two faces... two emotions...

[maria_and_matt]

that is what makes us unique! in times of hardship we still manage to smile.. that is why i am proud and will always be proud to be a filipino...

[joebloggs]

that is what makes us unique! in times of hardship we still manage to smile.. that is why i am proud and will always be proud to be a filipino...

us brits once had that, it was called the bulldog spirit

[adam&chryss]

us brits once had that, it was called the bulldog spirit

Some of us still have thanks!
I guess its what you`re use to regarding poverty. You cant miss what you never had.
If for example you`re poor and never had any real treats and then your more wealthy relation from England come and visits you and showers you with gifts and also sends you money from the UK it makes you happy right?
Then after awhile no more money is sent and next time they visit you theres no showering of gifts and such, so you feel like you`re missing out.
Even though you never asked for anything initially, after awhile you get use to it and almost expect it.
Its not just The Phillipines where poor people smile, you see it all the time on the news with kids in Africa and the like.

[aposhark]

Florge,

I have had these thoughts for many years as I worked in very poor countries around the world.
I once saw a man in Angola eating blue washing up powder because he was hungry, I heard a mother's sobs for her dead baby due to malnutrition. I had to try to shut myself off from a lot of sympathy as I would not have been able to work as efficiently. I helped where I could but my help was a drop in the ocean.

I often wonder why Filipinos, for example, crave to live in the westernized nations with their wealth, and constantly diminishing respect for each other.
Is it mostly to save money and to send some of it back home to help their families? I ask myself why don't the Filipino governments do more to stimulate industry and growth to keep the most talented people from leaving.

I, as a British man, feel we Brits have to put a stop to our constantly degrading morals. I want law and order to begin at home and this I feel is where our society is losing the plot.
I speak to many older people in the UK and they seem to indicate that the rot set in when women started to work more, to keep up with the Jones's.
There was less supervision of the children as a result and then Men were no longer the bread-winners and divorce went sky-rocketing.

What is the answer? I don't know.
We leave that to our elected politicians but nobody has the cojones to do anything about the things that really seem to matter.

I get older and the flush of youth is gone, but the fire still burns inside.

Hard work seems to be the answer to my life, for others? I am not sure.

[Florge]

I agree.. one thing I noticed though too is that there's a whole lot of spoonfeeding here (e.g. when it comes to social service)... I was wondering that maybe the Uk government has, through the years, made the youth of today lazier... even the laws are a bit weak to a point that it is frustrating to see a drug addict getting just a fine.. and all the police force had wasted their time running after him/her... frustrating...

even (proper) parenting is being blamed on the government or the school, or facebook... lol... comedy of sorts!

i just so wish that your fire is also shared by the youths of today... it is a bit scary realizing that my future children will grow up in this society...

Florge,

I have had these thoughts for many years as I worked in very poor countries around the world.
I once saw a man in Angola eating blue washing up powder because he was hungry, I heard a mother's sobs for her dead baby due to malnutrition. I had to try to shut myself off from a lot of sympathy as I would not have been able to work as efficiently. I helped where I could but my help was a drop in the ocean.

I often wonder why Filipinos, for example, crave to live in the westernized nations with their wealth, and constantly diminishing respect for each other.
Is it mostly to save money and to send some of it back home to help their families? I ask myself why don't the Filipino governments do more to stimulate industry and growth to keep the most talented people from leaving.

I, as a British man, feel we Brits have to put a stop to our constantly degrading morals. I want law and order to begin at home and this I feel is where our society is losing the plot.
I speak to many older people in the UK and they seem to indicate that the rot set in when women started to work more, to keep up with the Jones's.
There was less supervision of the children as a result and then Men were no longer the bread-winners and divorce went sky-rocketing.

What is the answer? I don't know.
We leave that to our elected politicians but nobody has the cojones to do anything about the things that really seem to matter.

I get older and the flush of youth is gone, but the fire still burns inside.

Hard work seems to be the answer to my life, for others? I am not sure.

[pennybarry]

I woke up today energised and well.. although there's no sun, I still consider this a good day. I'm thinking : Spring will be here soon. So better stop whining. Then I remeber my Dad's text: Anak, watch Manny Pacuiao's fight. Oh yeah, have to go online and look around for a video somewhere about his fight. Of course, there's this pride you feel when a kababayan bring prestige to your country. Wohoo! Manny won again. I can almost hear the jubillant cheers in the cinemas there; in the gymnasiums where the fight is seen for free. Ah! I am proud to be Pinoy.

Then came the news at six. ITV featured a story about the Philippines, and this British guy who planned to build a playground there. The video featured the smokey mountain in Tondo. This brought back memories of my outreach activities with my former company; and some outreach programs on my birthdays and during Christmases. It seemed like a different earth seeing it on TV. I cried for my kababayans and the poverty they have to go through just to stay alive.

In the background, I heard my neighbor's kids talking and yelling and swearing. And some were running from the corner shop, shouting f-ing words at each other, squandering their allowance with ciggies and beer. They look so miserable and unhappy. You can see it in their cold jaded eyes.

What a great contrast: Poverty but warm smiles and genuine laughter; richness, and comfort and warm clothes here but cold stares and sad looks. My pride for the Filipino spirit has grown exponentially overnight. As the news report has said, poverty was everywhere, and yet it is unthinkable why the Filipinos still manage to smile. Maybe it's resilience. I don't know. But it made me miss Pinas even more.

Smokey Mountain is well famous to other countries as that is journalists favourite venue.

that is what makes us unique! in times of hardship we still manage to smile.. that is why i am proud and will always be proud to be a filipino...

If we live simply good in the Philippines, there's always will and interest going back.
I'm proud of being simple Pinay.
In words and in deed. I cannot hide it wherever I am.
Kahit minsan, hindi ko dinaya ang aking sarili at hindi itinanggi na ako'y isang Filipino!
Pilipinas iangat mo! Kultura natin dala mo! ehehehhe
Cheers Maria

[maria_and_matt]

Smokey Mountain is well famous to other countries as that is journalists favourite venue.



If we live simply good in the Philippines, there's always will and interest going back.
I'm proud of being simple Pinay.
In words and in deed. I cannot hide it wherever I am.
Kahit minsan, hindi ko dinaya ang aking sarili at hindi itinanggi na ako'y isang Filipino!
Pilipinas iangat mo! Kultura natin dala mo! ehehehhe
Cheers Maria

well said penny