I’M STILL in Western Europe doing #ThePSN Pink Ambassadorial Tour of Europe.
I write this in Prague now, but I could be somewhere in Germany when you read this.
That’s how “My Life as Art” works—I write articles in advance so I have time to age them, and edit them.
Then, I send them off a few days ahead of print schedule so I could enjoy the world.
This is not the only thing I do in my life!
***
I have always been grateful for what I have become.
I am not super rich, but you can Google my net worth in dollars.
I did very well for myself in my 53 years on this planet.
I also did very well as a Christian (Catholic!), and as a person of good heart.
I can even rest now basking on my past laurels.
There’s not much for me to do anymore.
I feel that I have done what most people would take six lifetimes to achieve.
(Again, you can always Google stuff about me.
I mean, Google knows me by my first name.
Try it! Google—“philippine writer peter”)
***
Which is to say, I am more than OK.
I am more than all right.
I am stable, established, financially capable, and publicly acclaimed.
I can choose not to give a shit about Philippine politics, economy, and the general stupidity of people who are trying to elect a thief and liar.
Let me make this clear: I have the option to live in another country if things go down in the Philippines.
Those stupid voters, well, then can just f*ck themselves!
***
Why am I so patriotic?
Why do I care so much about my country, its international reputation, its future, its possibilities?
Well, the simple answer is that I am so blessed—
I am widowed. I don’t have a family to raise. I am 53.
And because I am happy, content, and financially satisfied in my life, I do not worry about myself.
But it is good to worry about something.
If students worry about their school work and grades, if parents worry how to feed and send their children to school, I want to worry about the Filipino people in general.
***
Do I really care that Filipinos go hungry, sick, or become penniless and uninsured victims of natural calamities?
Perhaps not.
I mean, I can just easily dismiss them as the stupid people who elect (and worship!) corrupt politicians.
So, let their political idols deal with such poverty and neediness.
I mean, my kindness is in enlightening people, in making the blind see, in letting people have Life abundantly as Jesus promised in the Bible.
But if Filipinos refuse my charity, if they don’t believe me, well, f*ck them!
***
I labor to write for the newspaper because it is my mission to share ideas.
To give people enlightenment, intelligence, wisdom.
My kindness is not about giving food, or medicine, or housing.
I am a teacher, a life coach, a mentor.
My charity is in the form of ideas, good vibes, humor, laugher, smiles.
I didn’t work hard for my money to give it away to stupid Filipinos.
I mean, I do my own charity, but I choose who to give.
That, for me, is fair.
I am not Jesus Christ!
***
So again, why do I care so much about what happens to the Philippines?
Well, there’s the fact that the Philippines has given me so much.
I am #ThePSN of Philippine Literature.
I have been given awards, recognition, special places in society.
Many people look up to me, and the least I can do is become a positive influencer.
***
But also, I have been traveling and living outside of the country.
And I have seen our Filipino expats, and OFWs.
And while they are admired for their adobo and lumpia, for their kindness and generosity, the Filipinos as a people are also perceived as stupid.
“Is it true that the Filipinos are trying to elect the son of a dictator and plunderer to become the next president of the country?”
They don’t ask it, but I can feel what they think: “How can your people be so stupid, when you yourself are so smart?”
***
So yeah, you can do foolish things in 2022, and ThePSN will still be OK.
You will look stupid, I will not!
You will regret and kick yourselves, I will not.
You will burn in hell, I will enjoy my life abroad!
***
But again, Why? Why care so much for a country with more than half of the population so stupid, and whose votes are easily bought for under $100?
Well, we need to remember 1986 to put my position in perspective.
***
In 1983, Ninoy Aquino was assassinated.
I was 14 years old.
I didn’t know who Ninoy was, but that was a shocker for a precocious teenager.
I started reading the Marcos papers, and those of the opposition.
My gift is, of course, the gift of discernment.
From reading contrasting versions, I am usually able to tell which one is truer. (To be continued)/PN
