ARNEL T. PAPA, fashion designer: As a jewelry designer, I express my love for my country by promoting locally made products in the world market today. Using local raw materials to produce world-class accessories not only generates jobs for Filipinos, but also promotes our homegrown products, and develops Filipino creativity and ingenuity.
CARLA GUEVARA-LAFORTEZA, performing artist/restaurant manager: I have been living in New York for the past six years, and even though my husband and I were given the opportunity to become American citizens and reside permanently in the States, we turned it down and decided to fly back home instead because we are proud to be Filipinos, and would rather be of service to our country and share our talents and craft with our countrymen. Indeed, there is no place like home!
PUEY QUINONES, fashion designer: Staying and working with my fellow Filipinos is one way of expressing my love for the country. I believe that before you express love to anybody or anything, you have to love yourself first.
JOHN FERNANDEZ, businessman: One good way to express love of country is to support our local traders. In garment manufacturing, for example, our workmanship is accepted abroad, such that when we buy clothes, we realize later that it’s made in the Philippines. It’s also very important that we show our concern and support for the system by obeying the laws (especially on the road, no matter how frustrating that can be… Attention, public transportation drivers!)
By doing so, we can only hope that others would start to change for the better as well. There is hope if we just do our part.
CHIQUI MABANTA, Manila citizen: I am involved with Winner Foundation, an environmental group whose purpose is to help green Manila (the polluted concrete jungle that it’s turned into) so people can breathe better. They have actually created Arroceros Forest Park, the only forest park in the heart of Manila. Unfortunately, 12 years after the park was created, a teachers’ administration building was placed by the Manila local government inside this small forest, thus ruining it. Trees were cut down unnecessarily and the sanctity of this natural sanctuary was compromised. This government building could easily have been built on many other idle and unused government properties. Nature keeps warning us: without trees, disasters like landslides and floods will occur, yet we refuse to listen. Therefore I express my love for country by continuing to fight for our rights as citizens to help improve our country. It breaks my heart that the people who have the ability and power to change things aren’t doing their jobs properly. If they did half of what was needed, if they really focused on being public servants (the position they were elected to by our people), our country would truly prosper and the quality of life of so many Filipinos would improve dramatically.
JUN V. JUBAN, film producer: I am blessed to be in the business of foreign film production where I constantly sell and promote our country as a primary location for foreign films, documentaries, television and cable shows. This way, I hope to expose the beauty of our country and the warmth and talent of Filipinos.
CRISELDA R. LONTOK, fashion designer: Self-discipline is the most important factor in attaining one’s goals. Discipline becomes natural when it stems from one’s family values and system. Therefore, it is important that every parent instill discipline in their children so this will be spread out into the society and enable us to practice and obey the given laws in our beloved country. For my part, I have remained a disciplinarian and have embedded in the minds of my children the importance of being obedient to the law and the system. I am reminded of Subic and now Marikina. With proper education among our leaders and by their setting good examples for their constituents, people will be more obedient. I pray that we convert our mindset and take this step to progress.
RICA PERALEJO, actress: I encourage others, especially foreigners, to visit our country, particularly our nice beaches like Boracay and Palawan. I proudly talk about our delicious food, which doesn’t cost much, and our family values, like how we raise our children and take care of the old. And, in spite of the sometimes depressing situation, I tell everyone that there’s no place like home.
MILLIE REYES, president and CEO, The Plaza Catering: By being a good citizen. I patronize and am proud of Filipino products. I help promote local tourism by visiting local destinations at least twice a year. In my line of work, which is catering, I promote Filipino cuisine. As an entrepreneur, I pay taxes, license and permit fees. I employ and pay the right wages to my employees and everything is in accordance with the law. Most of all, I discipline, train and educate my employees and impart whatever knowledge I have learned for the betterment of my staff as they strive for excellence in whatever they do. In my own little way, I help uplift the lives of others and encourage them to be good citizens by the example I show.