We’ve all read about how anti-intellectual Philippine society is and how Filipinos are often too emotional for their own good. Yes, I even wrote an article about how my idea of Hell fits in with the Filipino mindset. But now comes an important question for all Filipinos: Is it so difficult to be professional? Is it so hard to work for the common good?
In one of Mahatma Gandhi’s writings, he mentions how noncooperation can lead to the downfall of any society or community. While Mahatma Gandhi’s home country of India might suffer from the same amount of poverty and corruption as the Philippines, one can still note that India still has a strong national identity (one that is easily distinct), a strong military force (which receives plenty of support) and is steadily developing thanks to efforts to various visionaries in its history including Mahatma Gandhi and even foreigners like Mother Theresa who came to India and influenced the people into improving themselves through her works of charity. India has a huge population and the problems to go with it, just as the Philippines does but Gandhi’s teachings on the value of cooperation is not lost on them and many Indians continue to struggle to improve their country and their standing on the world stage.
But what can be said about the Philippines?
This is where it gets a little sad. The thing is, the Philippines gets many opportunities to shine and become something more yet almost every single time, something suddenly happens to bring it back to square one. Again, a few other articles here on GRP talk about just how the Philippines has a history of failed opportunities from international pageants to social policies. But again, we have to ask why does this keep happening?
Well, as I’ve come to observe on a number of occasions, the root of all our troubles stems from one thing: immaturity. The Philippines greatest problem isn’t poverty (jobs can be created to counter that as well as information on how to make an honest living), population (for some countries, this can even be an advantage as the nation will have ample reserves of manpower) or even government (remember, it’s the people who vote these scum into position after all) but plain and simple immaturity. Yes, noncooperation, denial, selfishness, excessive emotionalism and anti-intellectualism are the most common cause of all our problems but these too tie-in with the immaturity of Filipinos.
For a better look at what I’m talking about, let’s take some of these topics apart, shall we?
- Noncooperation: Well, as I’ve cited in a previous article, there are people who refuse to work or work efficiently just because they share an office with someone they hate. Granted, it can be difficult at times, but does it need to be such a big issue? While there are people who are willing to overlook the antics of their office-mates and work through teeth-clenched teamwork, there are a number of those who take their antagonism to a whole new level. Take Philippine politics for example. A politician can make a good move every now and again and start a new project to benefit the community but then, if another politician of another party takes his place, he/she will most probably end that project out of sheer spite. And I’m not kidding on the last part. Pinoys do a lot of outrageous things to each other just because of spite similar to the way kids in elementary or teens in high school will kick dirt in each other’s faces. You may not like a certain person but even the most unlikable person can come up with something good every now and again. Crab mentality seems to be so deeply ingrained in Filipinos that it seems all but impossible to make any real progress because we refuse to acknowledge the fact that someone we hate can also be worthy of respect.
- Denial: Like a child whining about something he/she doesn’t want to admit to (such as when caught stealing from a cookie jar or bullying another child), Filipinos aren’t all that different. Pinoys are consummate liars but they are really good at lying to themselves. Like people who are caught in an abusive relationship or substance addiction, most Filipinos refuse to admit that their actions are doing more harm than good to themselves. When you point out to them that their alcohol abuse or the fact that their spouse is probably going to kill them, they will probably attack you instead. Like teens undergoing difficult times and abusing drugs, a Filipino’s common response when criticized is “Ano bang alam mo?” (What do you know?).
- Selfishness: Everyone wants a hand in the cookie jar. In Stephen King’s Revival, the narrator’s mother mentions something about selfishness being the root cause of all the evil in this world. Well, in this case, would the Philippines be an example of a place where evil has essentially won? I’d like to think not, but all one needs to do is take a look around himself/herself and it should be obvious how selfishness shapes so many wrong decisions in our country. Most Pinoys will be looking out for only two things: themselves and their immediate group such as family and friends. There’s nothing wrong with being a family-oriented person or looking out for your friends, but when you’re screwing everyone else over just because you don’t know them speaks volumes of just what kind of person you are. Would you be happy for instance if someone else screwed over you or one of your relatives just because they’re not related to them?
- Excessive Emotionalism: It has been discussed in a previous article that Filipinos tend to be a little too emotional and it certainly shows. Being in touch with your emotions isn’t a bad thing but there’s always an intelligent and professional way to approach things. I once cited in another article that our telenovelas might actually have a negative influence on our country and this can be best seen with just how much Filipinos let their emotions get the better of them. Emotions are good but they should not be allowed to impair our good judgement and prevent us from making the right decisions. Like children who can be easily coaxed into feeling what adults want them to feel, Filipinos easily eat up propaganda made by crying celebrities, tasteless comedians and the action stars who pretend to have balls. In fact, now that I think about it, most Filipinos are just about gullible as children who really believe they’re looking Santa Claus even though it’s so obvious that it’s just the school principal wearing a pillow under a read coat to make himself appear fat.
- Anti-Intellectualism: It has been stressed again and again that Pinoy society is simply too anti-intellectual to allow for progress. That begs the question just why is the Philippines so anti-intellectual? Well, from my observations, it’s similar to the way a child or teen refuses to listen to the advice of an adult even though the adult is actually right. Like said child or teen, most Filipinos simply close their eyes and cover their ears with their hands and say “LALALALALA” while the adult is lecturing them on how to budget their resources wisely and how to establish a meaningful relationship. One can easily cite the many trolls who attack the GRP blog with groundless arguments as a good example of this mentality. Now, I applaud those who criticize GRP with sound reasoning and a professional tone as they just open up a good discussion, but those who simply shout nonsense like “Napaka-negative niyo!” (You guys are so negative!) without citing any reasons are just proof of how immature most Filipinos are. So far, I have yet to hear from the aforementioned critics just why are we so negative.
Dear Philippines,
Philippines my Dear, it is already 2015.
Australia was quite a piece of work when she was a teen but she’s all grown up now and living a life of her own with her own identity down south. Japan was once a bully but she decided to change for the better and the world hails her today as one of the most innovative women in the world and just about everyone else loves her cartoons called anime. South Korea used to live in the slums and was poorer than you but she decided to make something of herself and put aside her pettiness and selfishness and now isn’t far behind Japan. France is having a problem with her Muslim boyfriend but even if she does kick him out, she’ll be fine. Everybody loves Brazil with her brazen skin (which I know you hate) which she bares proudly to everyone and she has become quite the people person as people come to visit her on a daily basis.
Look Philippines, I won’t lie to you. I know you still live in America’s basement even though most of the kids in the block like South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore are raising families of their own. You know you could at least help America from time to time such as stopping to be a pain in her ass when you keep insisting she sexually assaulted your friend who was a whore and that she killed your gay friend (who was also a whore) whose case was never even properly looked into. Look, America’s got problems of her own like dealing with these people called ISIS who are causing her new friends Afghanistan and Iraq a lot of problems and then there’s her neighbor Mexico who keeps bugging her children Texas and New Mexico. So if you’re not gonna help her even by just shutting up, please get out of her basement and find another place to crash.
Here’s another thing: A lot of people in the neighborhood don’t like you. Singapore doesn’t like you and she’s starting to dislike the idea of letting you into her house. China is out for your blood and she’ll beat the crap out of you every chance she gets, heck, she already cut off your pinky and she’s now keeping it as a souvenir. Everyone else outside the neighborhood don’t even seem to know you. Greece seems to think you’re just America’s maid, England believes you’re some kind of clown, Russia keeps saying that you’re just America’s lesbian mistress and Austria is convinced you’re just an urban legend.
Please Philippines, hiding in America’s basement isn’t going to help you. Getting a job and learning how to budget your earnings properly is the first step in getting your act together. Hiding in America’s basement and thinking about the days when you were beautiful, rich and famous aren’t going to come back unless you get off your backside and make something of yourself. It’s going to be hard at first; looking for a job isn’t easy after all, but that’s how it always begins.
Grow up Philippines and GET REAL!
Love and Kisses,
Your Son, Grimwald
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