Love and respect your parents. It is your duty to serve them gratefuly and well

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Part of Code of ethics submitted to the president of the Philippines

Title: Love and respect your parents. It is your duty to serve them gratefuly and well
Language: English
Source: Code of Ethics submitted to the President of the Philippines
Year: 1940
Rights
Fulltext: "Eighth- Thou shalt strive for a repubHc and never for a mona~chy in thy countr y : for the latter exalts one or several families and founds a dynasty; the former • makes a people noble and worthy through reason, great through liberty, arid prosperous and brilliant through labor." If democracies .are to survive, if the free and untarnished expression of the popular will is to be insured, and if the principle of the rule of the majority is to be respected; the people must be ready at all time'S to act with unceasing vigilance in respect to these 1·ights, for this is the high price demanded of a free people who directs the affairs of their government. VI. LOVE AND RESPECT YOUR PARENTS. IT IS YOUR l>UTY' TO SERVE THEM GRATEFULLY AND WELL. ' Nobody is more faithful and devoted to us, more sensitive of our needs, more generous to our failings, than our parents. Like a cele'3tial message, filial ·love speaks more eloquently than the tongue of man can speak, more eloquently than the pen of man can write. Rizal's return to the Philippines in 1892 was motivated chiefly by his love ·for his parents and his family whom he did not wish persecuted on his account. He knew that he was ' courting death by placing himself at the mercy of the Spanish Government in the Islands, but he wanted to save hi'S relatives, especially his 'aged mother, from humiliation and suffering . His letter to his "Beloved Parents, Brothers and -Sisters, and Friends," dated at Hongkong on June 20, 1892, is incomparable in its tender regard and solicitude for his loved ones particularly his parents. He said: "The aff~ction that I have ever professed for you suggests this step, and time alone ca~ tell whether or not it is sensible. Their outcome decides things by results, but whether that be favorable or unfavorable, it may always be said that duty urged me, so if I die in doing it, it will not matter. "I realize how much suffering I have caused yo\ 1, still I do not regret what I have done. Rather, if I had to begin ove;again, still I should do just the same, for it has been only duty. Gladly do I expose myself' to peril, not as any expia. tion of misdeeds (for in this matter I believe myself guiltless of any). but to complete my work and myself ·offer the example of which I ·have always preached. " A man ought to die for duty and his principles. I hold fast to every idea which I have advanced as to the condition and future . of our country, and shall willingly die for it, and even more willingly to procure for you justice and peace. "With pleasure, then, I risk life to save so many innocent p~r'Sons-so ·many nieces and nephews, so many children of friends, and children, too, of others . who are not even friends-who are suffering on my account. What am I? A single man, practically without family, and sufficiently undeceived as to life. I have had many disappointments and the future before ipe is gloomy, and will be gloomy if light does not illuminate it, the dawn of a better day for my native land. On the other hand, there are many individuals, filled with hope and ambition, who perhaps all might be happy were I dead, . 1nd then I hope my enemies would be ·satisfied and stop persecuting so many entire'ly innocent people. To a certain extent their 1'atred is justifiable as to myself, and my parents and relatives. "Should fate go against me, you will all understand that I shall die happy in the thought that my death wi. 11 end all your troubles. Return to our country and ~ay you be happy in it. \ "Till the last moment of my life I sh~ll be thinking of you anc\ wishing you all good fortune ·and happine~s: · In his letter of farewell to his countrymen of the same date, .he said: "I cannot Jive knowing that many suffer unjus, persecutions on my account. I cannot live seeing my brothers and sisters and thefr numerous families persecuted like criminals. I prefer to face death, and I gladly give my life to deliver 'So many innocent people from so unjust a persecution." Previously he had w.ritten his parents when he was informed of their vicissitudes saying: "I deeply regret your misfortunes at Kalamba; but I admire you for not .voicing any complaint. Were it possible for me to take upon myself ·an the pains, all the losses, and leave .you all the joys and all the profits, God knows how gladly I would do it." And in a letter dated June 21, 1892, he addressed himself to Eulogio Despujols, then Governor-General of the Philippine Islands: " It is a long time now that my aged parents, my· relatives, friends THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT li'EVIEW SUPPLEMENT PAGE D and even individuals unkno'wn to me are cruelly persecuted on my account, according · to them. I now present myself to shoulder so many persecutions, to answer the charges that it may qe desired to prefer against me, in order to put an end to that question so bitter to the innocent persons and sad to Your Excellency's goverriment, which is intere'Sted in being known for its justice." · Mabini offered the following testimonial of the love wbich his mother bore for hi'm and the affectionate rega':d in which he held her: ' "Thereafter my poor mother began to '\'Ork with _true zeal in order to defray the cost of my studies. When I began the 'high school, it occurred to me, influenced by the example of my companions, to ask my parenw for some nice clothes fo1· . Christmas. To please me, my mother sold all the coffee she had harvested in the barrio of Payapa (Lipa) and 'She personally brought me all the money so that I might buy what I liked best. ' That manifestation of abnegation and affection mov,ed me, so much that I had to desist from my desire to buy a costly suit, because I was imagining that with that money, she was giving me a part of her life an~ of her blood. In fact, the excessive work led her .to "lhe grave shortly afterwards. "Due, pe~·h'ap·s, to my having lived apart from the family from childhood by reason ' of my studies, I was very much loved .by my parents and by my maternal grandmother. My grandmothe1: died a year ahead of my mother, when by coincidence I was !!pending my vacation with the family, and from her sickbed she used to recommend them every moment not to forget to attend to me and to take care of my food. My mother always showed a serene countenance every time I separated from her or: account of my studies; but one day, when I ha~ just gone home from Manila to spend my vacation, I knew from an aunt of mine that my mother had wept much for my having told her inconsiderately that it was the same to me to live near the family or far from it. When shortly before she died, she saw her eight children whom she was leaving in poverty, she begun to cry; but she was reassured when I told her that I promised to watch over my brother'S and sisters. She likewise wept when she saw me after I had been called from Bawan to her side during the last days of h.er life. "MOTHER , OF MINE : In the midst of my misfortunes, your 1nemo1·y is not painful to me, beca u s~ I am comforted by the thought that Fate has spared you the sorrow of witnessing them. But, should lucky d~y<s come to me unexpectedly, perhaps I would complain against Fate for not having allowed you to enjoy my wellbeing." His dedication of his- La Revoluci6n Filipina to his mother touches the heart and · purifies the emotions with its pathos and nobility: "MOTHER OF MINE :' When still a child I told you that I wished to study, to please you above everything else, because Y(OUr g~Jden dream was to have 'YOUl' Son a priest; to be a minister of God was to you the greatest honor to• which a man could aspire in this world . "Seeing that you were too poor to suffer the expenses of my 'education, you weakeried yourself in working, without giving heed to either sun or · rain, until you contracted the illness which brought you to the grave. "Fate has n~t ·wished me to be a priest; nevertheles·s, convinced that a true minister of God is not alone he who wears the long habiliments, but all those ' who proclaim His glory by means of good and useful service to the greatest possible number of His creatures, I will try to be faithful to your wishes while I do not lack strength for thi'S end. "Wishing to deposit above your tomb a crown devised by my own hands, I dedicate this little book to your memory; it • is poor and unworthy of you, but up to this time it is the best c1·own, that the inexpert hands of yom· son have been able to fashion." · An instance of filial love was that de1i1onstrated by little Anita, young daughter of Marcelo H. de! Pilar, then just learning her alphabet. Del Pilar had written to hi'S wife that often he had to pick up cigar stubs from the sidewalks of Madrid so that he could smoke and thus deceive his hunger; and he once stopped writing because he had no. money with which to buy stamps. As his wife wa'S also in dire financial straits, she applied to Anita_ who generously part~d with her Easter presents to send them to her f.ather. This sacrifice of little Anita brought tea1·s to the eyes of . Del Pilar. That Rizal was willing to die so that his parents might find peace; that Mabini should PAGE 10 THE LOCAL GOVERN.MENT REVIEW SUPPLEMENT ' remain faithful to the memory of hi'• mothe1· all his life; and that little' Anita del rna1· should .•give up the presents so dear to her childish heart so that her father could · have the necessities of life : all these show th~t each and everyone of them, in his or her own individual man~er, loved and respected their parents. We can do no less, con'3idei-ing the sacrifices that our parents have n:iade in our behalf. Many are the ·ways in which we could serve them and show our gratitude. By respeating our eiders and by loving and ·helping our brothers and sisters, we reflect honor and credit to our parents. There are a thousand and one little things which we could do to gladden the hearts of our parents and brighten the remaining · years of their old age. · VII VALUE YOUR HONOR AS YOU VAL·UE YOUR LIFE. POVERTY WITH HONOR IS PREFERA'BLE TO WEALTH WITH DISHONOR. Honor is what prompts a man to strive fqr all that is noble, true, , and lofty, in word and in deed. It inspires a man to be ' pure in thought, faithful to his duties, magnanimous to those who offend him, and generous to his friends. It makers ·a man courteous, loyal and true. It never falters when duty calls. In the words of Emilio Jacinto, "The real man is he who, of tried and trusty valor, does good, keeps his word, a.nd' is worthy and self-respecting." This concept, as he embodied in the fifth, sixth, and thirteentl1 precepts of the Katipunan P1·imer, i•s expressed by him as follows: _ "He whose sentiments are noble prefers honor to personal aggrandizement; he whose sentiments are perverse prefers personal desires to honor. "To a man of honor, his word i1 s his oath. Great and noble is he who al-, though born in the woods with no knowledge except that of his own native tongue, . is pos~essed of good character, is true to his word and mindful of his dignity and honor; a man who does not oppress nor help those who opwess ; a man who loves and looks after the welfare of his country." Rafael Palma showed a ·high concept .of honor which transcended his honest and Joyal service to his people in positions of high trust · and major responsibility as the collaborator of Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio . Osmefia in wresting greater Filipino control and participation in the Philippine Government during the ea1'ly years of the America,.n regime. After retiring from political life as Senator and Secretary of the Inte1·ior, he engaged in private business which 'unfortunately failed , and left him in debt. He could have evaded responsibiJ.ity by having himself dec'lared insolvent by judicial decree, but with 1 scrupulous i·egard for his plighted word he undertook to pay his obligations little by little . from his subsequent earnings as publicist and President of the University of the Philippines. He died a poor man, but his honor he maintained unsullied to the end of his life. Manuel · Araullo, former Chief Justice of our Supreme Court, was 'a paragon of int~grity. This was manifested not only in the way he dispensed justice on the bench without fear or favor, but in his private· life a·s well. He considered it a· point of honor to pay not only his debts, but also those of his family. When he went to Spain to get his degree of doctor of laws, he left his brother to administer the estate left by their deceased father. Inefficient management · sunk the estate in debt and although upon his return he devoted his energies in helping his brother salvage what remained of the estate, a large account incurred by his brother in its administration was left pending for many years. In order to preserve the good name of his family, he did not hesitate to assume the obligation or paying the debt of the estate little by , little. This involved him in extreme .difficultie's but he kept his promise to pay. Honor is closely associated with ~irtue and finds its most sublime exprnssion in def~nse of the purity of womanhood. Said Marcelo H. del Pilar: " ... Wherever the women are virtuous, there vice is timid and dignity predominates-' hi the custom~ of .the people, but where the women are frivolous, thern the men bear the stamp of immorality, and .neg1ect or · contempt of the most .sacred duties are -the current thing.'" ' Incensed at isolated instances of the violation of Fil~ino women. during the Revolution, Mabini apostrophized: "How are we to succeed in making foreigners respect our women if we ourselve•s give them example by offending against them? Can we, Filipino men, possibly aspire to be respectable if our women are not respected·? In the traditional , nobility of the ancient nations, respect for women is conspicuous as the principal virTHE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW SUPPLEMENT PAGE 11
pages: 9-11