Whose "Filipinistic" soul would not be moved upon hearing – or even singing – this nationalistic song penned by the late legendary George Canseco (with versions by Kuh Ledesma and Sharon Cuneta), just as "Lupang Hinirang" could touch a "Filipinistic" heart?

Some may be too shy to admit it, but many a Pinoy are sincere enough to share how proud they are when they come across this classic hymn and putting their best in singing it can send shivers down their spines. Others would even say that the intensity of feeling one’s being a Filipino is stronger when they hear or sing "Ako ay Pilipino" and/or "Lupang Hinirang" abroad. Nice words for the ear, too, aren’t they?

But truly now, who is THE FILIPINO?

A person born in the Republic of the Philippines? Right. A citizen or inhabitant of the Philippines? Partly correct, because there are also others already residing in foreign lands but are still Filipinos, or there are also foreigners, who are naturalized and are living in the country. A descendant of the Negrito, Indon, and Malayan races? History tells us so.

An artist's depiction of the renewed and revitalized Filipino

For the elderly, who would always tell and retell younger ones stories about how the Philippines used to be one of the top Asian countries in their days, the candle of reviving the once TOPNOTCH PHILIPPINES by finding the TRUE FILIPINO may be almost doused.

But, for a group of present crops, who, in spite of their views of a nothing-has-improved state of the nation, manage to bear the pain and difficulty of the times because of their love for the Philippines, the hope is always there. Only, it is in the hands, hearts and minds of their fellow Filipinos for that flame to keep on burning and eventually bring the desired results that the nation once only dreamed about.

Middle-aged they may be, but theirs are the personas of saviors of this land, who are up at affirming the true identity of the Philippines and the Filipino, and leaving that legacy to younger, succeeding generations.

Ang Bagong Pinoy (ABP) is a newly initiated network of Filipinos all over the world whose objectives are anchored on the Pearl Principle. ABP aims to recover, nurture, and advance the Filipino identity; promote good citizenship; inspire in the Pinoys the love, pride, and appreciation of his/her Filipino identity; and dedicates the Filipino identity for the spiritual, cultural, social, and economic advancement of the Filipino nation.

Formally launched on April 22, 2005, ABP stemmed from an online community of the same name created by its founding president Ernesto "Boogie" Boydon as a result of his personal reflections on the seemingly apathetic mentality of Filipino students towards their country as they planned their future away from their homeland and the general feeling of hopelessness and despair creeping into the midst of the Pinoy citizenry. Further reinforcing that desperation was a gloomy realization.

"It has already been a generation since that fateful EDSA [People Power] Revolution. Yet, we seem to have the same dismal situation, if not even worse, that we had 20 years ago," says an obviously disappointed Boydon in "The Pearl Principle: Positive Action Through Ang Bagong Pinoy", a public forum held at the Riga Room of Waterfront Hotel Lahug in Cebu City.

The event, which was part of the Cebu Business Month celebration organized by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (CCCI), formally introduced the movement to Cebuanos.

For Pearl Principle advocacy proponent Nelia Cruz-Sarcol, the PP-ABP movement is their group’s own mechanism of placing themselves in the service of the country, which she considers as the foremost measure of true citizenship, but many Filipinos tend to forget about.

"Ang paglilingkod sa bayan ay hindi lamang ang pagpunta sa kalye, mag-rally, at ipakita ang sentimiyento ng bawat isa," says Sarcol, who is also president and chief executive officer of the Cebu-based Centre for International Education Global Colleges, Inc. (CIE) that sponsored the forum. "We can show it by starting with the way we manage our time every single day."

Also present during the five-hour assembly were Pearl Principle executive director Virgilio Paralisan; and PP fellows Lt. Col. Joey Forteza (formerly of the Philippine Air Force, Armed Forces of the Philippines) and Lighthouse Christian Outreaches and Communities – Outreach Leadership trainor Jay Tabaña, who each talked on respective aspects in pursuing the movement’s social mission and promoting the creation of social enterprises through CIE’s Six High-Impact Programs (SHIP).

The CIE S.H.I.P. shall turn adversities into opportunities by creating social enterprises to address problems in illiteracy and poverty These programs are undertaken not as acts of charity but as processes of reciprocity so that it may ultimately create an intrinsic value to the community that CIE serves.

In line with his own journey of personal reflection, Boydon came up with ABP basically considering that for the concept of change to be realized most effectively, it must be initiated individually before any collective interaction can happen as a major force for progress.

"It is about changing ourselves and helping one another change ourselves. We acknowledge that we need to change… no exemptions, no exclusions," stresses the information technology (IT) educator and consultant.

Teacher Nelia, as peers and subordinates fondly call Sarcol, couldn’t agree more. "Change – if you want to make this country the best we could ever have – must begin with us. It’s initiating change from within and within one’s sphere of influence, which may be a peer group, school or office environment, and community."

For PPM and ABP, a person will only become successful if many people can benefit from his/her existence. It is their ambition to rekindle that unified belief in the hearts of every Filipino. The more one can help, the better.

Boydon and Sarcol, however, admits that change is a long and maybe sometimes even painful process.

"If, at one point, we feel that a member is exhibiting traits of what we feel is a ‘lumang Pinoy’, then we shoudn’t feel angry or frustrated because we never know when we would be exhibiting such traits ourselves. We should simply just keep on reminding one another gently and with brotherly/sisterly compassion on what we all would want to be – a true ‘Bagong Pinoy’," says Boydon.

"It may take a generation or two to develop the soft skills of Filipinos. Soft skills refer to the attitude of people towards one’s self, life and chosen craft," says Sarcol.

The lady executive deems that the success of all these efforts is a matter of self-sacrifice. "We just have to face the adversity head-on. Let’s embrace it, literally. Let the pain be the driving force for us to become better, instead of pain turning into hatred… much like how an oyster creates the beauty of a pearl," she says.

ABP was also inspired by a book written by Atty. Alex Lacson entitled "12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country" that enumerates 12 things that each Filipino can do to improve the country, from simply following traffic rules to the challenge of being a good parent.

One big obstacle that ABP should be able to hurdle is the fight against that sense of factionalism – "kanya-kanya" or "walang pakialaman" in the vernacular – that has pervaded most of the Philippines’ history and culture. There is also, according to Teacher Nelia, "the greatest war that has been going on since time immemorial" – the war on deciding what to do with one’s life. "It is actually the easiest war to win but cannot be fought because most of us tend to pull others down, instead of uplifting everyone else," she says.

The Pearl Principle, Sarcol points out, is not just an invention of theirs, but a concept backed by the nation’s history – one that is already in the consciousness of every Filipino. It is, according to her, "a school of thought".

"Bubuhayin na lang natin ang diwang ito. Tinawag na tayong Perlas ng Silangangan, panindigan na natin," she appeals before the audience. And it is through ABP that PP can be brought to life. "With Filipino citizens who are passionate, ethical, action-driven, results-oriented and leader-of-society (P.E.A.R.L.S.), ours will be soaring and tenacious republic."

"I’m happy that there is such a group that encourages people," comments Patrick Pausanos, one of several student-attendees in the forum. "May pag-asa naman talaga. If there’s what we call a hopeless case, there is always a hope counterpart."

Asked what he thinks hinders Filipinos to progress, he answers: "Marami kasing mediocre at passive na mga tao sa ating bansa. They need to be active and involve themselves in such activities as [Ang Bagong Pinoy], which, hopefully, can attract more members."

Pausanos adds that selfishness and factionalism, as what Boydon mentioned, are also weaknesses of Filipinos. "Hindi lang sarili nilang kapakanan ang dapat isipin, pati na rin sa kapwa… Pinoys should think of what is for the common good."

On the other hand, he cites nationalism as the primary strength of Filipinos that should be retained, but still has to be enhanced.

Although working abroad never entered his mind, he will welcome it if given the opportunity to do so – for one condition.

"Dapat kung anong nakukuha sa ibang bansa, ibalik natin dito sa Pilipinas at i-share sa mga kababayan natin," says the 21-year-old Masters in Political Science student of the University of San Carlos in Cebu, whose only dream in life is to be able to help others.

20 YEARS AGO... AND THE SAME DISMAL SITUATION TODAY. For Ang Bagong Pinoy founding president Boogie Boydon, the vision of EDSA People Power Revolution of February 1986 did not materialize.

ABP, in partnership with CIE, invites students, entrepreneurs, businessmen, public officials, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), cooperatives, and like-minded individuals who are Filipinos or of Filipino heritage and are willing to take the challenge of making a difference.

"If we all come together, we could definitely help each other. We believe that the reason people will join the movement is because they believe in its basic vision of building a better Philippines one Filipino at a time. We believe it will happen for we still have high hopes for our nation," says Boydon.