Back to my childhood and teenage days, I used to wait excitedly for the singing of "Pilipinas Kong Mahal" by Francisco Santiago. Yes, excitedly because, I regret to say, it marked the end of the flag ceremony. Although my teachers were great emphasizing the value of patriotism, I have to admit that the word came shallow to me. Mr. Santiago who is considered as the Father of Kundiman did a splendidly deep and wonderful song, but i honestly missed the whole point of it. Love of country was just like one of those "popcorn" lessons in school. It popped and has gone.
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As a youngster, patriotism for me could be expressed during Monday flag ceremonies, where I felt proud that my teachers and classmates would hear me recite the Panatang Makabayan and Panunumpa sa Watawat from my used-to-be-sharp-memory. Huh, Piece of cake! For me, patriotism could be expressed during Linggo ng Wika celebration, where my classmates and I didn't have to pay a fine for speaking in Filipino. Huh, freedom at last!
In college, I met brilliant students. Some of them became good acquaintances, but then there came a point I was not seeing them in school anymore. They were outside the streets holding banners, cursing the government and the what they call "US capitalists feudalists, imperialists". Some of them were able to return to school, some weren't. I just thought, their "version" of patriotism was hard rock.
Upon graduation, I landed on a teaching job. I had my share of imparting knowledge with my students. But to be honest, I was not really sure if there was anything patriotic. My subjects were Communication Arts in English, Creative Writing and Christian Living. The only thing I can remember teaching my students was how to write and sound "smart and cool" in a foreign language, nothing much about patriotism.
Later I joined World Vision Development Foundation. Somehow, my eyes were opened to the things and people around me, particularly those poor Filipino children who couldn't go to school and live in underprivileged communities. These social conditions pierced my heart. I didn't know what was going on in me, but I was sure I wanted to do something to help these children.
Then I became a Marine, joining the ranks of one of the elite forces of the defense department. Just attaching the "Marine" to my name gives me a certain level of euphoria. Ah! I AM A MARINE. But when I learned about and grasped the proud history of the Marine Corps and became much more involved in mission accomplishment, the nostalgia was turned in to "something" that I have no word for yet.
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This "something" brings me to my knees to pray each day for every Marine, sailor, airman, army and their families. I have seen with my own eyes the heart wrecking grief and heard with my own ears the painful wails of those who were left behind by the soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
This "something" makes my heart bleed for each child who had been displaced together with their families because of war. They could not go to school. They could not play. They could not return to their homes. All because of fear brought by the fightings. What is even more painful, the fightings are between Filipinos alike.
This "something" brings me to my work with a heart and mind decided to be the best in my part of the mission. I strive to know my job by heart, to do it and do it well. Everyday I tell myself that I'll be the best Marine in the Corps. Everyday I strive to do more than what is expected of me because I am a Marine and if this Marine fails in my mission, everything else will fail. Failure is not an option. Why? Because this "something" tells me so. Because this "something" tells me that the Filipino people is out there to defend, to protect and to secure by all means, at all costs.
This "something" -- I don't have a word for it or maybe I do now. But however this "something" is called, it is so alive in me.
Then there goes PILIPINAS KONG MAHAL again being played in celebration of the 114th Independence Day of my country. It is the same song which we sing during Monday Morning Colors Ceremony in the headquarters. The last song to be sung, actually. But this time around, this "something" ends the song by overwhelming my heart, making me lift my head up high and with much determination telling myself, "Let's go, Marine!" Perhaps, just perhaps, this is my version of something called patriotism.
Pilipinas Kong Mahal
By Francisco Santiago
Youtube - PILIPINAS KONG MAHAL (Francisco Santiago)
Ang bayan ko'y tanging ikaw
Pilipinas Kong Mahal
Ang puso ko at buhay man
Sa iyo'y ibibigay
Tungkulin kong gagampanan
Na lagi kang paglingkuran
Ang laya mo'y babantayan
Pilipinas kong Hirang.
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