Feeling Sorry for Jimmy Sieczka

Just recently, we were caught off guard by the compelling video uploaded by channelfix.com on Youtube, brandishing several reasons why a certain Jimmy Sieczka hated/disliked the Philippines. The video, which has generated 128,000 hits since it was uploaded on Youtube, brutally talked about several factors why the Philippines is not a good place to live, from problems on poor services in traffic, garbage collection, sanitation, and peace and order, among others. 

In less than no time, the video went viral on different networking sites, including the blogosphere, where viewers of the video vehemently aired their personal indignation and ire over it, stating that it’s quite unfair for the Filipino people to have this video circulating on the web, thinking that it might scare the hell out of the tourists planning to have their vacation here, and perhaps could also be a big blow to the steadfast and extensive drive of the Department of Tourism to internationally market the Philippines on the very competitive tourism arena.

Several government and non-government organizations alike had went amok and launched their retaliatory attacks against those who uploaded the video, specifically, to Jimmy Sieczka, who almost had the verdict of being considered “persona non grata” of the Cebu City, if not for his follow up video stating his guarded apology over the fiasco that the video had created.

Jimmy had mentioned on his apologetic video that he was just plainly stating the obvious, but he really never hated the Philippines. The scenes on the video may not be a product of fiction or a playful imagination, still it is somewhat unjust to generalize. Philippines, unequivocally, is a country known for its rich biodiversity, culturally-inclined and downright religious people. Just recently, we ranked 8^th on Forbes Magazine’s Top 10 Friendliest Countries. This is more than enough to consider our country a good place to live for natives and foreigners alike. We may not have all the advancements on technology within our hands, still, it is our optimism and inimitable resilience that make us stand out among other races.

However, the whole idea of giving criticisms to our country gets a different light when a stranger, or let’s say a foreigner who wasn’t even born in the Philippines, gives his or her own wayward sentiments over our country. The video may serve as a wake-up call for us Filipinos, even when we think we’re already awake. This unprecedented mayhem calls for collective efforts gunning for order and peace. While acknowledging its sinister effects globally may do little to change the status quo, a little may help move the wheel, other than letting it stagnate towards a lasting impression.