In these times of political and economic crisis, every Filipino has its own assignment, even in "little things" to make Philippines a strong and better country.
But each of us should ask ourselves-What can I do for my country?
Alexader Ledesma Lacson, a lawyer by profession, suggested 12 little things that every Filipino could do as his appointed tasks in life to heal the nation's wound due to political turmoil and financial crunch facing the county.
In his 105-page book entitled "12 little things every Filipino can do to help our country," Lacson, graduated in the University of the Philippines, College of Law (Class 1996) and has taken post graduate studies at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, discussed this week before students of Palawan State University and Palaweños how little ways would work to improve the country.
These 12 little things are the following:
1.
Follow traffic rules. Follow the law.
2.
Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt. 3.
Don't buy smuggled goods. Buy local. Buy Filipino. 4.
When you talk to others, especially foreigners, speak positively about us and our country. 5.
Respect your traffic officer, policemen and soldier. 6.
Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve.
7.
Support your church. 8.
During elections, do your solemn duty. 9.
Pay your employees well. 10.
Pay your taxes. 11.
Adopt a scholar or a poor child. 12.
Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.
With President Arroyo's call for unity and to work together, he said these things could be the solution and but he added, "It is in the hands of every Filipino."
In his book, it noted that four years ago, he and wife (Pia) had a serious discussion whether to migrate to the US or Canada because Philippines, as a country, appeared hopeless as it got worse year after year. They wanted to know if they and their children would better off staying in the country or abroad in the next 20 years.
But after a long discussion, they could not give a definite answer to the question. Until they realized that actually the answer to that question is in them. The country will improve if they do something about it. It will not if they do not do anything.
Moreover, Lacson is optimistic that every citizen can change the country by improving on the little things.
He tackled success story of Malcolm Gladwell, an author of a book "The Tipping Point" as an example.
Gladwell, considered one of the World's 100 Influential People by Time Magazine this year, cited the high rate of criminality in New York from 1960s to 1990s. At that time, New York City was already the finance capital of the world. But during the period, around 650, 000 serious crimes and murders were committed yearly in that city. No one could solve the problem.
Then two police consultants experimented on making improvement in New York's subway train system, used by almost 97 percent of New Yorkers, but where conditions then were horrible. The waiting platforms were poorly lit and damp, while the walls were covered with all kinds of graffiti. The train themselves were filthy, the floors littered with trash, and were often late.
First, they removed all the graffiti, and painted clean the platforms and the trains. Then they posted palin-clothes policemen in all stations to arrest those who did not pay train tokens. In a few years, criminality in New York declined sharply by 65 percent.
Two little things-removal of graffiti and presence of policemen. But they changed the culture and the face of New Yorkers.
"If little things can change a city, they can change a country," the youthful author firmly believes.
"Life is made up of little things. Greatness follows if we learn to be great in little things," Lacson quoting another writer Charles Simmons.