Use of Language must be consistent. It would be appropriate if you wrote the title in English Term. Or you can rephrase your title.

The content is great!

Rica has written a wonderful essay. She has translated “Pinoy Ako, Pinoy Tayo” as “Filipino Me, Filipino us!” It sounds like a Chinese translation, just like some English signs in mainland China that are literal translations of Chinese words. But Rica is Filipina. A Chinese Filipino, on the other hand, could translate it as “I am Filipino, We are Filipino.” But it’s the same thing. It’s what the Buddhists call Sunyata—everything ultimately cancels out, proving equivalence.

Furthermore, ideas that are often used in a culture are identified with a single word. Since the Britons and Americans don’t often use the idea of “pasalubong” in their culture, they don’t have a single-word translation for it, as Rica has noticed. Instead, several words have to be used to translate it. It could then be translated as “a returning traveler’s presents for loved ones.” Interestingly, the idea of “Pinoy Ako, Pinoy Tayo” has a single-word translation in the Pali language, and Buddhists will translate that entire phrase into just “Anatta” because the concept is used very often.

Usually when people try to distinguish themselves from others, they suffer consequently. This is because Others are part of their Self, but they are unaware of it or they are not mindful of it. For instance, some people may say, “I am a city dweller, and you are a jungle boy.” They may seem proud of it from the outside, but they are troubled in the inside because in the past, unknown it may be to them, they also came from the jungle. Others may say, “I’m not a brown Filipino. I’m white,” or “I’m yellow.” But somehow, they become miserable inside because unknown it may be to them, all brown people descended from “gay” whites and “lesbian” blacks. And yellow people descended from browns. This has all been proven already through genetic studies such as the one conducted by the National Geographic Genographic Project.

Indeed, the Self is interconnected, and everything that is “negative” (Yin) cancels out everything that is “positive” (Yang). It zeroes out, proving equivalence (Sunyata). Males and gays (Yang) balance out females, lesbians and bisexuals (Yin). Yellows and Whites (Yang) balance out Browns and Blacks (Yin). Democrats (Yang) balance out Republicans (Yin). Liberal parties (Yang) balance out conservative parties (Yin). Scholars, the military and the militant business class (Yang) balance out shamans, the Ubuntu business class and the working class (Yin).

Indeed, Yang = Yin. And Yang – Yin = 0 (Sunyata).

This means that comparisons regarding which side is better usually lead to discomfort or even suffering. For example, which is better: the Third World or the First World? Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and in the final analysis, they are basically the same. Or is it better to be a pretty superstar like Rica or to be just an ordinary person? Rica has to protect herself from stalkers, rapists and the “Paparazzi.” Ordinary folk are more care-free. They don’t have to worry about their image and many other things. Or who had a better life: Ancient Native Americans or modern white Americans? Native Americans lived in paradise, catching salmon, farming maize, singing, dancing and enjoying nature, the way modern Americans envision their yearly two-week vacation. On the other hand, modern white Americans have to worry about unemployment, insurance, pension, cars, houses and other burdens in life.

People also usually think that what is imaginary is real (another aspect of Sunyata). For example, people may become jealous of billionaires like Henry Sy because he “owns” so much wealth. But what he “owns” is only imagined in his mind. In a few more days, months or years, his imagination will pass away. Or people may desire someone from the opposite sex because they are conned by their imagination. Brothers, for example, usually don’t lust after their sisters and vice-versa, but strangers do. This is because, strangers have not seen or imagined their siblings defecating or urinating in the bathroom or doing anything else that shows reality better.

Thus, if the two sides are equivalent and if the senses fool people (Sunyata), then emotions and feelings that cause suffering as a result of delusions can be extinguished or minimized. Delusions or false beliefs that one is absolutely better than another usually cause suffering through emotions such as jealousy, greed and compulsive desires or aversions. But by extinguishing these delusions through the Middle Way, people can extinguish their suffering.

Filipinos already know the Middle Way intuitively because they know how to adjust to nature. They just have to be reminded of Anatta and Sunyata more often so that their conscience or budhi (Bodhi in Pali) can be enlightened. Indeed, the ancient Hindus taught some of these concepts to the Filipinos a long time ago since Tagalog words like budhi still exist. They just need to be reminded again to relieve themselves of the discomfort of the cyclic unevenness of the Wheel of Life (dukkha).