It is so disheartening. My ears can no longer continue to listen to the unsympathetic words of some people whose mouths speak of nothing but off-putting and discreditable things about the Philippines. Most of them claim they come from a suburb where residents are well-behaved and do not act like undomesticated animals, where all you can see are the can-affords and people live in easy card-swipes and push-buttons.

Okay, the Philippines is still striving for the much-desired economic stability and the peace condition in its problematic south, vis-à-vis their respective countries, which are all in Europe. Nevertheless, this does not give them the liberty to persecute me emotionally through words that make me mull over my nationality and my being a Filipino.

No, these people are not racists. In fact, they are my foreign friends who have as much respect for me as I have for them. But in situations where we discuss politics and governments, we cannot help but argue on our too many differences. Even when done in a friendly way, when they start to mention words such as beheading and torture, I always find myself silent in a corner. Everything they say is true enough; I cant hate them. I cant even say more than my usual that is not true.

I came to this foreign country in Europe to pursue further studies with too much excitement of readily proliferating the pure Filipino ideals and customs I learned in my 26 years of human existence. Little did I know that bringing them outside my homeland would bring about curiosity from my Spanish, Italian, German and Dutch classmates, to name a few. They began to ask and I cheerfully started to give answers.

The first weeks were spent telling more about how living in the Philippines can be so fulfilling and exciting; getting most of them wide-eyed with excitement to know more about the 7100 plus islands we Filipinos steadfastly treasure. I proudly told them that we have white beaches that glow in the heat of the tropical sun. I revealed to them the so many exquisite places and attractions we have from mountains to plains and to every part and parcel of our rich history. While others were convinced, a number didnt care a fig though, even to know at least a single story of the centuries we were under the colony of Spain.

It wasnt too long, however, for me to realize that they were not really concerned about the wonders the Philippines has to bestow. To a certain extent, their reactions seemed to point to a more thought-provoking issue such as how the Abu Sayaff managed to kidnap foreigners and keep them for months as hostages and how the government is dealing with the situation. During conversations, almost too often we ended up with terrorism stories in the Philippines. As if everything was just mere pleasantry, they made jokes about the millions of money the terrorist group are making through the ransom paid to them by kins of foreign hostages.

If I have to pick at least one person here who does not know the situation our country is facing, I may end up picking no one. You see how the news, like a contagious disease, was spreading heavily in no time. From the protest scenes leading to the ousting of Estrada to the proclamation of President Arroyo into office--everything was covered on TV and was viewed by millions of people around the world. Even the youngest of children were able to grasp the details! So how would I react to one of the lines I heard from an acquaintance that the Philippines is so "famous"?

Their queries about stories of kidnappings, however, lessened after the release of most hostages. It was such a relief, not so much for them, but for me. At last, I thought with an obvious smile on my face, the Abu Sayaff chronicle is about to come to an end! I savored a happy thought in my mind, or more so, hope of the Philippines getting back the trust of people whose concepts of the archipelago revolved around nothing but negative images.

A few asked me if President Arroyo is by far better than Estrada. What can I say but yes. As much as I hope that she will improve the lives of the Filipino people, many of my foreign friends place high expectations on her capacity to uplift the economy. With regards to the administrations all-out support on the US war against terrorism and the pouring of US forces in the country for the Balikatan exercises, so far all I got were positive comments from my friends.

Even so with less news about foreigners being kidnapped at present and the change of administration, many still chose not to visit the Philippines even if given a chance. The fear and the risks are just too much to ever get to focus on something else, like the fun that they will have in the islands. As one Dutch student, whose study area is in the northern Philippines, puts it, "I decided not to visit the research area again, the islands are too unsafe a place for aliens for now".

Maybe I cannot blame them for bearing thoughts about the country too negative to be realistic sometimes. Moreover, maybe I cannot blame these people for being too harsh. Undeniably, they have their share of fears too, as much as I fear the Philippines losing the trust of tourists. If in any twist of fate they would decide to see the islands, certainly it wont be in the next couple of years.

Our country has still a lot of fixing to do to regain the confidence of these people. My assuring them, day in and day out, that we have our white beaches or the exotic hundred islands or the chocolates hills may entice them a bit. But as far as I can tell, these are not sufficient. If I can convince them that nobody will ever snatch them and put them in the custody of armed men hiding in the middle of the jungle, if I can convince them wherever they are in the islands it is always safe, if I can convince them that the Philippines is the safest, the coolest and the healthiest place to live in, then I could get everyone here, without second thoughts, to join me soon on my way back home.

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Author's Note: I will make sure that before I leave here I will convince at least one of my peers to visit my beautiful island.