“An iroy nga tuna matam-is pagpuy-an
bisan diin siplat puros kasangkayan
hahani an hingpit nga at kalipayan
hahani hira nanay pati kabugtuan”
-Federico Acebedo, Iluminado Lucente
Is Patriotism a real concept at these times?
The Philippines is fighting on multiple fronts. In the boxing ring, in the tennis court, in the contested waters of the West Philippine Sea, and in the halls of government, the question is the same: do we still have the courage to put country first?
When Manny Pacquiao fought, he was not just throwing punches—he was throwing the pride of a nation into the spotlight. Every victory was a reminder that Filipinos can stand toe to toe with the world. Today, Alex Eala carries that torch, proving that Filipino talent belongs on the global stage. These athletes remind us that patriotism is not abstract. It is lived, felt, and fought for.
But patriotism cannot stop at sports. While athletes bleed for the flag, our sovereignty bleeds in silence. Chinese vessels patrol our seas as if they own them. Filipino fishermen are harassed, our resources plundered, our rights mocked. And yet, too many of our politicians seem more eager to appease Beijing than to defend their own people. They call it diplomacy. Let us call it what it is: surrender.
This is the dangerous irony of our time. Ordinary Filipinos show patriotism in cheers, in sweat, in sacrifice. But some leaders show loyalty elsewhere. They forget that sovereignty is not a bargaining chip. It is the soul of a nation. To compromise it is to compromise the very idea of being Filipino.
Patriotism is not blind nationalism. It is clarity. It is knowing that the Philippines must come first—whether in the ring, the court, or the sea. It is refusing to barter sovereignty for loans or favors. It is demanding leaders who stand with Filipinos, not foreign powers.
We must remember without patriotism, victories in sports are hollow, sovereignty is fragile, and politics is corrupt. With it, the Philippines can rise above every fight—united, defiant, unyielding.
The call is urgent. In times of hyper fights, whether in sports or geopolitics, patriotism is our shield and our sword. It is the only way to ensure that when history looks back, it will see a nation that refused to bow, refused to break, and refused to forget who it is.
