What makes you, as a Filipino, happy?

I stumbled on a very simple, yet hard to answer question while reading News updates in FB. I clicked on Mojo's blog link and it got me thinking... How does being a Filipino make me happy?

Ano nga ba? Or should I say, dapat ba akong maging proud of being a Filipino?

My country, is dysfunctional for the past decades. From a foreigner's point of view, it is a ticking time bomb. There are so many things that are not in order. Sabi ng mga kaopisina ko, " Malaysia is less safer than Singapore, but cannot be worse than Philippines, right?". Nakakalungkot man isipin, at mahirap man idigest, pero there's a ring of truth into it.

Graft and Corruption, pollution, crab mentality... These are just some things that make my country ugly. And these are some of the factors that make other Filipinos despise the country they were born in. But not me.

I have said this many times and I would say this over and over again. Sa Pilipinas ko gustong tumanda at magtayo ng pamilya. Babalik at uuwi pa rin ako sa Pilipinas. Bakit?

Because my fellow Filipinos brought me up to a culture I don't see in most nations. Allow me to enumerate.

Respect for elders: No matter how successful you have become in your career, it is intrinsic in most of the Filipinos the respect they have for the elders. The continuous usage of "po" and "opo" has been instilled to us since the first time we started talking. During family reunions, and you have dozens of relatives, you will go around first and pay respect to your Lolo's, Lola's, Tito's and Tita's by "pagmamano". And this respect doesn't end within Filipinos. You will feel the respect even while interacting with other races.

Compassion: Filipinos by nature, are compassionate. I have seen people sharing what they have to others, even if they don't really have much. They provide a support system when things seem to crumble. The offer a flicker of light when everything around you turns dark. They give hope when you have nothing to hold on to. Filipinos overseas could attest to that. A fellow Filipino's smile can give you warmth on a cold winter's day.

Survivor: How many times have we been hit by calamities? How many times have we had our fair share of economic crisis? Countless. But each and everyone of us never gave up. Each and everyone of us rised up from every tribulations that have come and become better people. We perservere, we work harder, we sacrifice. Unending optimism and faith that someday, things will be better. That little by little, our meek country will shine again and show the world what Filipinos are truly made of.

Talent: The Filipinos are very talented. They are flexible and creative. They can work on any type of jobs and excel on them. The dedication and determination to deliver something in its utmost excellence is something that I find in the work that Pinoys do. Most professionals don't settle for mediocrity.

Family: Wherever life will take a Filipino, he will never forget his family. Most Filipinos will have their own "extended" families. From their friends, to their friends' own families. They will look after each other. Their families would remain steadfast even if the rest of the world walks out on them. And, despite how long they have been separated from each other, the bond remains strong and endlessly talk and pick up where they left off...

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Other than the rich culture and the values intrinsic to Filipinos, another thing that makes me proud is Philippines' natural beauty. The breath taking sceneries, the land and marine biodiversity, will remain unparalleled by anywhere else in the world. I have seen some parts of the Philippines in different perspectives (high up in the mountain or down below the sea) and I always fall in love with it.

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Yes, Philippines may be dysfunctional and can be damaged beyond repair. Despite my country's imperfection, I love my country. And I stand proud to say (more than happy) that I am a Filipino. Sa isip, sa salita at sa gawa.