A small difference

My dad pointed out how we set such store on "commercially-initiated" holidays like mothers' or fathers' day, or even Valentine's day. Every corner, every tv channel, ever broadsheet and mall have their own ways of reminding us about the upcoming holiday, and there is much ado about its commemoration.

But there is hardly any fanfare to celebrate our Independence Day. And that got me thinking:

1. Is it because there's no merchandise to sell on this "holiday", because this capitalist economy has no way of earning from the ads or promotional activities?

2. It doesn't always fall on a weekend so there's no time to go around the malls to shop and spend? (Come to think of it, 14 Feb doesn't always fall on a weekend, but still.)

3. The Independence Day activities are outdated? The most we expect is that classes, work and all business activity is suspended for the day.

4. We Pinoys don't identify with independence? We don't identify with the meaning of the holiday?

5. We're indifferent and just want to get it over with?

(I'm hoping it's more of the first three and not the last two.)

It's funny how the "lawmakers" of this country keep trying, in so many big, highfalutin, long-winded, run-on motherhood statements, to tell us to love our country. To work hard for our country, to believe in what our nation can achieve. They do it every year at the Luneta Grandstand parades (which are so last century, by the way). And people come to watch but leave without any real "take-home": so what?

We hear the same things every year, every day. But it doesn't seem to move the people. Not the same way two lines in a well-thought out print ad or a 20-second tv commercial can. I guess we set more store on the other holidays because we feel something happen on a personal level. No matter how small, we feel an impact. Someone makes a difference in our lives, and we in theirs.

No matter how small, it makes a difference in a personal level. I think if the government realizes this is what independence means, we'd all be more excited about our own Independence Day.