"Ang mamatay ng dahil sa 'yo"

Professing a willingness to die for country or for a cause sounds very dramatic. But how much of a chance really would a person be given to demonstrate this willingness -- unless of course he were living in a war-torn region or during Martial Law? Sometimes, it's the willingness to live (and keep living and doing one's part, whatever that may be) that matters.

Theres The Rub
True measure
By Conrado de Quiros
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:17:00 06/11/2009

Someone asked me in a forum some time ago: Whatever happened to the patriotism of the Filipino? It wasn’t too long ago when we were willing to die for country. Indeed it wasn’t too long ago when we admired Ninoy Aquino for saying “The Filipino is worth dying for.” When will we get that spirit back? Or can we still do so?

I said: True enough, we seem to have become a nation of fence-sitters, if not a nation of cowards. A nation of dodgers, if not a nation of deserters. After a couple of EDSA revolts, we seem to have lost our mojo. Despite being governed shabbily, or indeed despite being used and abused, pressed and oppressed, we’ve said nothing and done nothing, taking it like a dog.

Full article at Philippine Daily Inquirer