When I was in school, we always sang Lupang Hinirang during flag raising ceremonies. Singing the song then was automatic.
Then I went to college. There were no more flag ceremonies, so I seldom heard or sang the national anthem anymore.
After graduating, I went back to school to work. It was a normal morning tune played every morning, until the day I listened to myself sing its lyrics, and realize the great love song that it was.
It hurts to know that there are Filipinos who forgot about the beautiful country we’re living in. They have lost hope in their countrymen and the Philippines. No more passion for a country who once struggled and fought for freedom. Now, the freedom that is ours is slowly drying in our own hands.
This is a post-Independence Day tribute to a country in hardship, a country nearly divided, the country that I love. A country I will continue to hope for, to fight for, and maybe even, as the song says, die for.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Wow, this is one of the winning photos in Batanes, di ba ga? I like it.
But I don’t think Filipinos easily “fall–out–of–love” for their native land, it’s just that sometimes, there’s too much reason for disappointment that some of us would rather tune out.
June 15th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
maybe some do “tune out” but there are some who become numb in a different way. Insensitive numb.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Tagal mo naman mag-blog ulit ga. =P