“THE FILIPINO SPIRIT IN THE REMAKING OF AMERICA”
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By: Arnedo S. Valera, Esquire
Jesse Gatchalian
Grace Valera-Jaramillo
Executive Directors, MIGRANT HERITAGE COMMISSION (MHC)
(Washington D.C.)
(MHC’s Message for the 4th Annual People’s Mass (Misa ng Bayan)
St. Rose of Lima Church, Gaithersburg, MD ,February 8, 2009
Today, we celebrate our misa ng bayan with great hopes for brighter days of economic and moral recovery
and renewal under our new President Barack Obama. It is certainly heartening and uplifting to know that we
have a lot to hope and be thankful for after this nation demonstrated great courage by electing the first black,
indeed, the first colored man in history, to the presidency. It brings much satisfaction after periods of intense
crises and conflicts under the Bush administration, remembering 9/11, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the economic meltdown that continues to wreck havoc on us and especially
the common workers not only in the United States but all over the globe. After passing through the bleakest of
days we earnestly hope to see light.
It is with that certain feeling of relief and anticipation that we greet and send our very best wishes to President
Obama. Despite the continuing crises both in world economy and in the moral fiber of the citizenry, we have
reason to believe that there will be brighter days ahead.
Dr. Martin Luther King once referred to the same spirit as a dream of freedom. We know that to realize the
dream and specifically, to elevate ourselves and find peace and contentment again, we have to work harder
and be involved in the “reconstruction” work. As Filipinos and Filipino-Americans, it may be time to ask
precisely how we could help or in what ways we can contribute so that the continuing global crisis may be
averted. But not only is our commitment needed in the remaking of America; it is also necessary that we work
hard to save our own people, especially, the migrant workers here and in many countries around the world
losing their jobs each time a business or employer downsizes or goes bankrupt. It is a sad fact that during a
global economic crisis, the hardest hit are small countries such as the Philippines, which unfortunately,are
dependent on the economies of the First World countries.
Recently, we have already heard news of hundreds, probably thousands of overseas Filipino workers, are
losing their jobs not only in the United States but also in Europe and the Middle East. There are, however, no
jobs available back in the Philippines either, as many of the businesses there are foreign-owned, too. Take
for example the case of Intel Corporation which recently shut down its assembly facility in Laguna after
decades of successful operation. This resulted in the displacement of more than two thousand workers. A
great number of OFWs have been sent home from various places such as Taiwan, Dubai, the United
Kingdom, and other places in Europe may find themselves unemployed in the country they call home.
To say then that we hope for better days under the new President who is presently perceived to be the ideal
leader in that he embodies those from the disadvantaged social classes, is really to dream that he be some
kind of Messiah who who take us out of the darkness. And though we pray for divine help, we know that it
alone will not resolve the crises ,hat we cannot simply wait for miracles to happen. We go back then to the
theme of the “Filipino spirit in the remaking of America.” What is the “Filipino spirit” and how will it help
improve our lives? We Filipinos are known for being resilient and as President Quezon described,“pliant like
the bamboo.” There is something in our character that enables us to weather all crises no matter how great,
that makes us think that storms and tribulations are like wisps of hair or loose strands of some fiber that we
could seize and bind up into some useful rope. In short, we have a knack for making the best of a bad
situation, turning junk into jewels. For most, the motto is as a song goes, “I (we) will survive!” As a people,
our strength is in resilience. After a period of great stress and suffering, we bounce back into life. We
probably owe this to our long history of colonial subjection. Those centuries must have taught us invaluable
techniques for survival. We have learned to be ingenuous and creative even as we adapt naturally to any
situation, enduring pain, weathering storms. I would like to think that contrary to what Rizal said, it was not
indolence that our people showed but adaptation and endurance so that at opportune times we had always
prevailed. Unfortunately, there were other effects of the colonial experience that messed us up, including,
having developed an attitude of tolerance to the point where we become vulnerable to plunder and
exploitation by the predatory and unscrupulous, by the greedy and the corrupt. This tolerance and resilience
may have inured us so much strife and that we have accepted them merely as a fact of life.
But the true and enlightened Filipino spirit, however, will not only bend and endure. This spirit is creative and
ingenuous and is prepared when called upon to take on the task to struggle “against all odds,” as the cliche
goes. If we include another valuable quality of our Filipino nature called “Bayanihan,” then we should build
much confidence and have every reason to look forward to brighter days ahead.
It is on this note, that I wish to enjoin all of you to support the following specific projects and goals
recommended by various Fil-Am community groups after the historical election of President Barack Obama:
1) Long term solution of financial literacy on all levels of education to the problem of foreclosures;
2) Using the massive $900 billion bailout to alleviate the suffering of the foreclosed homeowners and
providing mortgage relief to Main Street and not only Wall Street;
3) Support the bill that recognize the Filipino World War II Veterans, give them the benefits and ensure
family reunification;
4) Amnesty and pathways to citizenships to all 12 million undocumented immigrants;
5) Appointment of deserving Filipino-Americans in key positions in the government and the judiciary;
6) Review of U.S foreign policy in the Philippines calling for the Philippine Government to stop and curb
corruption and gross violations of human rights.
If we could bring these to President Obama and his new government, we would have succeeded in fulfilling
our functions both in the remaking of America while helping solve the problems and ease the burden of our
kins back home.
The Migrant Heritage Commission as a service oriented institution never lose their prepossession with that
entrancing occupation of bringing people together and continue building a culture of unity and service for all
migrants. Through our programs, we ignite in you the caring spirit,stoke the boldness of your hope and faith,
that as a member of the migrant family, we need one another.
And finally, in today’s misa ng bayan, you will become part of our symbolic offerings and special prayers.
They represent the human expressions of life defining and exemplifying human dignity, dignity of labor, our
quest for justice, peace and our passion for the preservation and promotion of human rights. All these in
essence capture the “Filipino Spirit”.
Thank you and May GOD OF HISTORY BLESS US ALL !!
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