Possible mistakes of our values, The Filipino values

I still can recall when I was a kid, I can't count how many variety store there is in our place. End to end of both side of the street, side by side is a variety store. But they both sale the same. Not like SM malls "We've got it all" is the slogan, the Filipino seems like "the more the merrier" indeed.

Apparently it is so common to see, right? But did you know that it reflects the second of negative effects of our culture - by having a severe scattered apart. It's number is like the 7,107 islands of our country, its the degree of individualism of Pilipino.

Severe is the "we and we" and "individuality" mentality of ours. Bisaya against the tagalog. Muslim against the Christian. Pampanga's Best versus Batangas Finest.

Maybe this is one of the most severe disease of our country. We dont have obligation to protect or throughly providence whatever that is outside of our "range". Just like one of a known slogan said, "clean your own backyard".

There is a big tendency that we Filipino can imprison ourselves inside one group or jurisdiction. Our whole loyalty and devotion is absorbed in there. The worst is that we forgot how to intervene others. "It's not my care. Im out of that. It's up to you its your life, I dont care, I have nothing to do with you."

If it is outsider or other people, maybe sometimes or twice we will give them favor and deal with them with our best, but surely expect it, it has an end. What are you, Lucky nine? Or in Filipino, "Aba, sinuswerte ka naman!"

This mentality can be the root why until now, after how many EDSA Revolution has been made, our unity is just becoming a fleeting in our country. Eventually the strop of interest is dominant of each and every group. Never mind if it makes the country bad, as long as it makes the party good. The infection is pretty serious and seem to have been the complications that affected our politicians.

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This mentality is one of the important thing that must be changed in our culture. Until we will not know how to open up our will to "others" we will not advance until we will not learn how to accept them as a part of our lives.

We can learn great in the Bible when it comes to this matter. Did you know that the first biggest mistake that the person has committed is by losing officious to his sibling and considered him as "others." Maybe you already know the story of Cain and Abel. Did you remember what Cain's answered to God once He search for Abel? "I dont know. Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9) in Pilipino (Ewan ko. Anong paki' ko?)

When Jesus came to our world, he made sure that this event will not be made again. How? He challenged us to make expansive to those who we considered both (Luke 20:25-37). He described on us in the Good Samaritan on how we interact to our fellowmen without choosing whom they are and more than what we expect is enough.

In that story, aside from being rescued by someone who is not related to the man that was being hold-up in the street, he even bring him to the hospital, and even leave a payment, and he promise to come back to check the condition of the victim. To the highest level is the concern, is'nt it? But Jesus lifted it much more when he said show loved not just to whom not your relatives and needed, but also to those whom you dont like and if you can only erase them from earth.

He said, "Love your enemies." Severe. Here he showed us how to be a real man by activating on "image of God" wherein we are design. If God love us across all of our mistakes and blunders, so as we also give to others. Jesus logic is just simple then: "Do unto others what you would have them do to you." In our culture, somehow theres a grain of this kind of teaching. This is what ones proverb said, "If you give way, others will also let you pass."

This is the secret on how to deepen that friendship and the true spirit of what we called bayanihan (cooperative endeavor).

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This was original written by Rei Lemuel Crizaldo in Filipino language and were translated by @juvyjabian to be understood by the community.