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There is a call for all Filipinos, a call of sacrifice. Whether it is during Holy Week, or any other week of the year, we know that our nation can only grow stronger if each one of us contributes to the common good. Contributing without taking selfishly, and taking only the portion amount which our hard work provides for us. Without this sacrifice, the chasm between the poor and the rich will grow wide, and even the middle class will fall down into the depths of the poor.

There are those who only wish we could be at the level of the more wealthy neighbors, and then there are those who strive everyday to try to fulfill that goal. It is not for one man, or one individual, to make that sacrifice, but it is the collective sacrifice that we as a nation must embark upon.

When we are bombarded with news of yet another corrupt official, making a living not by public service, but by public corruption, it is yet another stab at the grave of our prosperity. When we have another murder, another killing, and another Filipino silenced, it is the grave of our own democracy that is being dug.

And yet, we persevere, because there are those among us, who see a brighter future in our Philippines, and they sacrifice for that future. Not only because they think they can achieve it within their lifetime, but maybe they can achieve it for their children’s lifetime.

I often imagine, a perfect union of such selfless Filipinos, with a collective sacrifice, and often it is torn asunder because of the few who wish to exploit the riches of our motherland.

It is Holy Week, and even you are not a Christian, we can all reflect on what we can do to strengthen our nation and our democracy. The sacrifices that we can make, if only we had the strength of will and conviction. Because, I don’t doubt that we would all like to have a better life, a better nation where poverty can be a thing of the past, but there is a difference between wishing it to happen and actually sacrificing and working towards that end.

There are those officials, Governors, Congressmen, Senators, and even Presidents, who say what we want to hear, and do what they wish us not to know. There are those officials, for lack of a better word, that are hypocrites, and call upon the poor for support during elections, and leave them wanting and asking for help until the next election. The Pharisees would fair better in front of Jesus than most of our corrupt and selfish public officials. For them sacrifice is a word to be used, and not to be acted upon, unless it’s someone other than themselves of course.

I am not saying to sell all of your belongings, nor even devote your entire day, year, and life into the arduous endeavor of making our country a better place to live for all and not just the few. But I am talking about the little sacrifices, surely we can make a little each day. Of writing to our President, our Senators, participating in discussions, or even blogs for that matter.

Donating to the poor, spending time with the less fortunate, we know these things, but sometimes, it can get in the way of our lives, right? Sometimes, we would just rather watch a movie, rather than help out at a soup kitchen. Sometimes, going out to the mall seems far more relaxing than taking time to help in a fund-raiser for the less fortunate in our neighborhoods. Sometimes. Sometimes.

The problem with sometimes is that it can soon become every time. And soon, there is no room to give.

But if all of us, millions upon millions of Filipinos, who have that little extra time, that little extra money, can sacrifice that little something, then that collective sacrifice is all we need to move this nation forward.

And so, I ask, as I will try to do myself. For that sacrifice in all of us, without thought of renumeration, without thought of acknowledgment. Because in the end, a better nation is reward enough.

Just a thought, just a reflection. Happy Holy Week everyone.

tags: graft and corruption, holy week, sacrifice