Filipino Pride is more than just a book project. The people behind this project believe that pride to one’s nation is essential and the people behind this noble endeavor believe that instilling national pride is a crucial element in nation building.
Building a nation is more than building bridges and infrastructure. Its about nurturing our self esteem, our pride and our love for our homeland. If there is pride, we will not be indifferent to abuse, corruption and issues that concern our country even if they do not directly affect us.
The book does not claim to be an answer to this Filipino Pride dilemma. It may only be a catalyst for change apathy and imbue national pride and love of country among Filipinos. Although this seems to be an overwhelming goal, the project aims to encourage others - average Pinoys, in their own small ways- to come together in the spirit of volunteerism and contribute to make the Philippines a great and proud nation.
Our Goal
The Filipino Pride documents the best of the Filipino achievers in their respective endeavors, whose triumphs and world-class achievements are worthy of being anthologized in the book. This came up because there is a need to appreciate and honor the success of our fellow Filipinos because in their search for excellence, they came to serve as models for other Filipinos. The examples they set inspire and uplift the spirits of our people, encouraging us to achieve more.
Our Beginnings Realizations and Yearnings
One of the contributors had experiences in the US where some Pinoys, on several occasions, would deny that they are Filipinos or of Filipino descent when asked. After some debates and talks with friends and acquaintances, we surmised that people usually deny their identity if they are not proud of it. This goes to show that our national pride is not as intense as those held by Americans, Japanese or French towards their respective countries. Maybe, if we put together a list of things, commonalities that we can be proud of as Filipinos, then perhaps it may spark our pride for our country. This book is largely a reaction and a response to this need (Please see Introduction for more on the rational behind the book).
This is just the beginning though. In addition to the next volumes, we plan to come up with other publications concerning such stories as those extolling Filipino Honesty, Integrity and Courage. We also propose another book with the working title of If I Were The President, which is a collection of suggestions on how to improve the country's governance coming from Filipino citizens themselves.
The book contains a collection of one page essays about men and women who have either excelled or proven prominence in the fields of arts, literature, business, science and sports. It also describes the people, culture and values that have become the legacies of our rich and colorful history and tradition.
Click on the image (right) to view the actual sample...
"Many congratulations for such a unique but extremely timely project. It is about time - in fact, this has been overdue - that we take pride in ourselves and set aside, even for a moment, our native skills at self-immolation.
I am further gratified that you are launching this project on a voluntary basis. This should make it great fun and great achievement!
May these books propel all of us into a process of self-discovery, and finally produce pride in the Filipino!"
- Manuel V. Pangilinan
Chairman
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT)
"Over the years, we have witnessed the Filipino spirit survive over endless battles and crises. We have a beautiful country with people of unmatched values of hospitality, service and hard work. This book, 'The Filipino Pride', is a timely piece of truth. It serves as a reminder of our country's pride. It reminds us of a number of reasons why we should never stop surviving and succeeding as Filipinos who will always be proud of our country."
- Joey Concepcion
Presidential Consultant For Entrepreneurship And Founding Trustee, Philippine Center For Entrepreneurship
"You are a Filipino if you are proud to be one! This is the message of this book, which itself should make all Filipinos proud. Not everyone nor everything that makes Filipinos models for citizens of other countries is in this book, but this is a giant step towards restoring Filipino pride. Happy are those that are Filipino"
“We all need to be reminded once in a while why we should be proud to be Filipino. ‘Filipino Pride’ reminds us of what is good and the best in all of us. More importantly, the authors remind us that the reasons to be proud reside in all of us, just waiting to be discovered. ‘Filipino Pride’ is not about discovering the greatness in others, but the greatness in each of us. Not only should this book be on every Filipino shelf, it should be in every Filipino heart!
- Vincent Lazatin
Executive Director
Transparency & Accountability Network
“As immense as my pride for the gallant Filipinos hailed in this book is my deep appreciation to everyone who’s behind its publication. There is certainly hope for the Philippines because of the nobility of the great and the admirable sense and humility of those who uphold them.”
- Gov. Maria Gracia Cielo M. Padaca
2008 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service
"We congratulate the authors of the Filipino Pride Book for showcasing wonderful Filipino achievements that makes us proud wherever we are located around the globe. We as a Filipino race, should never stop loving and believing in the Filipino ingenuity, resourcefulness and national spirit. Jollibee has been and will always be a Filipino pride."
- Felipe Landa Jocano
Philippines Studies Professor Emeritus,
University of the Philippines
Filipino anthropologist and historian
"It is a brilliant and patriotic initiative, it highlights the many positive qualities and accomplishments of Filipinos. I would commend this book especially to Pinoys abroad."
- Bernardo Villegas
Economics Professor
University of Asia and Pacific
“This is a brilliant piece of project illuminating the totality of our past and present Filipino culture and achievements. This work is not just a piece of literature review but an effective tool aimed at emancipating the confused minds and feelings of our own youth including 2nd and 3rd generations of Filipinos living abroad whose denial and confusion from knowing their very own root can be substituted with pride and strong sense of connectivity to our Filipino nation. I therefore commend contributors for this valuable project they have done.”
- Henelito A. Sevilla Jr.
Former President, Filipino-Irano Community in Iran
Asian Studies Assistant Professor, University of the Philippines
"Many people volunteer precious time and talents for causes they are passionate about; or simply, because they want to serve. Volunteers set up the Mangyan Heritage Center in 2000, and volunteers still keep it fired up. Filipino pride exists because the volunteer contributors love our country….For me, these spell hope for the Philippines!"
- Lolita Delgado Fansler
President, Mangyan Heritage Center
"More than instilling Filipino pride, this book serves as an inspiring proof that anybody can contribute something to help build our nation, but we can make a bigger difference if we will choose to work together as a people. This noble project is indeed a product of modern-day “bayanihan” spirit, a trait that is distinctly and proudly Filipino. It also posts a great challenge to every Filipino to excel and be a source of pride and inspiration to the people around them. May we all be united and always be at our best to help move our country forward. Mabuhay ang Pilipino!"
- Samie Lim
Vice-Chairman,
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The project is neither government-initiated nor instigated by a private foundation. “Filipino Pride” is inspired by a motley group of ordinary Filipinos who neither belong to any commercial institution nor to an organized affiliation. They just bond together to come up with the idea of heralding the collection of what might be sources of Filipino Pride. The group is inspired by an old adage that goes - “Kung hindi ngayon, kailan? Kung hindi tayo, sino?” The project initiators do not seek any credit for this effort. The project simply hopes that as individual Filipinos who bond themselves, they may contribute to inspire other Filipinos.
Edna E. A. Co is a professor of Public Administration at the University of the Philippines’ National College of Public Administration and Governance. She also lectures at the Ateneo School of Government. Dr. Co obtained her masteral and doctoral degrees in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines. She had been a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Manchester’s Institute for Development Policy and Management.
Ones L. Cuyco currently works at the National Livelihood Development Corporation which partners with microfinance institutions for rural development. He volunteers at the Association of Local Colleges and Universities- Commission on Accreditation. He attended a young professionals’ forum in Japan with ASEAN delegates. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Master of Public Administration from the University of the Philippines.
Dale Dennis M. Davidis a social entrepreneur and heads Mighty Minds, an educational nonprofit organization. He got his degree in Marketing from De La Salle University and holds a Graduate Certificate in Management from Harvard University. He also took his Master of Public Administration from the University of the Philippines. He conceptualized the Filipino Pride and other ideas that led to the formation of Filipino Matters.
Lucio B. Pitlo III is a research manager for a private research firm and is currently a student of the Asian Center, University of the Philippines (UP), taking up MA in Asian Studies. He took his BA in Public Administration in UP.
He served as the chief editor of the Filipino Pride book project.
Julie B. Tañada is a professor in Advertising and Marketing at the De La Salle University and an adjunct MBA professor at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM). She took her MBA at AIM and is currently completing her dissertation for her Ph.D. in Communications program at the University of the Philippines.
T. Lloydon Bautista had worked with the government for seven years before becoming a faculty in Politics and Governance at the University of Asia and of the Pacific. He finished his undergraduate course on philosophy at Ateneo de Manila University and obtained his MA in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines and is now completing his dissertation requirements to secure his PhD diploma in Public Administration in the same institution.
Rodolfo V. Brul is a long - time print journalist, editor and broadcaster. A campus journalist and editorial scholar in his college days, he finished his AB in Foreign Service from the Lyceum University and his MA in Filipino (major in Wika) from the University of the Philippines on a UP Presidential Scholarship grant and graduating with the honor of a summa cum laude. He is a strong advocate of the Filipino language.
The researchers/writers/contributors are all pro bono volunteers who came from various walks of life – students, employees, professors, journalists, among others – who heeded the call to put their talents into a worthy project.
They invite volunteers to join them in the next volumes and succeeding projects of Filipino Matters. Regardless of your background and talent, as long as you have the time, dedication and love of country, you’re in!
The Sublime Paralytic; Brains of the Philippine Revolution
Gabriela Silang
Joan of Arc of the Philippines; Heroine of the Ilocano revolt against Spain
Benigno Aquino
“The Filipino is worth dying for!”
Andres Bonifacio
Founder of the Katipunan
Gregorio del Pilar
Youngest general of the revolution; hero of Tirad Pass
Antonio Luna
Greatest Filipino revolutionary general
Francisco Dagohoy
Leader of the longest Filipino rebellion against Spain (roughly 85 years)
Filipino guerillas
Filipino guerillas refuse to surrender to the Japanese even after the formal US surrender of Bataan and Corregidor to the Japanese; guerillas had liberated much of the country even before the arrival of the Americans
1980 American Book Awardee; Guggenheim, Rockefeller Fellows; Fullbright exchange professor
Carlos Romulo
First Asian to win the coveted American Pulitzer Prize (Correspondence category); National Artist for Literature
Amado Hernandez
1973 National Artist for Literature; renowned for his writings about social injustices; labor leader; wrote his best works while in prison
Nick Joaquin
National Artist for Literature; his work had been the basis for the movie Tatarin
NVM Gonzalez
National Artist for Literature; taught literature in many universities in RP and the US despite the lack of a formal educational degree
Lope K. Santos
Father of Philippine National Language and Grammar
Balagtasan
Filipino debate using poetic language
Carlos Bulosan
Author, America is in the Heart; unschooled, but celebrated Filipino-American writer who wrote against racial prejudices and social injustices felt by Asians and African-Americans during the 1940s and 1950s
Ninotchka Rosca
One of the 12 Asian American Women of Hope, feminist, author, journalist human rights activist
Jose Garcia Villa
Guggenheim Fellow in creative writing; Bollingen Foundation Fellow; 1943 Academy Award for Literature conferred by the American Academy of Arts and Letters; National Artist for Literature
Mural painter; modernist; discoverer of Angono Petroglyphs; National Artist for Visual Arts
Vicente Manansala
Cubist; recipient of UNESCO grant to study arts in Canada; recipient of French grant to study arts in France; works displayed in Honolulu Academy of Arts, Philippine Center (New York), Singapore Art Museum; National Artist for Visual Arts
Napoleon Abueva
Sculptor; Fulbright scholar; Harvard U scholar; National Artist for Visual Arts (Sculpture); won art exhibitions/contests in Detroit, St. Louis, London; Awardee, 1987 ASEAN Awards for Visual Arts; Awardee, 1995 4th ASEAN Achievement Award for Visual Arts; cultural missions to US, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, UK, Italy, India, Netherlands
Hernando Ocampo
Recipient of William Shaw Award, Smith-Mundt Grant, Chateau Musee; works exhibited in New York, Washington, Sao Paulo, Tokyo; National Artist for Visual Arts
Victorio Edades
2nd prize, 1927 Annual Exhibition of North American Artists; modernist; art educator; National Artist for Visual Arts
Guillermo Tolentino
Major works include the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan and the UP Oblation; National Artist for Visual Arts (Sculpture); studied art in New York and Italy
Benedicto Cabrera
Works exhibited in London, New York, Macau; National Artist for Visual Arts
Lauren Mark Libunao
Filipino garlic painter (using garlic as a medium for his artworks)
Fashion czar of Asia; participated in international fashion design exhibitions, such as Seattle World’s Fair and New York World’s Fair; his works were exhibited in Europe, the US and Asia
Budji Layug
International interior designer, making use of traditional Filipino furniture
Loida Nicolas Lewis
Chairman and CEO of TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc. with 64 companies in 31 countries; lawyer, author, philanthropist and Filipino community leader in the US
Angela Perez Baraquio
2001 Miss America from Hawaii of Filipino parentage; first Asian-American to win the crown
Dr. Fe Del Mundo
First Asian and first lady student of Harvard School of Medicine; educated and trained in Columbia, U of Chicago, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology; 1966 Recipient of Elizabeth Blackwell Award for her medical research and studies
Awarded by the Norwegian government for his discovery of a pest and disease-resistant rice variety, the seeds of which is now in store in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway
Angel Alcala
Tropical marine resource conservationist; ecologist and biogeographer; invented artificial coral reefs that were used throughout Southeast Asia
Julian Banzon
Expert in alternative fuels; invented a means of extracting residual coconut oil by a chemical instead of a physical process
Benjamin Cabrera
Introduced many innovations in drug treatments against diseases caused by mosquitoes and agricultural soil; did a lot of research on public health and parasitology (i.e. filariasis)
Paulo Campos
Nuclear medicine specialist; award winning scientific writer; developed the first radioisotope lab in RP
Magdalena Cantoria
Noted botanist; 1954 Edwin Leigh Newcomb Awardee in pharmacognosy given by the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education; 1962 Edwin Leigh Newcomb Awardee
Josefina Comiso
Filipino physicist working with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center involved in global warming research in the Arctic; first person to discover a recurring polynya in the Cosmonaut Sea, south of the Indian Ocean. A polynya is a semipermanent area of open water in sea ice- an indication of serious global warming
Augustine Doronila
Australian-educated Filipino botanist with a specialization on restoration ecology; discovered plant species that can restore soils polluted by mine wastes by absorbing much heavy metals, aiding in the process of phytoremediation
2nd youngest chess World Grandmaster and 7th youngest GM in history; another Filipino, Joseph Sanchez, is RP’s 11th chess GM
Filipino equestrians
Mikaela Maria Antonia Cojuangco-Jaworski (Gold, 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea); Marie Antoinette Leviste (First Filipina Olympian equestrian in Women’s 3rd round showjumping, 2000)
Filipino golfers
Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin (World Cup of Golf, 2008 winners)
Olivia Bong Coo
4-time World Champion in Bowling
Gabriel “Flash” Elorde
Greatest World Junior Lightweight champion in WBC history
Felicisimo Ampon
Known as the “Mighty Mite”; 1937 Davis Cup single Champion; 1950 Pan-American singles champion; Gold medalist, Far Eastern Games and 1958 Asian Games; 1953 Wimbledon Plate champion
Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco
Silver medalist, Light Flyweight Division, 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA
SM MOA, Megamall and North EDSA as among the 3 largest malls in the world
Figaro
The “Filipino Starbucks”; hundreds of local stores and a new outlet in Shanghai, China
Century Tuna
Rising Filipino global brand
Purefoods
Rising Filipino global brand
Universal Robina Corporation
Selling branded consumer goods not only in RP, but also in China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia (outside RP)
Metrobank
557 domestic branches and 32 overseas offices
Alfonso Yuchengco
Chairman of YGC, Mico Equities, Pan Malayan Mngt & Investment Corp., Mapua, Nippon Life and RCBC; Recipient, Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) Waseda University, Japan; Recipient, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star from the Emperor of Japan, 2003; Recipient, Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun from the Japanese Emperor; RP representative to the UN; Presidential adviser on foreign affairs; businessman, banker, diplomat, philanthropist
Cecilia Pagkalinawan
Founding President and CEO of Boutique Y3K, an online fashion retail and marketing company; 2000 New York City Woman Business Owner of the Year
This is a downloadable FREE copy of the book. This is a lite version and is NOT FOR SALE. You may purchase the actual copy of the book complete with colored front and back covers and illustrations, please email us at info@filipinomatters.org. With your purchase, you will be supporting our cause of distributing free copies of this book to public schools nationwide.
T. Lloydon Bautista had worked with the government for seven years before becoming a faculty in Politics and Governance at the University of Asia and of the Pacific. He finished his undergraduate course on philosophy at Ateneo de Manila University and obtained his MA in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines and is now completing his dissertation requirements to secure his PhD diploma in Public Administration in the same institution.
Rodolfo V. Brul is a long - time print journalist, editor and broadcaster. A campus journalist and editorial scholar in his college days, he finished his AB in Foreign Service from the Lyceum University and his MA in Filipino (major in Wika) from the University of the Philippines on a UP Presidential Scholarship grant and graduating with the honor of a summa cum laude. He is a strong advocate of the Filipino language.
