National Pride

Today is the 232nd birthday of the United States of America.

I truly admire Americans for their national pride. They proudly display the flag outside their homes, outside office buildings, and even on their vehicles. They stand in attention when the national anthem is sung, hands on hearts. They give wild, thunderous applause and cheers at the end of the national anthem.

I wish Filipinos were as proud of their flag, of their nation. Nobody displays the flag. Nobody sings to the national anthem, hands on hearts. If, at all, people continue walking and talking as if the national anthem is not being played. Oh, don't get me wrong -- I've seen some Americans do the same, but it's more of a an exception than the rule.

Maybe, I misunderstand this, but I find it truly odd when Filipinos living in the US celebrate Philippine independence (June 12). Hello, you're living in the US, yet you celebrate Philippine independence from the US? Philippine independence from the very country where you are a guest? Philippine independence from the very country that has taken you in as one of their own? Duh??? Hindi ba nakakahiya 'yun? At the very least, that is inappropriate. There is always a proper time (and place) for everything, but this is not one of them.

Two years from now, I may be taking my US citizenship exams. By then, I hope that I will be worthy of my host country's offer of naturalized citizenship. I cannot turn my back on my roots, though, the country where I spent 36-1/2 years of my life. I would love to be an individual with dual US-Filipino citizenship -- you truly get the best of both worlds.