Full Article here: https://gn24.ae/827b898f7b67000
See more at https://gulfnews.com/videos
We asked Filipinos in the UAE about their thoughts on the upcoming 121st Philippine Independence Day.
#freedom #OFW #PhilippineIndependenceDay
See more at https://gulfnews.com/videos
We asked Filipinos in the UAE about their thoughts on the upcoming 121st Philippine Independence Day.
#freedom #OFW #PhilippineIndependenceDay
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00We can freely express how we feel, what we think.
00:14We can interact more actively with the government and other members of the community.
00:22So in that sense, I believe that, you know, we have already regained our freedom.
00:27I don't think we are yet completely free.
00:31There are still a lot of people in the Philippines who are of different races.
00:38Not like here, where it's all local.
00:46But in the Philippines, there are Americans and other races.
00:51Well, I think it is safe to say that we are.
00:55Although I think in any other nation, there are influences from different neighboring countries and alliances that cannot be avoided.
01:10Do you think you will be independent in the future?
01:15Here, you will really be independent.
01:19In yourself, physically, emotionally, everything is here.
01:24You will be independent.
01:27Financially, yes.
01:29It is also a big help as an OFW to give help to your family.
01:34And remittance, you will give a big help to the government and family.
01:41Of course, I'm from government, so there's a little perspective, difference in perspective.
01:46But if you, my first reaction would be to look at independence in terms of my ability and my freedom to determine who I want to be and who I can be,
01:58without being dictated upon by anybody else.
02:02For as long as you're able to determine exactly what your dreams are and how you think you are going to achieve those dreams,
02:10that is independence for me as an overseas Filipino.
02:14When it comes to being free, the freedom as an OFW, the way I see it, is that, again, I have a question to that.
02:22Forgive me for being philosophical about it and for being, you know, essentially thinking about what freedom is.
02:28But my point is that if I am totally free, I will not be here.
02:32I want the country, I want my country, the Philippines, to be able to provide jobs for people,
02:39to be able to give proper health care to people, to be able to give that kind of happiness that we long for in being with a progressive country.
02:50But as long as it's Filipino, as long as I am in another country, it means that, probably not wholly, it means that I will still be at the mercy of other people in a foreign land.
03:05So if you're asking me whether I'm, you know, in the concept of freedom as an OFW, that is how I view it.
03:13That I'm not totally free precisely because freedom should be in the Philippines.
03:18That I'm enjoying my life with my family in the Philippines.
03:27So we really celebrate Independence Day just to recognize being independent and also, we are Filipinos.
03:36And it's also one of the reasons why all Filipinos, all OFWs in other countries are able to see each other.
03:44Right?
03:45Yeah, as a family, even if you don't have children, you still get to know each other.
03:49But if you get to see each other, it's a great feeling, right?
03:53I'm busy with work.
03:54So every time there's an Independence Day, I'm at work.
03:58Yes.
03:59It's important in my own, I'm just doing it myself, applying to workmates, friends.
04:27Especially for non-Filipinos.
04:29Here in Dubai, for example, to make them realize that our National Day or Independence Day is celebrated on the 12th of June.
04:37For them to also know our culture, our background, and for them to have a greater respect and understanding and awareness of the culture that we stand for.
04:44Our poverty needs to be taken care of.
04:48Our people, our countrymen who are sick, need to be taken care of.
04:55Just like those who have kidney disease, free dialysis needs to be given to those who are in need.
05:04That's what I read.
05:05And it's necessary.
05:06I would say probably two things.
05:07One would be poverty.
05:10Because we know that we're a poverty-stricken country.
05:14And that is something that you cannot address or solve in a heartbeat or in a snap of a finger.
05:20And second probably is that we need to implement the free dialysis.
05:26Because we know that we're a poor country.
05:29And we need to implement it.
05:30And that is something that you cannot address or solve in a heartbeat or in a snap of a finger.
05:35And second probably would be the mentality of certain people where we always feel that we're down.
05:41We always feel that we're neglected.
05:44We always feel that we don't have the right or the power to win.
05:49It's all about that victim mentality that is still there.
05:52So I think those are the two major problems for the country right now that has to be addressed
05:57to really show and really communicate that we are free and we are independent.
06:03The problem is about Filipinos are not united.
06:07We're still divided into so many parcels and parts.
06:11We are not united.
06:13We cannot blame our forefathers for not being united.
06:18So if we're united as Filipinos,
06:21if we set aside all the differences, political differences, religious differences,
06:25then we will be like a country.
06:29I admire now that Vietnam and Thailand and other neighboring countries in Asia are very united now
06:37in terms of politics, governments, infrastructures.
06:41All of them are good at promoting their own countries.
06:45Until we start buying our own products,
06:48until we start nurturing and creating our own products using our natural resources,
06:55until we change ourselves and be proud of who we are, of our history and our legacy,
07:03only then, in that sense, because of nationalism, we'll be able to become better,
07:10not just as a person, not just as an individual, but collectively as a nation.
07:18For more UN videos visit www.un.org