For the longest time, I’m wondering why so many people want money, money and more money; yet once they obtain their material goods or whatever makes them happy, the goal continues onward towards something better (for the sake of ‘being’ different) until the accumulation of previous models becomes outdated and thus donated to a local charity or sold via various online money-making websites.
But once there is no money to support the glamorization of ‘having’ wealth and prosperity, people find other ways to achieve the results of removing themselves from ‘not having’ anything valuable. I have heard stories from some people who could get away with corruption. As long as someone with American dollars, for example, has cash on hand to give as a bribe, the recipient would let whatever transaction be done quickly and without hesitation. Trust me: This stuff still happens.
I know because there are some things that need to be done for the sake of unity, no matter how ‘bad’ the situation at hand may appear to those unwilling to play plastic (or fake) but ‘to be real’, open and honest. My assessment of the current world affairs happens to operate in this manner, where the ‘thugs’ would rough up a target to the point of any alleged murder and the actual victim may or may not be the by-stander, the good Samaritan, or an angel investor of all sorts.
In my brief online search for the Filipino definition for the word of ‘lagay‘ (which means bribe), I came across seventeen articles via [http://www.crvp.org/book/Sreeries03/III-7/contents.htm] on the ‘VALUES OF PHILIPPINE CULTURE AND EDUCATION’. I think I’ve gotten tired of reading too much ‘pseudoscience’ (i.e. paranormal) and decided to read more educational related materials.
One particular article discusses ‘the philosophical basis of Filipino values’. I don’t know when this article was published but it is an interesting read. Below is a brief excerpt via [http://www.crvp.org/book/Series03/III-7/chapter_vi.htm]:
UNDERSTANDING THE FILIPINO VALUE SYSTEM
VALUE PHILOSOPHY
A brief introduction to the philosophy of human values is necessary for an understanding of Filipino values and values education. A Filipino experiences family closeness and solidarity (pagpapahalaga sa pamilya), politeness (use of po or ho), hospitality (tuloy po kayo), gratitude (utang na loob) from “within”, that is, subjectively and emotionally, unlike a non-Filipino observer, social scientist, or psychologist who studies Filipino values objectively from “without” or “from a distance”. Such Filipino values as social acceptance, (pakikisama, amor propio, economic security, pagmamay-ari), and trust in God (paniniwala sa Diyos, bathala or Maykapal) find their philosophical basis in man’s dynamic openness toward nature and the world (e.g., the value of hanap-buhay ng magsasaka), one’s fellowmen (the values of paggalang, hiya, katarungan, pag-ibig), and God (the values of pananampalataya, pananalangin, kabanalan).
If I had the ability to write substantive and supportive articles to ‘enlighten’ people from different cultural identities such as the above article, I wouldn’t be blogging about my weird experiences with reptoids, greys, and other anomalies or about my emo-filled rants with ungrateful relatives that noone within my immediate family would care to understand. Anyway, the article is very descriptive of Filipinos and their perspectives in CHANGE.
Copyright © 2008 by Fluffy von der Flynn. All rights reserved.
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