Featured Articles, Published Work
“Pilipinas Kong Mahal”: In Cosmo’s On My Mind (October issue)
November 2, 2009 by Niña Terol-Zialcita · Leave a Comment
One girl shares her musings about her love for the Philippines despite, in spite, and because of…
by Niña Terol
(Originally published in the October 2009 issue of Cosmopolitan Philippines)
In many ways, my relationship with my country is like my relationship with my family. There are days when I’m extremely proud to be Pinoy. Then, there are other days–just like those moments of extreme parental angst or sibling animosity–when I just want to fly away, cut all my ties, and never look back.
Nonetheless, there are some things that will forever bind me to this country. Like blood, the soil we were born on will always be thicker than water.
Tongue Ties
Like our family names, our accents are undeniable. While at a world music festival at Malaysia last year, I tried to go for as long as I could without anyone knowing that I am Filipino since my name is Spanish, I am Eurasian, and my first language is English. The moment I spoke up at a press conference, however, heads turned and I heard people say, “She’s Filipina!” Later on, another journalist came up to me and said, “I love Filipino accents–the way you roll your Rs, it’s so sexy!” Apparently, just like many other nationalities, we have very distinct accents that no amount of English twang will be able to hide. The best way to deal? To interact with others in ways that bring bride to our country.
This is “The Life”
Life here is never boring. Evening gigs, holiday fiestas, beach outings, food sprees, walking tours, cultural performances, scandals to watch over YouTube–we have them all. Simply take your pick!
And, in as much as things can get exciting, then can get extremely cozy as well. There are days when I simply crave for chicken tinola, sinigang na baboy, pork adobo, or chicken inasal. On Saturday mornings when it’s chilly, I’m reminded of childhood days of watching cartoons, my taste buds craving for champorado.
Citizen Pinoy
We may hate our government or the people around us, but we can’t hate the values our nation was founded on. Yes, the government bureaucracy is corrupt, systems are crooked (if any exist at all), and people can sometimes be downright stupid, greedy, or evil. I hate the large potholes that the city government has left on my street, and I can’t stand to see children begging on the sidewalk while the Powers that Be spend millions to fund their lavish lifestyles. No matter how low things seem to be, however, we can’t deny the fact that our forefathers fought valiantly against oppression, that it was we Filipinos who introduced People Power to the world, and that our nation was founded on ideals of truth, freedom, dignity, patriotism, brotherhood, faith, and love of family.
Home and Heartstrings
This is where I was born and raised; where I spent my wonderful childhood days; where I stumbled, fell, made mistakes, and learned about life. Here, too, is where I met the man I’m spending the rest of my life with. Wherever else I may go in the future, it is here where my heart was formed. However I look at my life, it has the Philippines etched all over it–and that’s not always a bad thing.
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