Filipino pride: What is it exactly?

By Lea Salonga
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 17:21:00 05/04/2011
IN A FEW short days, Manny Pacquiao will slug it out, toe-to-toe with Shane Mosley. For sure, the whole nation will again stay glued to their TV and radio sets. Not a few will shell out cash to catch the match via satellite. And many Pinoy fans who will be watching it live at MGM Grand in Las Vegas will don our country’s colors, and chant Manny’s name, as they would in prayer, willing him to win.

That same night on the ring, Charice, another mighty mite from these shores, will sing “Lupang Hinirang” before the match begins. She's no stranger, either, to worldwide attention.

It goes without saying that Manny and Charice—having ascended from poverty through a combination of sheer will, hard work, determination and preparedness at the arrival of opportunity—have made their own unique dreams come true.

On fight night, Filipinos across the globe will express, because of these powerhouses, their pride at being Filipino.

Given that two of our country’s brightest stars will actually shine at the same time, I found myself wondering: Exactly what is Pinoy pride?

The dictionary defines “proud” as “to be pleased or satisfied with another person for his or her achievements and qualities.”

Sure, Pinoy pride can fall under this definition, but I think it’s more than just feeling pleased with these two stars’ individual successes; it’s about seeing oneself in them.

We are a country of 90 million people, many of whom live at, or below, the poverty line. Manny and Charice were once poor as well, but have overcome it. They symbolize the hopes and dreams of many Filipinos to perhaps come upon the same degree (or even a fraction) of that kind of success. But does everyone possess the same raw talent that they do?

Sadly, no. And hard work isn’t something we inherit—but it’ s something we learn and can be trained to do. Besides being fantastically talented, both Manny and Charice devote the time and effort necessary to yield results, in the ring and on stage.

We all have our places in the world, and designations in life. All we should do is be the best at whatever that might be.

My father once told me, “Honey, if you’re going to be a cigarette vendor, that’s all fine and good, but be the best goddamn cigarette vendor you can be.”

So, when anybody says to Manny or Charice, “You make us so proud to be Pinoy,” that carries far more weight than merely being pleased with their achievements. It means, “I aspire to be just like you …”

To Manny, good luck and much success on Sunday. To Charice, break a leg as you sing our anthem. You both have made every single Filipino really proud, and you both have an entire nation behind you.