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May 27, 2010 By Fred C. Wilson III.
“I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light.” -John Keith Falconer-
SHARED VALUES
The Philippine Archipelago occupies a special place In our planet. The only Christian country in Asia (though South Korea is running a close second and gaining) the Gospel has been preached in the Republic for hundreds of years. Like Ireland before her, Filipinos routinely send out hundreds of missionaries to other nations to preach the Good News.
Unlike the United States, traditional family values are very much alive and well back home where families are large, loving, religious, and education/work oriented. The typical nuclear unit of husband, wife, one and a ½ child (Reader, that’s what the stats say.), dog, and 4 car garages (at least before the current economic meltdown) common in the United States, back home the extended family hold sway. In the Philippines seniors are generally respected and valued for their supposed wisdom unlike in the United States where old people are viewed as expensive nuisances.
Filipinos know the value of hard work. Filipino students generally out score their American counterparts in academic/professional examinations. Fil-Am kids are usually honor students who devote sizable portions of their day to intensive study. Unlike many other Asian students who ‘over-achieve’ contrasted to an equal number of American kids who don’t devote enough time to academics, Filipino youth generally have a healthy balance of fun and work.
Save for religion (Christian and Muslim) the Filipino society is largely homogenous. This means a lot in my estimation. There are several major languages spoken in the Islands. English is the common language of business, education, and religion.
I’ve always held that 95% plus of all peoples who inhabit planet Earth are a pretty decent lot. We all have our mad days but few people are rotten. This belief holds true for Filipinos too. I won’t single out Pinoys for being exceptionally friendly though most are; sociability is a common human trait, though some Thais and New Yorkers did give me a serious run for my money.
WHY AMERICA NEEDS THE PHILIPPINES
America needs the Philippines big time. Considering our country’s major Asian allies, Japan and South Korea, the Philippine Republic is the only one who can identify with us ideologically, semi-culturally, and religiously. Filipinos and Americans share common moral viewpoints, a healthy work ethic, and both societies place a high value on education.
Unfortunately the United States hasn’t played fair in all instances with their Filipino counterparts. The issues of just compensation for Filipino veterans who fought side-by-side with their U.S. brothers/sisters during World War II have yet to be actualized. The pittance offered to those heroic warriors who fought, suffered, and died defending the honor of both countries was a paltry sum. The amount offered was grossly unequal to the pain and suffering Filipino soldiers endured in defense of freedom against the then ultra-aggressive and bestial Japanese Empire.
When the U.S. military abandoned Clark Air Force Base (with a little ‘help’ from then erupting Mt. Pinatubo.), American service personnel left huge amounts of toxic materials. As I write Filipinos are dying from their toxic trash.
In their worship of all things American (Think white, Reader.) the people of the Philippines (like mix-raced persons in the U.S.) are America’s biggest supporters; natural allies. The U.S. and Filipino mindsets are similar in many respects. The benefits would be enormous if only white American society would tap into this. But alas the United States isn’t the Roman Empire. During that socalled ‘less enlightened’ era one had to render unto Cesar in terms of taxes paid and time served in one of the emperor’s many legions and the rest was pretty much a done deal.
Ancient Rome never excluded people by race, language, religion, or national origin though being a Christian did pose a serious health hazard once our numbers started to soar (Think persecutions.). Racial/ ethnic equality was perhaps the real reason why Cesar’s cohorts ruled (taking into consideration the Eastern Roman [Byzantine] Empire) for well over 1,000 years. Rome called it quits 39 years (Fall of Constantinople to Muslims in 1453) before Christopher Columbus discovered who was on the other side of the big pond (Atlantic Ocean). ‘Modern’ America is no Rome. Racial bigotry may well doom our country before it hits the 300 year mark. I hope not but all indicators point to this direction.
According to my former high school history teacher, a Marine reservist major who hated my guts, the Philippines could have easily have become America’s 51st state. Extreme distance from the North American continent was among the primary considerations in factoring out statehood for Guam and the Philippines. Ever since the archipelago got into that nasty row (fight) with Spain followed by the equally nasty Philippine- American War the good folks back home have always had this thing to be rid of all colonial encumbrances.
In time the statehood issue could have posed a serious problem to the American government. Case in point: My wife and I had a priest friend of Hawaiian-American ancestry. He was assigned to a popular Chicago parish. Fr. Hal (not his real name) had requested and received a transfer back to his native Big Island, Hawaii. He became an activist with the Hawaiian Independence Movement (Go to: www.hawaiiankingdom.info).
The United States and the Philippines have this almost father and son/daughter symbiotic bond. Both countries fought, bled, and died in defense of human rights during the last world war. Intermarriage between Filipinas and American men are high and rising. Both countries are Christian, founded on democratic principles (at least in theory) and share an almost addictive attachment to watching American Idol (LOL!). Now you know why both countries need each other.
Reader, that’s it for this week’s Mega Scene’s Philippine Adventures. Love GOD, love people, and avoid mortal sin I’m sure you’ll be alright; GOD bless.