The COVID-19 pandemic allowed the Filipino healthcare workers to shine their light through in all corners of the world (especially Filipino doctors and nurses). Filipinos are natural care givers and healers. A key element of Filipino society is a large diaspora of Filipino professionals in the 1970s onwards, in a bid to provide for their poor families. The diaspora of Filipino healthcare workers is a great loss for the Filipino healthcare system, a major gain for the rest of the world. Filipinos back home may not directly benefit from the export quality healthcare professionals we invest educating, but the Filipino nurse or Filipino doctor is a brand that most recruiters seek. The Filipino healthcare professional is still a source of national pride.
Wikipedia defines PINOY PRIDE (or national Filipino pride) as an assertion that the people and culture should promote the interests of the Philippines by developing and maintaining a national identity based on largely shared characteristics such as language, race, religion or political goals. In a 2016 study of 15-29 year old Filipino youths, Castillo et. al. pointed out that the top indicator of National Pride of the Filipino youth is Sports. However, the respondents were not proud at all regarding the Philippines’s politics and democracy and the less education is strongly related to greater general national pride. The main point of national pride is that it serves as an important factor in determining the development of the country.
During the presidential campaign, a lot of healthcare workers were very vocal about having hope for the future, conducting medical missions and voluntarily providing medical assistance during rallies. The presidential elections showed us that we still have a lot of work to do ahead of us to reform the Philippine healthcare system. National pride would be instrumental in ensuring each Filipino contributes his/her share in nation building, with unity, accountability and transparency.
T1. With the spotlight on the Filipino people, how do you feel? If the spotlight was on being Filipino, what would you want to do?
Whatever happens, wherever I go, I would always be proud of my Filipino heritage, coming from a nation of heroes and resilient people who can smile amidst pain, suffering and challenges. Filipino values include KAPWA (fellowship), respect and acceptance lead to the Filipino hospitality.
T2. As a healthcare worker or a patient, what would motivate you to continue to serve others?
T3. What part of being Filipino are you proud of?
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