"Twelve (12) Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country,"

A simple enumeration of these "twelve little things" will not Do justice tothe work of Alex. You've got to read the whole text, but I shall try tocompress a few lines for some of the items mentioned.

1. Follow traffic rules -- Why is that the most important? The answer issimple. Traffic rules are the simplest of our laws. If we learn to followthem, it will be the lowest form of national discipline that we candevelop.Since it is totally without monetary cost, it should be easy for us tocomply with, and therefore should provide a good start.

2. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an officialreceipt. -- If a seller does not issue an official receipt when you buya product, the seller may or may not remit the tax to the government.Without an O.R., there is no record of the sale transaction, and the taxthat you paid may not be remitted to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

3. Do not buy smuggled goods. Buy local, buy Filipino. -- It may not begood economics to buy 100 percent local products. What I suggest is forus to take a "50-50" buying attitude. This means that we must developthe attitude of using 50 percent of our budget for local products andthe other 50 percent for imported choices.

4. When you talk to others, especially foreigners, speak positively ofour race and our country -- this is best addressed to the rich and themiddle class in our country, who have contact with the outside world. Itis they who talk to, dine or deal with foreigners either here or abroad.It is what they say and do which creates impressions about us amongforeigners.

5. Respect your traffic officer, policeman, soldier and other publicservants -- There is nothing like the power of respect. It makes a personproud. It makes one feel honorable. At the same time, courtesy to others isgood manners. It is class and elegance and kindness. It is seeing the valueand dignity in the other man. It is, in fact, a mark of a most profoundeducation.

6. Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle.Conserve. -- As Louis Armstrong says in his song: "I see trees of green,redroses, too, I see them bloom for me and you and I think to myself, what a
wonderful world."

7. Support your church. (or charitable/ civic organizations -- :-)

8. During elections, do your solemn duty. -- Honesty, more than a masteralor doctorate degree, is what gives credibility. And credibility isessentialbecause it is a leader's link to the people. It is what makes the peoplelook to one direction, f ollow a common vision, and perform a uniform act.Inshort, credibility is what makes people follow the leader.

9. Pay your employees well. -- No exercise is better for the human heartthan to reach down and lift someone else up. This truly defines asuccessfullife. For success is the sum, not of our earthly possessions, but of howmany times we have shown love and kindness to others.

10. Pay your taxes. -- In 2003, P83 billion was collected from individualincome taxes. But 91 percent of this amount came from salaried workers fromthe government and private sector, people who had no choice since theirincome taxes were withheld mandatorily. Only P7 billion of the P83 billioncame from businessmen and professionals like doctors, lawyers, accountantsand architects,among others.

11. Adopt a scholar or adopt a poor child. -- You can make a difference inthe future of our country by making a difference in the world of children.

12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and to love ourcountry. -- Today's children will someday rule and lead this world. Butwhether they will be bad rulers or good leaders will depend largely on howwe raise them today. Our future is in the hearts and minds of our children.