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Traveling is a very rewarding experience.You've got to meet a lot of people along the way, become acquainted with their customs, traditions,languages, and would definitely love the food bound on everyone's table; not to say the hawker centers and fancy restaurants with exquisite aroma and taste which made my shape a monster ball. Anyway,the idea of encountering citizens from other countries can be interesting or worse can lead you to irritation. I am fascinated with how the Swiss, Germans, English, Americans, Irish, Spanish,Australians, Kiwis, and Singaporeans shares alot of history with their respective countries. I admired them for being so honest and the accent-twangs have been able to left me in deep awe. For the record, I haven't experienced some sort of outcast incident coming from these people. Not until... An Irish guy asked me this question: " Is Philippines safe?","Yeah, definitely",I remarked.The nationalist in me fervored.I pointed out that the country has so much to offer. I told him how beautiful Philippines' sceneries are. From the sunny beaches of Palawan and Boracay, the exotic Hundred islands of Alaminos, Pangasinan, the cool, pine scent of Baguio, the amazing Chocolate hills, the almost-perfect volcano, Mt. Mayon, the biggest city in the world, Davao, the Queen City of the South, Cebu, and the majestic place of Hidden Valley Springs of my very own place in the Philippines, Alaminos, Laguna. I also told him about the wonderful dialects Filipinos are known for. In fact, during one of my travels in Malaysia, people there seemed to can't get enough of Tagalog. They really marvel our native tongue with so much gusto. Probably because of Sana'y Wala ng Wakas and Pangako Sa'yo fame headlined by Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa. Fortunately, the answers I've told gave him the desire to travel the Philippines for a length of six weeks with his seven friends.Until now, he still love going to the Philippines to see it again and again. Yeah, during my travels I became a sort of Richard Gordon trying-hard-wannabe by promoting the Philippines in a different light. Guess I was able to vanished out their worst fear of going to the Philippines with my so-much-to see-so much-to like blabbing. It was indeed fulfilling to know that people who finds Philippines a bit scary and a reclusive place for holiday and sight-seeings turned out to be a hoax. I've convinced most of them to check the country for themselves. And they always has fascinating stories to tell--that Philippines is not a bad country afterall. In fact,it's one of the best place they've gone to. But what is a nice a story without a dilemma. Here's a sad popped question to divulge: Is the majority of the Filipinos poor?. This question came from a Swiss girl that had no idea of what she's asking about. I was in for a surprise since I thought it's a very mean question. She knows I'm a Filipina but with her tongue-twisted crap she dropped the bomb without minding that someone was strayed by the bullet she's fired all along--ME. My other collegues were speechless and looked at me with bulging eyes; holding their breath for a cat fight. Needless to say, they thought that I might fret out or something but they didn't know that I'm just starting to let them know the realm of being a Filipino; far from their knowledge about poverty,corruption and the issue of national security, Filipinos have the kindest heart in the world. We laughed with our subversive and sometimes honest mistakes; dealt to alot of EDSA's, and shrugged off the threats of being Asia's next Argentina. You might not guessed what I did. I just smiled and asked her what is her notion about the word "poor". She pointed out that she didn't mean to sound offensive but she watched this documentary film she can't possibly remember about how filthy Philippines was; how Filipinos love to spit in every corner of the road; how young people are into prostitution at an early age, how bad the taste of our adobo was ( this was getting off-hand and I wanted to say,"Hey lady, that's my favorite dish your'e talking about"); and how unfashionably late pretenders the socialites from Manila were. I clearly stated that for the past centuries, Philippines played vital roles in shaping the history of Asia and the rest of the world. We kicked the dictator, with silent prayers and hear ye hear ye chants.Yes, the country has a huge debt from the Asian Bank and World Bank.Aye, the National Power Corporation(NAPOCOR) problems are still messing millions of pesos everyday because of the inutile projects, Oui, the government is still suffering from graft and corruption, and the like.Yet, the Filipino spirit to grow as one nation is still in much alive. The increasing organizations reaching out to the masses' concerns are proofs that Filipinos are not that dumb enough or just wholly-bullish. We admit the mistakes, and we are trying not to rest on the idiocracies brought up by just a small percentage of the 84 million Filipino people. I nailed into her that people just love to laugh about how stupid other citizens and countries were where in fact it is their soul that is in the pit of doom. That made her gawked and I bid with a thank you and have a nice daysort of sacrcasm. She was of course flushed with embarrassment as to how say sorry. I remembered an impeccable German guy who denounced his claim that most of the Filipinas she met along the way are opportunist, once they have the opportunity to married guys from other countries they would take the bait whatever it takes. Surprisingly though, these are just a few misconceptions from people I met from the travel. I often point out to tell them to shut their burgeoning mouth to the fullest for I will do everything to protect what is still the vital for us Filipinos-- COURAGE. I will forever be thankful and proud being a Filipino; no ifs, no buts..I feel great with our own heritage. Cheers!:) About the Author : MS.MERYL SMILE C. MATIENZO, is a B.S PSYCHOLOGY graduate from Letran-Calamba. She was the Vice-President of the Letran Supreme Student Council(2001-2002),a certified Knight writer during her College Years,a LCSSC Vice-President,and was nominated as one of the Ten Outstanding Student of the Philippines 2002.Currently she's a researcher and critique. Source: www.isnare.com
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