(Let us hope and pray, this essay (of Franco Varona,
> Jr.) reaches the desks of our national and local
> leaders, law-makers, justices, public servants and
> educators. We do need a new kind of leaders! The
> young Filipino people are showing us the way. Let
> us listen attentively to them.)
>
> ============ =
> "My Son's Essay on the Philippines. .... an answer to
> the Korean's essay"
>
>
>
> Candy Varona (Filipino-Canadian) wrote:
> Please indulge me while I share with a lot of love
> and pride my son Franco's unedited,
> straight-from- the heart essay which he wrote to me
> in response to a forwarded e-mail of a Korean
> student's essay on the Philippines (copy attached).
> At times like this when our country is facing
> another crisis and we start to despair, it warms my
> heart that our youth have not given up on the
> Philippines. Frankie and I are so very proud of our
> Franco!
>
> ============ ========= ========= =====
> Hi mom, I read that forwarded email about that essay
> written by a Korean student and while I do agree
> with many of the points he brings up, it also kind
> of upsets me that his viewpoints were being read and
> seemingly accepted by many Pinoys. So, I've decided
> to write you a little essay of my own with a little
> bit of a different point of view.
> ============ ========= ========= ======
>
> Why I Have Hope for the Philippines
> by Franco Varona, Jr.
>
> I lived in the Philippines for a grand total of two
> and half years after growing up in Vancouver for a
> majority of my life. I finished off high school in
> Manila, then went on to college there for one sem.
> I left Manila in the beginning of 1999 for Syracuse,
> but something happened to me during my short stint
> in Manila- I began referring to it as "home". My
> brief stay in the Philippines had affected me so
> deeply that I have subsequently geared the rest of
> my life towards helping the country out.
>
> I took up International Relations, with a
> concentration in Foreign Policy, War and Conflict
> Resolution- because I believed that a deep knowledge
> of all three of those aforementioned subjects CAN
> and WILL help the Philippines eventually. Before
> living in the Philippines, my motives were selfish
> and self-serving- I wanted to be a lawyer to make
> money, or be a journalist so I could, in my own way,
> shape the world through my words. But living there
> and getting to know the country intimately helped me
> develop a love for the country that can only be
> compared to the love I have for my family. Now, I
> have every intention of using that degree to its
> fullest potential in any way I can for the country.
> Even though my birthplace is Canada and I spent my
> informative years in the USA, the Philippines has
> somehow found its way to my mind and my heart. And I
> say `my mind' because I see the Philippines as a
> challenge, not as a sinking ship. And I believe
> there is a whole generation of young Pinoys that
> feel the same way as me.
>
> The Korean essay was right in some ways- sometimes I
> meet up with second generation Filipino-Americans
> and they simply do not care. They don't identify
> with the Philippines and perceive it to be a dirty,
> corrupt society. Although initially annoyed when I
> speak to these types of people, I eventually realize
> that it's not their fault- they have lived in a
> developed nation all their lives and know no better.
> I myself used t! o be like that before moving back.
> But you know what the Korean essay didn't mention?
> It happens with all second- and third-generation
> immigrant kids living in developed countries.
> Although I have met many FilAms who don't wish to go
> back home, I also have met many Korean-Americans,
> Japanese-Americans, even Irish-Americans who don't
> have any connection to home. There is love for the
> Philippines . . . . , the Korean essay was just
> looking in the wrong places.
>
> Do you want to know where the national pride is?
> It's in every Pinoy's face on the streets of Manila,
> Cebu, Davao, or any other place in the Philippines.
> Life is hard for Filipinos- I see that everytime I'm
> home. But there is a mutual love shared between
> Pinoys. They enjoy the simplest of the simple
> things of everyday life- from the fishball vendor
> dancing outside a nightclub in the wee hours of the
> morning to the late night security guard that wakes
> up just to give you a nod and a smile. Although
> generally the country has come under hard times, the
> Pinoy has somehow found a way to survive, and do it
> with a smile.
> When I go back to the Philippines, I don't see the
> jaded looks of misery I see in the streets of North
> America. I see in every Pinoy's face a glint of
> hope- that everything can only get better from here
> on out. National pride is also in today's college
> student- today's young working Filipino. I have been
> lucky enough to have run into a rather large, very
> motivated group of young Filipinos outside of the
> Philippines that harbor an immense love for the
> country. I've seen these people in college, I've
> hung out with them in different cities and amongst
> these young Filipinos, there is one prevailing
> theme. They have goals, they have passion, and they
> are driven to succeed.
> Sure, they may spend a few years out of the
> Philippines after schooling, but they will go back.
> And when they do, Mom, I promise you a Renaissance.
> These are the people that will lead our country into
> better times- these are the people that will bring
> back with them the knowledge and the drive to
> motivate others. These are the people that will
> bridge the gap between the "masa" and the rich.
> These are the people that will take that glint of
> hope in every Pinoy's eye and create a wildfire of
> productivity and efficiency.
>
> The Philippines is still, by definition, a young
> country. There have been mistakes made in the past,
> but we will learn, won't we? It's just human nature.
> I don't look at the Philippines as a country that
> "was" one of the richest in SE Asia and now is one
> of the poorest- I look at the Philippines as the
> country that has the largest upside. Just be
> patient, and watch as the younger generation moves
> into place. You will see a more educated, less
> selfish government take the seat of power. You will
> see plans put into effect that were formulated and
> perfected which were fueled by years of anger
> against the poverty we now see. A new Philippines
> will emerge soon, and soon we won't have to bear the
> pity of a Korean student. I can promise you that
> much mom, because I know I'm one of the many that
> will be working towards
> that.
>
> ============ ========= ========= ===
>
> (Note: If the Korean student's essay on the
> Philippines went around, let us make sure that this
> more inspiring essay reach every Filipino's heart.
> For it can be said, the Pinoy's wealth is not in his
> pocket, it is in his heart! He can appear poor
> financially, but he is NEVER poor interiorly and
> spiritually. He can smile warmly, he can laugh
> wholeheartedly, he can celebrate life with much
> gusto in spite of his seeming poverty. So, there is
> so much HOPE! He could become well-off someday, why
> not? But he will remain humble and magnanimous. But
> most of all, his happiness is a precious living
> reality no money can buy!)
