It is undeniable that Filipinos are very
courteous and polite people. That we value our courtesy and how other people might perceive us. We respect elders and authority.

Ponder for a moment those things you do not like that are happening in the Philippines.

It is easy. Maybe by just reading Philippine newspapers would do the trick. Murder, robbery, graft and Corruption, kidnapping and rape.

Now ponder for a moment a Filipino, any average Filipino in the Philippines that you may come across and speak with. More than likely, if you are a little older than that individual, he would probably address you with a "sir" or "mam" ("po" or "opo"). Watch him greet and speak with his former teacher, notice the respect he gives him or her and how he " bows " his head to greet the teacher. Watch him pass in between two people talking. Notice how he bows his head and at the same time utter, "excuse me" or something to that effect. It is undeniable that Filipinos are very courteous and polite people. That we value our courtesy and how other people might perceive us. We respect elders and authority.

It is this that makes it to be almost unbelievable that these could be the same people who are committing murders, robberies, graft and corruption, kidnapping and rape. Some of them even boast of the graft and corruption they are able to be involved with and they money they "earn" as if it was honorable. Where did this value come from? Others are proud to have "killed" someone. People look at these people like heroes although we all know that there is no honor in killing. What happened? Why is it now that BAD is GOOD? I am sure you have heard the expression of an extravagant and supposedly spoiled teenager, "Smuggler si Papa, Hostess si

Mama", in jest. A clear example of the values has turned 180 degrees south!

We know that the "Good Manners and Right Conduct" that had been illustrated above come from our schools. A very strong and powerful influence on all of us that I thank God, our Bureau of Schools and our teachers for it. We all learned them. Unfortunately, this subject was dropped for a few years due to budget constraints but is back now as "values" in our school system. But where do you think they learn the NEGATIVE VALUES?

May I suggest they learn them from Radio and TV soap operas, Movies, and of course, Comic Magazines that are a much a part of the Filipino culture. How many of these "authors" of comic magazines do you think have completed a responsible journalism course? What background do you think they have except maybe they could draw a straighter line that you and I? How about those children of the Filipino movie industry moguls who are suddenly now story/script writers and maybe even as directors? Why is it that the movies that Fernando Poe, Jr. and yes, even our now President Joseph Estrada ,make always solve the problems they encounter in the movies through violence?

Filipinos are lucky that we do not have much of a problem when it comes to Family Values. But our community values could use a little help. They said it takes a village to raise a child. And yes, TOGETHER, if we stop glorifying violence and making heroes of killers, if we stop glorifying those who had achieved riches through corrupt means, if we stop tolerating kidnapping, if we start abhorring those conducts that deserve to be and thumb our noses up to those that deserve them, then, we could say -