Something for every Filipino

THERE’S a booklet making the rounds in Metro Manila that every
Filipino who loves his country should get hold of and read, and
hopefully put the points it raises into practice, in order to help
our nation…

“Twelve (12) Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our
Country,” by Alexander Ledesma Lacson, may be a “voice in the
wilderness”; but as Fr. Rub en Tanseco, S.J. puts it, what Alex
proposes are “very concrete, practical and doable” actions for us
ordinary Filipinos.

1. Follow traffic rules. — Why is that the most important? The
answer is simple. Traffic rules are the simplest of our laws. If we
learn to follow them, it will be the lowest form of national
discipline that we can develop. Since it is totally without monetary
cost, it should be easy for us to comply with, and therefore should
provide a good start.

2. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official
receipt. — If a seller does not issue an official receipt when you
buy a product, the seller may or may not remit the tax to the
government. Without an O.R., there is no record of the sale
transaction, and the tax that you paid may not be remitted to the
Bureau of Internal Revenue.

3. Do not buy smuggled goods. Buy local, buy Filipino. — It may not
be good economics to buy 100 percent local products. What I suggest
is for us to take a “50-50″ buying attitude. This means that we must
develop the attitude of using 50 percent of our budget for local
products and the other 50 percent for imported choices.

4. When you talk to others, especially foreigners,speak positively of
our race and our country. — this is best addressedto the rich and
the middle class in our country, who have contact with the outside
world. It is they who talk to, dine or deal with foreigners either
here or abroad. It is what they say and do which creates impressions
about us among foreigners.

5. Respect your traffic officer, policeman, soldier and other public
servants. — There is nothing like the power of respect. It makes a
person proud. It makes one feel honorable. At the same time,
courtesy
to others is good manners. It is class and elegance and kindness.
It is seeing the value and dignity in the other man. It is, in fact,
a mark of a most profound education.

6. Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate.
Recycle. Conserve. — As Louis Armstrong says in his song: “I see
trees of green, red roses, too, I see them bloom for me and you and I
think to myself, what a wonderful world.”

7. Support your church. (or charitable/ civic organizations —

8. During elections, do your solemn duty. — Honesty, more than a
masteral or doctorate degree, is what gives credibility. And
credibility is essential because it is a leader’s link to the
people. It is what makes the people look to one direction,follow a
common vision, and perform a uniform act. In short,credibility is
what makes people follow the leader.

9. Pay your employees well. — No exercise is better for the human
heart than to reach down and lift someone else up. This truly
defines a successful life. For success is the sum, not of our
earthly possessions, but of how many times we have shown love and
kindness to others.

10. Pay your taxes. — In 2003, P83 billion was collected from
individual income = taxes. But 91 percent of this amount came from
salaried workers from the government and private sector, people who
had no choice since their income taxes were withheld mandatorily.
Only P7billion of the P83 billion came from businessmen and
professionals like doctors, lawyers, accountants and architects,
among others.

11. Adopt a scholar or adopt a poor child. — You can make a
difference in the future of our country by making a difference in the
world of children.

12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and to love
our country. — Today’s children will someday rule and lead this
world. But whether they will be bad rulers or good leaders will
depend largely on how we raise them today. Our future is in the
hearts and minds of our children.