2 Corinthians 4:8-9
King James Version
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken;
cast down, but not destroyed;
The Philippines is loved, because we are a friendly nation.
We speak English well.
We are open to learning.
We welcome tourism like crazy.
We work hard.
We learn fast.
Even imbibing foreign ways to a fault.
What others would call "colonialism".
But we've suffered greatly, too.
We've been under three rulers:
-- The Spanish rule (1565–1898)
-- The American rule (1898–1946)
-- The Japanese rule (1941-1945)
We were finally liberated by the Americans, until Japan's formal surrender on 2 September 1945.
By that time, approximately 10,000 American soldiers were missing in action, and one million Filipinos had perished.
Many old buildings in my city still carry echoes of such suffering.
Come rain, or come shine, Filipinos manage a smile.
Our islands are loved for our people's hospitality, even as we also have many unscrupulous characters who feed upon trusting tourists.
Because of the various foreign occupations, we are a melting pot of mixed races.
We carry strong Spanish, American, European, Chinese, and even Japanese features to this day, mixing with our original Malay race.
May the next generations remember the sacrifices of their kin.
Many say they've kept on because of their faith.
And that's for the next post.
Image: Michael Rivera
