Rain or Shine, We Are Our Brothers' Keepers

The promise of sunshine should never dim our fraternity.
When storms envelop our nation, we shine, with our truest human hearts
illuminating during the darkest of days and nights.

But this need not be an interim outburst of affection and concern.
As one, we can weather any storm.
As one, we can prevent political turbulence.
As one, we can continue to share, and be less greedy,
so that more mouths are fed three times a day.

In times of peace, and calm, and sunshine,
it is when the true test of compassion to sustain our Earth,
and our fellow Earthlings will be proven.

Damage caused by men, manifested by nature's wrath,
should be reversed with a change of heart.
Care for nature is directly proportional to nature caring for us.

We prayed dearly, in times of direst need.
We hanged on to each other, held hands together,
in the darkest nights and seemingly hopeless and helpless days.

We should remember to thank God, with the same prayerful intensity,
for keeping us alive. We should thank the human heroes,
the angels on earth, who were always ready to help,
and valued the lives of our fellowmen.

The sun's rays can blind us into complacency,
and back to our individual agendas.
The sun can fool us to normalcy, as if everyone is safe,
and subsistent for survival.

There are still homes to rebuild,
hopes to revive, and souls to heal.

And more importantly, there's a whole country
too, slowly but surely rising from calamities and
economic damage.

In good times, we should prepare for bad times.
In good times, we should continue being One
to make things better, rather than always
complaining that this nation is getting worse.

We've got more than 90 million brothers and sisters to keep.
Every day, be it typhoon signal no.3, or 32 degrees warm and sunny.

In times of tempest, we showed the stuff we're truly made of.
There's more to do. This country has all the potential to be great,
not because of the next President, but because of the innately
caring and compassionate citizen Juan in all of us.

Now that's the spirit that's more than enough
to give hope and look forward to a better future.

It's what makes us Filipino.
It's this same Filipino-ness that will bring
the Philippines to safer, warmer, and prosperous shores.