A few weeks ago I made a decision to try to organize and upgrade my writing here on PhilFAQS, where I try to present ideas of some merit and answer some of the FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions) about living in the Philippines.  On Mondays my goal is to present interviews or write editorials … my own views (loosely) built around the blog’s main subject.

Several things happened to me recently which set my mind in motion on the current series you and I together are about to embark upon … titled 12 Little Things … for reasons that will soon become evident.

Since I decided in advance that this was going to be a long series … rather than my usual habit of sitting down to write on a subject, cranking out a thousand words or so, and then deciding I better finish the article up with a second or third part … this one will be a long series, and I hope better organized, for your sake, if not mine.

I had trouble with this first part of the series … I couldn’t even decide if it should be a “preface”, a “foreword” or an “Introduction”.  After a little research it seems clear that “Preface” is indeed the right way to go, because a “Preface” generally is used to:

• Talk about how you came to write the work
• To sell the series to the potential reader/buyer (lure them, hook them, make them want to read more).
• To talk about how you got the information — what your main sources were.
• To provide a framework for what’s to follow — the hooks on which to hang the pegs of story details
• To provide, in brief, your main argument or point of view about the subject.

So that is how we’ll begin.  At the beginning.

For a long time now something has been nagging at me.  I’m not troubled by it every day, but lately it seems to come up more and more frequently.  I try not to let it bother me, but when you have a thin skin anyway, as I do, and when people come up to you, often from “out of the blue”, complete strangers in most cases, and needle you, over and over again, it’s really difficult not to get depressed, annoyed, pissed off, sad, hurt, or mad enough to take someone by the throat and just try to choke some sense into them.  (pick one, I’ve had all those feelings and more).

The issue?  People saying bad things about the Philippines (and thus by association my very real extended family here whom I love) and even on a more personal basis the feeling that people think I’m stupid for choosing to live here.  Now those who know me may be saying to themselves about now, “Oh Dave, you know you’re emotional, you’re just over-reacting.”

Well ‘wearing my heart on my sleeve” has always been one of my weaknesses, but I think the direct questions and the unmistakable body language and sometimes actual words I have had from people, based over a long period of time now, are pretty consistent. An overwhelming majority of Filipinos, while they may perpetually profess their “Filipino Pride”, can’t stand living here in the Philippines.  Their dreams seem dominated by escape, as if they were all life-sentence prisoners dreaming of the cell door swinging open, and they have no hesitation in telling the world just how little they think of their own country and how much they desperately want to live somewhere else, even to be someone else.

It’s depressing.  I’m easily depressed.  But you know what?  I am not depressed.  This is Holy Week, the time of what to Christians is the most hopeful and uplifting of times.  So I’m hopeful.  And even if you aren’t a Christian or don’t choose to be inspired by religious things, I’ve got something for you that can make you hopeful and inspired too.

Our roadmap.  And the reason behind the 12 Little Things title.  Next article?  The real story behind the story.  Stay tuned,

1. Follow traffic rules. Follow the law.
2. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.
3. Don’t buy smuggled goods. Buy local. Buy Filipino.
4. When you talk to others, especially foreigners speak positively about us and our country.
5. Respect your traffic officer, policeman and soldier.
6. Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve.
7. Support your church.
8. During elections, do your solemn duty.
9. Pay your employees well.
10. Pay your taxes.
11. Adopt a scholar or a poor child.
12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.

Learn more at http://www.12littlethings.com/

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