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The Filipinos of Today

A Wiki by Emmanuel Tamboong, Justin Zendrick Roxas, Kenneth Toledo, Marco Remedio, Meynard Julius Salazar, and Vince Jorel Sabado discussing how former President Manuel L. Quezon described the Filipinos during his time, and how this description is still accurate in the present.

A picture of Former President Manuel L. Quezon

Who is Manuel L. Quezon?

First, let us talk about the Philippines’ former president, Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina. He is the 2nd president of the country, following Emilio Aguinaldo. He served as the president of the Philippines during the country’s commonwealth. During his presidency, Quezon tackled the problem of landless peasants in the countryside. His other significant decisions include the reorganization of the islands' military defense, approval of a recommendation for government reorganization, the promotion of settlement and development in Mindanao, dealing with the foreign stranglehold on Philippine trade and commerce, proposals for land reform, and opposing graft and corruption within the government. He became one of our country's forefathers, helping rehabilitate the country after hundreds of years of Spanish colonization.

A portion of the faculties and student bodies of the schools, colleges, and universities in Manila that heard His Excellency, the President of the Philippines, deliver his vigorous speech on the regeneration of the Filipino.

Address of President Manuel L. Quezon on Policies and Achievements of the Government and Regeneration of the Filipino

Quezon delivered this address before the faculties and student bodies of public and private schools, colleges, and universities, at the José Rizal Memorial Field, August 19, 1938. During this speech, he addressed things that his administration has done. He also discussed things that he thought of regarding the Filipino people–which would be the main topic of this wiki.

What is a Modern Filipino?

A somewhat exhausted vegetable vendor

What can we consider a modern Filipino? Is it a hardworking person? A kind one? A sympathetic one? A nationalistic one? No one probably knows. However, Former President Manuel L. Quezon has something to say about this. He says that:

“I fear that we, the Filipinos of today, have lost much of the moral strength and power for the growth of our ancestors.” “The Filipino of today is soft, easy-going. His tendency is towards parasitism. He is uninclined to sustain strenuous effort! He lacks earnestness. Face-saving is the dominant note in the confused symphony of his existence. His sense of righteousness is often dulled by the desire for personal gain. His norm of conduct is generally prompted by expediency rather than by principle. He shows a failing in that superb courage which impels action because it is right, even at the cost of self-sacrifice. His greatest fear is not to do wrong but of being caught doing wrong. He is frivolous in his view of life. His conception of virtue is many times conventional. He takes his religion lightly. He thinks that lip-service, and profession are equivalent to deep and abiding faith. He is inconstant; he lacks perseverance; the first obstacles baffle him, and he easily admits defeat. The patriotism of many Filipinos of today is skin-deep, incapable of inspiring heroic deeds. Some are apt to compromise with ethical principles and to regard truth as not incompatible with misrepresentation or self-deceit.”

Unfortunately, most Filipinos are pretty much corrupt and mainly care for themselves. Some are just lazy and mostly lounge. Sure, not all of them are such, and some of the traits of the Filipinos of age still seep through the present, but for the most part, it is just not the same.Many Filipinos do stuff to say that they've done stuff. "Basta na," if you will. And this is just what it is; it is the truth.

The Connection to Present Filipinos

How does a speech from 1938 still relate to Filipinos of today? Realistically speaking, although unfortunate, some of the things stated by Quezon during his speech back in the day still go on in the present. Many Filipinos care only about themselves, as Filipinos say, “Plastik na tao,” meaning they may seem to be friendly and good people, but deep inside, it is otherwise. This appraisal done by Quezon does, in fact, still hold to this day.

Conquering our Place in the Sun

The Responsibility of Stating Facts

The harsh appraisal that was done by Quezon, at least according to him, is:

President Rodrigo Duterte giving a speech

“[his] responsibility as head of [the] nation compels [him] to face and state facts, however disagreeable they may be to me or [his] people, for it is only thus that [they] can remedy existing evils that threaten to destroy the vitality and vigor of the race.”

Through this plain statement of the truth, the Filipino people can strive to change and do better–to be more like their forefathers. When people state facts facts, we can accept these facts and adjust accordingly. And this is what the former president did. He gave a rough appraisal of his people to awaken them to themselves and strive to do better.

The Betterment of our Country

A boy having braveness and eagerness to explore the deep blue seas of our country

“Let us begin to mold the typical Filipino,” said Quezon. This is what we should be doing. We should mold ourselves and our future generations to become better people for the sake of the people themselves and the country. We need to adopt different conducts, different ethics, and the like (for the betterment, of course). And these should be taught to Filipinos both at home and school. For the most part, this is being applied today, unlike Quezon’s time. It is somewhat lackluster as some children do not put into action these conducts. Various schools should strengthen the methodologies.

A good citizenry makes up a good nation, but great citizenry makes a great nation. The better a nation's people are, the better its government. Therefore, as citizens of our country, we need to strive to do better and take back the good traits our ancestors possessed.

“They were strong-willed, earnest, adventurous people. They had traditions potent in influence in their lives, individually and collectively. They dared to be pioneers, to brave the seas, clear the forest, and erect towns and cities upon the wilderness. They led a life of toil and communal service. Each one considered himself an active part of the body politic.”

These are just some of the traits that we need to bring back to ourselves. This is not for our own sake but the sake of our nation.

Notes

This is for personal use and is not in any way an official Wikipedia wiki.