Today we celebrate the Philippine Independence Day. Amidst the flag waving frenzy and patriotic greetings among friends and acquaintances, mostly expressed in FB, my mind is flying somewhere else.


How much have we achieved as an independent nation. How many Filipinos understand Independence? Is the independence we are enjoying beneficial to the majority of the people?

There is a running joke that I enjoy and abhor at the same time. The joke is that we only feel our being Filipino whenever Pacquiao fights. Is this also holds true with our Independence? We only value it whenever someone tramples on our rights or some of our wants are restricted (I understand that most of the times are wants are just caprices).

I am sharing Jennifer Turners meaning of independence presented in different contextual level:

“Independence means the freedom to separate ourselves from personal ideologies and intellectually challenge ourselves to see the full scope of an issue in order to find real solutions for the good of the whole.


Independence means we must not depend on the opinions of others, but on the factual issues and actions of individuals and our governments.


Independence means choosing to empower ourselves with the information to independently make up our own minds.

Independence means creating a world society in which we can perceive nations through a satellite view, rather than a microscopic view, and make value judgments based on what's good for the future, rather than the present.


Independence means we have the freedom to pursue personal needs while choosing global motivations, and face the consequences of those actions, both wonderful and tragic, with the intent to learn, grow, and gain wisdom.


True independence means recognizing that every type of thought and belief system has something to teach, to offer, and that if we learn from those in our world, our chances of creating real change for the betterment of all increases exponentially.


Wisdom demands we further our own independence by freeing ourselves from the prison of personal experience by embracing realities other than our own and thereby freeing ourselves from the shackles of ignorance.”

Ms. Turner gave a very incisive meaning of Independence. The most that struck me is the last paragraph that urges us to free ourselves from our own reality and embracing a better reality. It wants us not to accept what is currently happening in our country and embrace a better country which is also hinge on our shoulders.

Every time I am caught in the middle of traffic I see beggars, mostly kids knocking on my window shield – sometimes I give and sometimes I don’t. But after passing them by, deep inside I know that I embrace their reality and I am part of their reality. And the only way to stop the vicious cycle is to replace it with a better reality that is not very distant. It is just around the corner, if only most of us – especially those who have a comfortable reality would join hands and forcefully declare: ENOUGH OF THIS BAD REALITY THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS LONG HAVE BEEN SUFFERING.

Happy Independence Day!

Now that the dust of the election campaign has settled it is time to buckle down to work.

Base on all economic indicators, like consumer price index and GNP, all is looking up. However , before anything else. Before we are drown into celebration, I would just like to request that President Noynoy Aquino and his government should prioritize in creating an International Caliber Airport.

Yes! An Airport that will awe the tourist visiting in our country. An airport that will symbolize our resurgence as a country that will grab the economic opportunity the changing world offers.

Each time I go out of the country, there is always that gnawing feeling that our airport is one of those lagging behind our Asian neighbours and the world. I know the same sentiment is shared by other Filipinos who wanted to showcase how great our country is in terms of tourism and doing business here.

No wonder our tourist visitors last year is only at three million while our Asian neighbours generated as high as 14 Million.

It is not rocket science, if we do not have the facility and infrastructure to welcome visitors we will not have visitors. Tourist visitors that can promote our country thru world of mouth when they get back home to their respective countries. Business tourists that can be encouraged to set-up shop in our country.

Even our three million visitors are mostly comprise of Balikbayans. A sad reality that does not augur well to our country.

We are declaring that we are embracing globalization and yet we are not doing anything to improve the access of our country to the rest of the world who are very eager to get inside, provided there is ease of access and security.

President Noynoy I know that the past government will leave you a big budget deficit. But please do not make it as an excuse not to create an International Airport – the country’s welcome lobby to the world.

I once attended an event welcoming a new tourism official, she said that our country is the heart of Asia. I like that and I hope the rest of the world can personally know that the Heart of Asia truly is something worth seeking and immersing for.

But only if the heart provides an accessible door way for those willing to enter – an Airport that is.

Last May I went to Boracay and use the Caticlan Airport. Inside the plane there was a US family very excited in having a vacation in Boracay. As we are about to land, our plane made a very sharp turn in approaching the landing area and then suddenly as it landed on the ground made an abrupt stop.


The mother of the US family was very shocked of how the plane landed. I overheard her swearing never to come again in this beautiful island of Boracay because of this rollercoaster like feeling she had. I feel sad about the comment and comforted myself that her perception will change once she is already basking in the sun and enjoying the white beach of Boracay.

I told myself that hopefully the plan to extend and widen the airport of Caticlan push thru.

Now, I am hearing that there is a group against this and using the environment as the reason not to extend Caticlan Airport’s landing area. Well they may have a valid point but there is a better way of safeguarding the environment vis-a-vis stretching further the airport.

I don’t know but logically if there will be more travellers that can be accommodated because on an improved airport then all these cause oriented groups for the environment is ask that a fee for improving and developing the environment be taken from the increased volume of visitors in the island.

There is a better way, a middle point to address the environment concerns. I also hope that it is really the environmental concerns that the group is after for opposing the improvement of Caticlan Airport. And not what is splattered in every major dailies that the opposition real motive is to protect the interest of another airport slightly far from Boracay.

When the x’s and the y’s are all considered, I know that a new Caticlan Airport is a more just choice. It will bring more business. It will give improve the safety of passengers that arrive and depart from Boracay. All of this redound to a better tourism and economy for our country.

Anyways, I am very excited and all pump-up to see in the flesh Al Gore, a Nobel Peace Prize Awardee. Guess what, I am seated at the VIP Section and because of that a big chance to have his pictures taken, hopefully, with me beside him.

See you there!

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After finishing "The Hunger Games" of Suzanne Collins I can't help but realize the following lessons that can help us in facing today's challenging landscape:




1. Survive by Focusing on Your Expertise

Katniss will not be alive if she did not focus on her skills. The bow and arrow which is her favorite weapon when hunting outside District 12 helped her in surviving and, eventually, winning the Hunger Games.

She realized that she cannot compete with the other 23 contestants without the bow and arrow. That is why she feels elated when she was able to have this weapon. And the rest of the story we already know.

Isn't it in real life we can only win if we use the gifts and expertise that we have?


2. The Greatest Thing We Can Do is Sacrifice Ourselves for the Good of Others

Katniss demonstrated this BIG TIME in two situations. One is by volunteering to substitute for her sister as a tribute. Second by opting to just be killed alongside Peeta, which save both of them, and be declared the winner of The Hunger Games.

Katniss also demonstrated this by supporting and providing for the livelihood of her mother and sister.

I believe that the more we help others the more we are blessed and the more good things take place even without us expecting it or when we need it badly.

3. Love provides the right decisions

Katniss loved her sister, her district, even Peeta. For this she made the right decisions by using Love as a guide.

I hope that to each and everyone of us, we can maximize Love to make the correct decisions in our life or even rectify the wrong decisions that we made.

Now, after writing all of this. I am looking forward to read Catching Fire - Book Two of the Story.

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