, navy hospital and clinics, we see flyers, magazines and newspapers passed on paying tribute to the military serving in the country and overseas. There are commercial business centers like Home depot, Old Navy, the flower shops and others that give a “no questions asked” discount to the Military and the veteran, just are in uniform or show your ID. They have set up the Navy exchange that offers the best quality with the cheapest cost in the commissary, the apparels, home appliances, garden shop, tours and all shopping. Just show your military card to get in and purchase. This remains to be the best place to shop for any and all needs. They have medical centers for active and veterans; we were able to visit the VA Medical center in La Jolla that also housed the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Just recently, President Duterte announced that the police who are working with the Anti-drug campaign will have an additional 5,000 pesos in their pay. Those are good news but taking a step back and face the issue, it stinks. Another corruption, look at it as a bribe or kickback that calls for a loyalty because then it becomes a case to case basis. The military will have to prove that they are involved in the anti-drug campaign to merit the bonus. It will corrupt the police force, who will be assigned to the anti-drug campaign? Who will screen them to put them in those detailed assignments, it just stinks. But it would be different if the 5,000 pesos was given across the board, to all PNP no matter what assignment. Then that would be beneficial.
The military need more benefits, two of my cousins died. They retired, got sick and died poor because the family used up all savings and selling property to pay for hospital bills and cost of retirement life. The Philippine military administration has not been able to address the needs of retired men and women who rendered service to keep peace and order in their time. When we buried Gen. Juanito Weygan Dalmas in the Libingan ng mng Bayani, I was told that the car being used by the family was owned by another cousin because the cars of the family were even sold to help pay the medical needs.
Our National Anthem talks about love of country, but it is doubtful that each Filipino is proud of this county, its history and its resources. The “divide and conquer” used by the Spaniards, continue to be propagated by Filipinos of today widening the gap and promoting regionalism instead of “unity in diversity. We will never have that total respect for our military men and women, when the system is riddled with deception, favoritism, abuse of power and position like a wall with unnumbered gun bullet holes. This is a culture that must be overturned, trampled on and buried in the depths.
We need a “love and serve your country movement” inspired and singing with great pride – “ Bayang magiliw…. Ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo” and in triumph we will wave the Filipino flag in our country and anywhere in the world.