Is the Philippines still a paradise?

When Rev. Fr. Joe Tajanlangit was still the regular celebrant of the last working day (Fridays for admin staff members) Masses of The Freeman, one of his favorite lines in his homily was: "I have traveled around the world but, for me, the Philippines is still a paradise."

That was a few years ago, and because I have not been attending his Masses since his transfer to Talisay City, I'm wondering if he is still repeating this line. Is the Philippines still a paradise, Father Joe?

A Japanese businessman once said, "the reason why my country has recovered from devastation after the Second World War is because we strive hard so that the members of our staff can rise even higher than us." How can we do that here in our country with our crab mentality? Another bad trait of a Filipino, according to our grade school teacher, is our mannana habit: not doing what we are supposed to do today and to keep on postponing till tomorrow or the next days. For sure, what happened to the accident in a laundry shop somewhere in Basak, Mandaue City, was the result of this bad habit that there never was an investigation despite the fact that the establishment has been operating for two years.

But my teacher when I was in Grade One taught us a poem that goes like this: "I love the Philippines, it is the land of my birth. It protects me and helps me to be strong, happy and useful." Is the Philippines still protecting me? I think so.

So, is the Philippines still a paradise despite all the bad habits of the Filipinos? Yes, Rev. Fr. Joe Tajanlangit, because first and foremost, we belong to this country. Our health has adopted to the weather of this country and, especially at my age, cannot adjust to the climates of other countries. Besides, we have our own pride like our very own Filipino delicacies, fruits and products like masarial and the famous bibingka of Mandaue City, the tinap-anan of Danao City and Liloan, among other places with delicacies I really love. (Filipinos who are now in other parts of the world still love to order these delicacies). We also have our beautiful tourist spots and I don't have to mention all of them. One particular place which I have learned to love is the town of Liloan, especially its unique features aside from the tinap-anan and the famous rosquillos.

The old church in Liloan which was built in 1870 is one of the rare churches in the country because it is facing the municipal hall, while the municipal hall is facing the sea. Can you find any other old church in Cebu with its back to the sea? Only in Liloan. Another unique feature of the town, now attracting tourist is the Liloan-Catarman bridge because the bridge is so-called the bridge over troubled waters: the sea water goes to the river, while the fresh water goes to the sea. Because of this, under this bridge, the water from the river and from the sea meet, causing the twirling of the waters. Very lovely to watch especially during high tide, but a little bit dangerous. People are afraid to swim there, especially at night.

Incidentally, the old ancestral house of the family of former beauty queen turned award winning actress /model Pilar Pilapil is overlooking this river. Pilar who was also a beautiful house somewhere in Apas, Lahug, Cebu City, is already an evangelist and has a rest house in Malapascua, another pride of the Philippines, the country which I think is still a paradise. Yes, Rev. Fr. Joe Tajanlangit: the Philippines is still a paradise.