I am writing this column on February 14, Valentine’s Day. Lover’s day. And for Catholics, since this is also Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Holy Week, Valentine’s Day this year is also a stark reminder that love means sacrifice. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
I am going to talk about a different kind of love – the kind of love that our national hero Jose Rizal said is one of the “noblest” kinds of love: love for one’s native country.
But as the character of Rizal’s brother Paciano said in the 1999 film Bayaning Third World, “Pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa: sino kaya ang tunay na nakakatalos ng kahulugan ng mga salitang iyon?”
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In light of the recent talks about Charter Change and suggestions that Mindanao secede from the Philippines, I couldn’t help but wonder: ano nga ba talaga ang definition natin ng “pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa”?
I’ve been saying this in this column space before the 2022 elections, but I believe this is a message we should once again heed in the context of the upcoming 2025 elections: love for our country should not be confused with love for politicians – especially “toxic love.”
Ano nga ba ang “toxic love?”
Ito ay ang pagbubulag-bulagan natin sa mga kahinaan at kasiraan ng ating mga pinuno.
Ito ay ang bulag na paniniwala na dapat nating suportahan ang ating mga pinuno kahit na obvious na obvious nang dinadala tayong lahat sa bangin.
Ito ay ang tila pagsamba sa kanila, sa puntong wala na tayong pinaniniwalaan kundi ang salita nila at sa ating pakiramdam ay lahat ng kritisismo laban sa kanila ay paninira lamang at walang bahid nang katotohanan.
This kind of “toxic love” for our politicians, critics have charged over and over again, is the reason why “traditional politics” still reign in our country despite efforts made to reform our society.
And let me reiterate: what we need is more than Constitutional reform, but societal reform – one that will require a 180-degree change in the way we Filipinos define love of our country.
Love of our country means that we are willing to learn from our mistakes and resolve never repeating them again.
Love of our country means that we are willing to listen to those who speak out messages that are contrary to what we want to hear, to keep an open mind on criticism instead of shutting them down as “bashing” or “black propaganda.”
Love of our country means that we are willing to act on what is in the best interests of our country, whether or not it is agreeable with the majority opinion.
But above all, love of our country means that we are willing to accept that our leaders are humans – and that calling out their mistakes is not only a right but a duty of every person who wants what is best for their country.