Heart of Building A Nation

Growing up, I wanted to become an entrepreneur, to become rich and successful. But, is my own materialistic satisfaction enough to say that I’m already successful? This is what I used to think. I then grew up, and realized that life isn’t just a bed of roses. A lot of my countrymen are suffering more than I could ever imagine while I am here worrying about the next gadget that I’m planning to buy.

I wanted to be part of a huge change for this country. I wanted to aware the youth that young as they are they can be part of something big. A tiny speck of participation can gear up to a whole new level of Nation Building. Nation Building isn’t just about building home, serving the poor, working for others, but it’s about doing something for the country and for the countrymen to do something for themselves and their fellow Filipino. Like what the old teaching goes, ‘don’t just give man fish, teach him how to fish’. Being exposed to civic organizations and movements has been a big help in my development. I used to think that these organizations were the reasons why I feel for others. As I look deeper, I realize that I am serving others not because of this organization, not that I am required to, but because my heart is hungry for change, it is my own heart that made me feel and think this way. My passion to help others is what taught and inspired me to become a nation builder. I remember when the dean of commerce asked me why I chose business management when I could qualify for a higher course, I told her that I wanted to become an entrepreneur, to uplift the Philippine economy, idealistic, I know, but as the saying goes, ‘reach for the stars to land on the moon’. I wanted to look for a product that would put the Philippines in the map of every big company. It is when a friend and speaker once said, “My product is not this organization, my product is being a Filipino. This is what I am promoting to you now.” That tickled my mind to thinking that he is right. Just by being a patriotic Filipino can I expose to the world what my countrymen and I are capable of.

Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero, once said that the youth is the future of the motherland, that the youth is the future leaders of this country. Why wait for the future, when we can do something for the future? We are all dreamers, we dream of a better country, a better world, a better government, but are you not tired of just being dreamers, why not be dream makers? Praying is good, praying is one of the best ways of attaining peace, but is mere praying enough? Why not be the answer to this country’s prayers. Let’s help uplift this nation and be prime movers of this state. Let us all together build a future filled with hope as proud Filipinos, a hope that must start within us, within me.