Twelve Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country

First of all, Happy 114th Independence Day to all of Filipinos ( not only here in the Philippines but also to those who lived anywhere in the world, may it  be an overseas worker, immigrants, half or Filipino at-heart). I was supposed to post about who made independence possible, however, something pops out of my mind so I post about "12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country". I always saw a poster of this in our university library before going out. Sadly, I haven't got hold of the booklet authored by Atty. Alexander Lacson. The things are simple indeed and one can really can do it. These are the things that we always, if not, sometimes violate, neglect or do it for granted. And yet, they are the things that could really help. Only that, we don't know it will or it's just we're not looking at the other side. 

Anyway, I found this in the link below. This was from an email and shared by a thread starter.

THERE'S a booklet making the rounds in Metro Manila that every Filipino who

loves his country should get hold of and read, and hopefully put the points

it raises into practice, in order to help our nation...

"Twelve (12) Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country," by

Alexander Ledesma Lacson, may be a "voice in the wilderness"; but as Fr.

Ruben Tanseco, S.J. puts it, what Alex proposes are "very concrete,

practical and doable" actions for us ordinary Filipinos.

A simple enumeration of these "twelve little things" will not do justice to

the work of Alex. You've got to read the whole text, but I shall try to

compress a few lines for some of the items mentioned.

1. Follow traffic rules -- Why is that the most important? The answer is

simple. Traffic rules are the simplest of our laws. If we learn to follow

them, it will be the lowest form of national discipline that we can develop.

Since it is totally without monetary cost, it should be easy for us to

comply with, and therefore should provide a good start.

2. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.

-- If a seller does not issue an official receipt when you buy a product,

the seller may or may not remit the tax to the government. Without an O.R.,

there is no record of the sale transaction, and the tax that you paid may

not be remitted to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

3. Do not buy smuggled goods. Buy local, buy Filipino. -- It may not be good

economics to buy 100 percent local products.What I suggest is for us to take

a "50-50" buying attitude. This means that we must develop the attitude of

using 50 percent of our budget for local products and the other 50 percent

for imported choices.

4. When you talk to others, especially foreigners,speak positively of our

race and our country -- this is best addressedto the rich and the middle

class in our country, who have contact with the outside world.It is they who

talk to, dine or deal with foreigners either here or abroad. It is what they

say and do which creates impressions about us among foreigners.

5. Respect your traffic officer, policeman, soldier and other public

servants -- There is nothing like the power of respect. It makes a person

proud. It makes one feel honorable. At the same time, courtesy to others is

good manners. It is class and elegance and kindness. It is seeing the value

and dignity in the other man. It is, in fact, a mark of a most profound

education.

6. Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate.

Recycle.Conserve. -- As Louis Armstrong says in his song: "I see trees of

green, red roses, too, I see them bloom for me and you and I think to

myself, what a wonderful world."

7. Support your church. (or charitable/ civic organizations - :-)

8. During elections, do your solemn duty. -- Honesty, more than a masteral

or doctorate degree, is what gives credibility. And credibility is essential

because it is a leader's link to the people.It is what makes the people look

to one direction,follow a common vision, and perform a uniform act. In

short,credibility is what makes people follow the leader.

9. Pay your employees well. -- No exercise is better for the human heart

than to reach down and lift someone else up. This truly defines a successful

life. For success is the sum, not of our earthly possessions, but of how

many times we have shown love and kindness to others.

10. Pay your taxes. -- In 2003, P83 billion was collected from individual

income taxes. But 91 percent of this amount came from salaried workers from

the government and private sector, people who had no choice since their

income taxes were withheld mandatorily. Only P7 billion of the P83 billion

came from businessmen and professionals like doctors, lawyers, accountants

and architects,among others.

11. Adopt a scholar or adopt a poor child. -- You can make a difference in

the future of our country by making a difference in the world of children.

12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and to love our

country. -- Today's children will someday rule and lead this world. But

whether they will be bad rulers or good leaders will depend largely on how

we raise them today. Our future is in the hearts and minds of our children

Credits to http://pinoy.md/ipb/index.php?/topic/3405-twelve-little-things-every-filipino-can-do-to-help-our-country/




Again, Happy Independence Day! Mabuhay ang Kalayaan!