While waiting for my mom to finish whatever she’s having done at the dentist, I grabbed a copy of today’s Manila Bulletin and chanced upon an editorial column by Adrian Cristobal. I’m not an avid reader of the MB as compared to the Inquirer, but I do enjoy reading editorials the most.

Oooh.. I found the article. I guess I will just blockquote some parts that are from his article.

Moveable Fete
Our nationalists complain that we are still dependent on the US for, among other things, economic and military aid, and the direction of our foreign policy. To many Filipinos, the true “mother country” is America and not Spain, which was here for more than three centuries.

Our independence was granted or returned with the Parity Amendment to our Constitution as an exchange deal. For years, we blamed our mass poverty on our continuing dependence on the US until, one brief, shining moment, parity was no longer in force.

Still mass poverty, with her sisters ignorance and disease, is very much with us.

As we no longer have anyone to blame, we blame ourselves, most of all the leaders who have come and gone and, hopefully, are still going. In turn, our leaders blame one another for political bickering and corruption, and then blame the people for lacking unity, the capacity for hard work, and the good sense to elect good leaders.

What, then, is there to celebrate? Life. As a billboard in Makati says, we have one reason for being the happiest people in Asia.

Think about it.

And so I did think about it. Some time during the minutes that passed by after reading several editorials that all pay tribute to the day that is today, I began thinking about what is there to celebrate, what Filipinos should celebrate about, and why this day is still worth celebrating.

Looking back at what our country and what its people have endured and fought for, there really is so much to be proud of. I’m talking about this, not because it is our Independence Day, nor because there is a need to blog about it. I really do feel this urge to rave about how our history speaks so much of how it can inspire this country to move forward. And I believe that our history, in every sense is worth celebrating over. From the countless struggles our giant heroes from the past have lived through to all our country’s triumphant events since. These are all worth rejoicing over. And even if there’s still so much from this country that we are constantly disheartened and disdainful about, we continue to be undaunted by crisis.

Despite the obvious colonial influence that resonates through practically everything of today, national pride is something that continues to exist. At least that is what I believe. Oh yes, it might come in various forms – to grand feats of national unity amidst political turmoil or to potentially embarrassing causes (fill in the blanks na lang. haha). We are outsourced, brought overseas and are granted green cards, but what makes us Filipino is something that stays and lingers – evident through familial affinities and love of fun, laughs and good time. So what if life is enough of a reason for us to celebrate? Onli in da Pilipins talaga.

Happy Independence Day, folks!

Here goes the abrupt transition. haha.

After a visit to my friendly, oh-so-charming dentist, I joined my boyfriend, Jake and his entire family for her mom’s birthday lunch at Heat, Shangri-La Edsa. It was nice to be around his family once again. It was the first since I got braces that I ended up eating so much. Ahhhh… death by buffet. haha. Jake’s quote. So feeling like we all just gained 10 pounds, we decided to hang around Shang’s mall. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to stay long because I had to pick my sister up from UP. My mistake. She ended up 2 and a half hours later. Starbucks, Katips for me then.

Tiring day. The last of my sweet summer. It all feels so fast. Summer ended so swiftly. And the piercing heat has been replaced by gloomy, rainy days. What sucks is that it’s still hot. Shucks. I think it will always be hot. Please let Ateneo be bearable.

Onwards to my first day as a junior tomorrow.