She Can Still Rise To Her Feet

I think that there wouldn't be any good word to rightly describe how I feel right now. Confusion would be a bit negative and exhilaration would be too much of the good thing. I'm at a loss of emotion to even feel.

The moment I was told that our visas have arrived, I felt a sudden throb in my chest. Having the visas doesn't simply mean traveling for it is something much more larger than that.We're moving out for good. For a person who has lived the past seventeen years of her life in a country so downtrodden as the Philippines, such news would be greeted with a happy disposition. Well, maybe yes, the Philippines is indeed going down the drain but for the past few months, I've come to see this country in a different light. This country has potential (I'm pretty sure everyone knows that) which is still waiting to be re-discovered. If I could compare Philippines to anything, it would be to a diamond. Cut and polished, it can outshine the highest priced jewel in the auction house. Philippines, if steered to the right path, can best its contemporaries. We have done it once, can't we do it again? We have almost reached the summit, allegedly becoming the second richest country in the world during Marcos' time.  We have the resources to carve our own imprint in the international trade and market (Fact: we once became self-sustainable with rice and almost with electricity) 


But above anything else, we have the manpower to put this nation on the pedestal. Many Filipinos are much well-known overseas. We have certain personalities who have excelled in their respective fields such as Michael Carandang who just brought Filipino artistry in the limelight when creations by Francis Libiran were featured in America's Next Top Model.

One thing saddens me though, the people who could have elevate us to a position of distinction are the very same people who pull us down. We could have had it all but we didn't.
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My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. (John F. Kennedy)