If There is One Thing You Can Give to the Philippines, What is that Gift?

It was last weekend when I checked my email and found this contest from Nuffnang and Globe Telecom asking the blogging community this question: "If there is one thing you can give to the Philippines, what is that gift?". It is a great campaign to push this start of the year using the hashtag #GLOBEProjectWonderful2014 showing Globe's eagerness to give back to their community. I was excited to join and answer this one but nothing really realistic came into my mind.

While reflecting on this topic, I found a blog post showing pictures of Metro Manila during the 1950's. It made me realize how beautiful our country was without the crowded streets and filthy surroundings. As I read through the comments in that blog post, most of them blamed the government and corruption. I couldn't agree more to that but it made me think if they were solely responsible for it or there were other factors.

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I decided to answer this question some other day since I need to drive for my mom. This topic was still in my head as I drove by EDSA early in the morning. The answer came to me as I saw the red light while other cars just drove pass by it. I chose to follow the stop sign even when no one was looking.

So If there is one thing I can give to the Philippines, what is that gift? My answer to that is "I will be a responsible citizen of this country". Driving alone will show you how some people can be so undisciplined and even bad role models for the kids. Crossing in the middle of a highway, over speeding, throwing their trash on the street, beating the red light are some of the few things you'll see in a busy street of our Metro. Most of the time we blame the government but do we ever ask ourselves if we have been good to our country? 

It's the simple things that we do in our daily lives that can affect our future. I guess we get what we give and lately climate change & high criminal rates are few of the biggest evidence to that. As my mom says all the time "It was safer to go out at night when I was young compare to today" and I couldn't agree more. Because as time passed by Filipino people had forgotten to be responsible and disciplined citizens. Choosing what's right from wrong regardless if you gain from it or not. I'm not saying that we should all be a martyr, I just want to push our fellow country men to be a better version of themselves. But for now I plan to start it on myself and maybe inspire other people around me to do the same. Let's look back and promote the real values of our heritage that we forgotten. 

Do you have your own answer to this question by Globe and Nuffnang? Then feel free to comment below or even create your own blog post about it too. Let's all push for this #GLOBEPROJECTWONDERFUL2014 for our beloved Philippines.

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Birthday Celebration | Glad to be Globe Story

I just celebrated my birthday yesterday, making me quarter of a hundred years old. Looking back in my younger years, made me realized that I was not as good with words as I am now. That’s where Globe fits in to my life, allowing me to say things that I needed to say.

It was my high school years when I can actually say that I was young, wild and free. Mostly I found my comfort zone when I’m with my friends hanging out. At home, I was a person with few words.  We’re a family of five and making me the youngest. I can still remember how lonely birthdays can be in our household. The pathetic thing is that in my 25 years of existence I only got to blow 3 birthday cakes. (1^st and 7^th birthday included)

Every time there was a celebration then, everyone just pretends that it’s a normal day. Making it hard to figure out if it was forgotten or they’ll have a surprise for you.  The best gifts for me were not the things or amount of money that I received. Rather it’s the simple greeting from my family letting me know that they remember my special day. It’s the simple “happy birthday anak” message from my mom that makes my heart skips a beat. Also with Globe I can express my simple gratitude by sending a thank you message back.

Now that we’re older birthday greeting are done face to face. But I’m just happy to look back in my younger years where our life was a little tougher; a simple text message helped us remember that the care within our family was still there.

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John Mayer - Say What You Need To Say



This is my Glad to be Globe story. What about yours? Get a chance to win an iPad mini by sharing your Glad to be Globe stories. Check the print ads below for the full promo mechanics.**Open only to all Nuffnangers** - See more at: http://blog.nuffnang.com.ph/2013/05/28/glad-to-be-globe-blog-contest/