Reasons why I don’t like the Philippines, and being Filipino:

1. First of all, the government sucks. My observation is that people are making it a trend to disagree with the leader as one wrong move a leader does; they want him/her to resign the position.
2. I have no tangible evidence but everybody knows most officials are corrupt and steal from the people.
3. All officials are getting richer by the hour and majority of the people are getting poorer.
4. Service for the people seems to have a different meaning from what I understand it to be. Like the monks who devote themselves to prayer and obedience and serve God where they leave everything behind: wealth and earthly pleasures, and only serve God through which they are spiritually enlightened. To me service for the people is to be selfless and aim to make every Filipino citizen at a better state of life and living and these service men (politicians) be fulfilled with the ultimate reason why they opted to serve the people. But what is happening is they are robbing people instead of serving them. And they are being fulfilled with their own evil desires.
5. Officials disagree on almost everything. They’re opposing ideas and conviction that they are all right is putting the country way way down.
6. Incidence of political killings, robbery, kidnapping everywhere.
7. Education is poor. Education is not available to every Filipino citizen for so many reasons: military hostilities in some areas, poverty, lack of teachers, and poor education of some teachers.
8. Isolated cases of discrimination of classes.
9. Isolated cases of kids having sex. Kids can sell drugs. Only in the Philippines can a ten year old or even below buy cigarettes or even smoke a cigarette.
10. Jobs are limited. Salary is low. You won’t get rich with paycheck after paycheck.
11. Traffic = pollution especially in Metro Manila.
12. People neglect nature. Pollution, trash everywhere seems to be a pretty sight to some people.
13. …Or they are just lazy to clean and have it green? Or that they perceive the Philippines as a big trash can? Or a dump site?
14. The Philippines has plenty of resources that can make the country rich but I guess our leaders don’t realize that. They are busy stealing, debating, and silently terrorizing the people.
15. Filipinos do not have a distinct cultural identity, which I believe somehow create chaos. --- But….
16. I feel that there is a “conspiracy theory” going on in the government.
17. Historical places are vanishing.
18. As well as Filipinos migrating.

But the Philippines is my home country and I am Filipino, only less proud because of that. However there are many reasons, too, why I love the Philippines, and being Filipino.

1. The Philippines have plenty of resources.
2. The people are resourceful, hospitable and always have solutions to every dilemma.
3. Filipinos do not have a distinct cultural identity which makes it beautiful, I mean the Filipino race. We embrace different culture which I think is good however diverse. Madiskarte tayong mga pinoy eh. Kaya natin lahat! Wala nyan sa states”
4. The Philippines is a perfect example of Nature.
5. Beautiful people live in the Philippines.
6. Because the Filipino people are resourceful and “madiskarte”, they’re slowly conquering the international scene.
7. Talented people. But then again – the government don’t realize that. They are busy stealing, debating, and silently terrorizing the people.
8. Intelligent people. But then again – the government don’t realize that. They are busy stealing, debating, and silently terrorizing the people. And the only intelligent people would be them and no one else.
9. The temperature and the weather is great!
10. Overall, the Philippines is a beautiful country in terms of natural resources, and its indistinct culture.

I couldn’t think of more reasons why I love the Philippines and of being Filipino. But don’t get me wrong, I am a proud (only less because of some certainties) Filipino no matter how ugly the Philippines or the Filipino race is being perceived internationally. In my heart I know why I love it here and wouldn’t trade it for anything. I just hope there would be change, a beautiful change to match this naturally beautiful country, which I so much love, with its beautiful people.

A favor I ask to every Filipino all over the world (even if it is impossible to happen), please stop pulling each other down. Lets us unite, discuss our ideas and not debate on them, give way, stop hostility and let us live in harmony. Afterall, we are all beautiful people, born and is living as one in one country that we all own.