Inspired by MLQ

      To those unaware, today marks the 131st birthday celebration of former President Manuel Luis M. Quezon. He was the first President of the Philippine Commonwealth and also known as the Father of Philippine Language. He was born on August 19, 1878 in the small town of Baler, Tayabas, now Quezon. He was a great leader during the Commonwealth era. And maybe if it wasn’t for his tuberculosis, he may have done more service to our country.

      I consider Manuel Quezon as a true nationalist, in his words, actions and thoughts. As my somewhat tribute-like to him, I would just like to share one of my most remembered saying from him, and it goes like: “I prefer a government run like hell by Filipinos to a government run like heaven by Americans.” Which I think, during those time made an impact not only in our country but also in other part of the world. And what’s more memorable is his next sentence: “Because, however bad a Filipino government might be, we can always change it.”

     From those two powerful sentences MLQ uttered, the latter would be the one which struck me most. Face with reality, I could see how the next generation of Filipinos failed to live up to what MLQ has said. Yes I also remember, during one point in our country’s history, we made the change MLQ was talking about. For me, that would be during the famous EDSA People power movement. But what happened after that? More so-called people power movement followed. Upto now, there are still signs indicating the presence of a bad Filipino government, and worse, a bad Filipino community.

     Come to think of it maybe the “bad” problem is not only inside the Philippine government, but also those outside of it, it’s own people. I say this, change for good will never happen to our governement, our country unless every individual Filipino makes his/her own change positively.