🌊 Issue #9: The Return of The Filipino Pride
Today (As of writing, July 26) is a really good day to be reminded that being Filipino is something to be proud of.
The last 5+ years of this administration has made me feel grateful for being away from home for the entirety of it. To say that this administration has been a total shit show - is the understatement of the century. They’ve murdered thousands of people. They’ve stolen billions of pesos. They’ve left significant parts of the country without access to important information. And they’re pretty much started to give away our territory to China.
And those are just the highlights.
In the last 16 months since the Pandemic descended upon us, the administration did nothing useful to help the country survive.
Today was the last time the current President was going to address the nation in the annual official address all of our Presidents do during their time.
As expected, the speech made zero sense. Because literally, the President does not make any sense when he goes off-script. Have you heard him? And in the few moments that he actually read the speech, he read lies.
I wanted to pull my hair out.
And then the universe decided to give our country a break!
Today, Hidilyn Diaz made herstory by winning our country’s first ever Olympic gold!!! She won gold for weightlifting. 🏅It also felt like she lifted the entire nation’s spirit along with those weights. She certainly lifted mine.
And there’s so much poetic justice to this victory too. The administration didn’t provide her (and the other athletes) any financial support for her training. They made it worse by red tagging her and then sending their rabid trolls after her in 2019. And in our country, when you’re red tagged, you’re pretty much as good as dead (unless you have some money, of course).
Yet here she is. The strong woman bested the strongman.
And when they played our National Anthem while she stood in the podium, I got goosebumps and tears.
And then you have another. Margielyn Didal.
She finished 7th in the first-ever street skate competion in Olympics! I think she should get a medal just the same for being the person who had the most fun during the games. But she did win the hearts of the entire world by showing so much grace and humor.
All these Filipinas making waves! I haven’t felt THIS proud of my country in a long time. The last time was in 2018 when we won the Miss Universe crown 😂.
And it feels so good to be this proud! I wish I can feel this proud of my country all the time! I wish all Filipinos can.
There is a way, of course. Getting our collective shit together to vote for better governance next year seems like a pretty good way to me.
Until next time ♥️
Kax
What I’m loving these days 💙
Not only did Hidilyn won the gold medal, she also set a new record for being the first Filipina to be a multi-medalist in the Olympics. I’m just loving all of these write ups and art being made in her honor.
Tarantadong Kalbo’s art that was a strong jab against this administration. It went viral and so many artists, entrepreneurs, communities, and even politicians got behind it. The movement was so simple but it had so much impact!
And this reminder for when I’m feeling helpless, unproductive, and incapable of providing value. 😂
I started this maybe-weekly newsletter because I needed a space where I can just take a break from talking about career, working in tech, and coaching other Product Managers. I needed a space where I can show off my cooking skills, get kilig about the books I’m reading and the movies I’m watching, and sometimes even cry about the things that make me sad.
Want to share your thoughts and feelings, too? Leave me a comment below 👇
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