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Dear Philippines,

My beloved country, you're an archipelago surrounded with crystal-clear waters. You're a mother to 7,107 islands and islets which you consider as your gems. You're unique in your own ways! I know you're busy fulfilling our needs 24/7, but I'd like you to take the moment to read this letter which I prepared exclusively for you.

You have the most beautiful smile in the world. It's no wonder your people love to smile even under pressure or dealing with a setback. You inject humor in an unfavorable situation. Who cares what others would think as long as you enjoy and live in the moment. Through your smile, you gained friends. Congeniality is your trademark.

One of your good traits is showing courtesy to older people or the elderly. You taught your children to respect others even to those they didn't know personally. However, some kids are acting weird and disrespectful nowadays. Is it because of colonial mentality? What happened to our rich moral values we acquired from our ancient Asian roots? In addition, violence on TV is becoming quite common that children tend to emulate. Is it too late to revert to our old times when life was much simpler, yet we're happy and contented? What do you think?

Another trait that I love about you is your resiliency. When a calamity or natural disaster strikes, you try your best to weather the storm. You could sulk in sorrow and misery, but instead you opt to bounce back or get to grips with the problem. You're always grateful for what you have. Moreover, you always look for a rainbow in every storm. Please remain this way...

Let's talk about your physical beauty. You have countless sceneries and breath-taking landscapes, beaches, and recreational parks. Many foreigners chose to stay and settle with you. I hope your people will take care of all those gifts from nature. They're irreplaceable! I'm sure they wouldn't know what to do if those captivating islands be filled with filth and pollution. Let's be reminded with this wonderful quote from Chief Si'ahl whenever we visit a tourist spot, "Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints!".

How about your food? Is it getting scarce? You're blessed to generate crops in different corners of your territory. Unfortunately, some farmlands have been converted to high-rising buildings. The government could prioritize the agricultural sector and provide additional aid to our farmers and fishermen who are doing their best to bring food on our tables. Teach us to be more self-sufficient so we don't have to import a lot. Eliminate 'wasteful' in our vocabulary, instead develop our ingenuity in food technology and be more resourceful. With the fusion of Spanish and Asian cuisines, allow your people to introduce new culinary skills that would be appealing to both local and foreign guests. Who would refuse these traditional and delectable dishes?

Oh my, this blog is getting lengthy! Alright, I'll end this at once. But lastly, I'd like to commend you for being immersed of the English language. The fact that we're colonized by Great Britain in 1762 and by the United States after the Spanish Era, English has become our second language. This doesn't mean we would turn our backs on our mother tongue. We are forever indebted to the men and women who died and fought for our independence which includes preserving our national language and dialects. They'll always be remembered.

I hope your children will consider retaining our worth-emulating positive attitudes in these fast-changing times. Let's all be united to face the challenges of the modern world. May the Almighty shower you with peace, wisdom, and prosperity.

Now, let's prove to the world that it's really more fun to be in your loving arms...

Warm hugs,

Robbie