Matanguihan, Bea D.

Final Reflection Paper

Venturing Into the Country’s Unknown

The country has experienced rapid and unpredictable changes in social, political, and

economic aspects in the recent years. As the COVID-19 pandemic started an unexpected global

emergency that affected numerous institutions, our country seemed to grapple with indigency

and a faint hope. The pandemic has displaced people from almost all sectors that work for the

economy— from tourism and educational institutions to government agencies, almost

everyone was immobilized as the industrial economy halted and some establishments were

forced to shut down due to the established protocols. There are people who have all the

resources to survive and there are those who lost their jobs and the slightest chance of survival

seemed to gradually fade out. For a minimum wage-earner Filipino, every single day that

follows cannot become any worse than it already is.

At present, most Filipinos chose to be strong and maintained a positive outlook on life,

doing everything just to put food on the table for their family. Smiling all the pain away and

being evocative of the optimism that tomorrow will be another day full of hope. These positive

attitudes has been a testament to the true character of a Pinoy. Truly, Filipinos get through any

storm.

Do they?
Every-Juan Upon a Battered Land

Resiliency is not just about coping. It must also mean change. From strictly following

health protocols, spreading facts and awareness, to helping those in need in the form of

donation drives, community pantries or just random acts of kindness, we have done everything

we can. Our current situation, compounded by the already existing poverty, and other disasters

which happened over the past year, we are at our lowest. To move forward, there is only so

little we can do. We cannot overcome this pandemic all on our own. As much of an unwelcome

thought that is, it is our reality as of today. The pandemic has shown how united and

interconnected we are as a nation, and we can use this strength to help each other and move

past this hardship.

Everyone must have the decency in acknowledging one’s own shortcomings and

demand for accountability and a fair service from the government. The pandemic has exposed

the mediocre individuals in powerful positions and being a passive citizen leaves no

responsibility for them to do better. Our government has the power, resources, and ability to

counter this pandemic and the crisis that the Philippines’ is going through, our leaders can do

so much to help their own country and its people. Such as providing proper aid to the people

and especially to those who are deeply affected. They need to take precautionary measures for

when something similar might occur in the future, can be in a form of a health crisis or a

disaster, our leaders can do so much to mitigate the impacts of these events.

We cannot claim to be resilient by merely standing idle. We can submerge ourselves in

the reality of our surroundings and offer help as much as we can. May it be through

volunteering in community service, setting up a donation drive, or even financial support, every
help is vital for people in need. Change must come though collective actions in different levels

and degrees. Change depends on our mindset. Change is the people.

“Pera o Bayong?”: A Dichotomy on Philippines Political Climate

The current atmosphere of Politics in the Philippines is run by the elites and is greatly

infested by Political Dynasties, causing our country to be a big venue for gambling, where

wealth and personal interests matter the most rather than the commitment to the pledged

service by the politicians. Every election, Filipinos face a dilemma in choosing the “lesser evil”

amongst the candidates, and most of the ordinary Filipinos are being bribed. Black money can

halt the chance of the country towards good governance and proper public service. Driven by

extreme poverty, it seems like Juan is left to choose between a fail-safe bribery and the unsure

service that a politician can offer. “Pera o Bayong?”— It is our moral obligation to decipher a

person who whishes to govern the fate of our country.

A president is the symbol of national unity. It is important to choose a leader that has a

bright vision on the country’s future and has the will and integrity to make the change happen

for the betterment of the many, and not just the few. One must know the job well and the

weight of responsibility that was committed. The needs of the many always outweigh the needs

of the few, therefore, we have to choose a leader that has the capability of protecting national

interests at all costs and the one that can improve our current practices of democracy. The

president is expected to lead a reform coalition that would instigate mechanisms that are more

consultative and participatory when it comes to getting the opinions of the citizen regarding an

issue. We can vouch for someone that is a wise decision-maker and puts more weight on
Human Rights, wherein intentions of the marginalized and underrepresented gets to be heard

and taken into consideration when changing rules and institutions in our democratic regime.

One can be a catalyst for change by acknowledging that there is a need for change.

Philippines have fallen short compared to neighboring countries when it comes to Healthcare

Preparedness and Response to COVID-19 Pandemic. This goes to show that the problem boils

down to the accumulated ineptness and total disregard for health security of the government

over the past decades. This has caused dire situations and severe impacts not just on the lives

of vulnerable sectors, but the entire population of the country. In the upcoming election, we

cannot make the same mistake all over again. The power to change the fate of our country is

not up to someone who signs a bill, but it is in the hands of a mere citizen.

La Longue Durée

The study of History provides great potential in terms of looking both backwards and

forwards. It is the soil through which we dig, the component from which history arises.

Philippines’ past has been swayed by the rhythms of depressing experience. These events have

raised important questions and significant discourses, paving way for the growth of future

actions for societal change. With this, historical evidence is assured to be useful in the future.

“Ang kabataan ang pag – asa ng bayan,” is something that is instilled in a child’s mind

once he steps foot in the academe. The older generations put their trust and hope in the

younger generation and expects them to do better and be a better member of society. We, the

students, are the ones who will soon lead the country, be the workforce, be the change. The
knowledge we gained in the four corners of our rooms will help us build a better nation by

instilling our values and relay it in our practices. To accomplish this, we must understand the

country’s historical context as we venture the future, the same as to how we understand the

impact of our pasts on our current societal and economic situation. An in-depth understanding

about our own identity must start at the academe and must be nurtured as we grow as

individuals of the society.