:: Welcome to Manila Bulletin Online ::: "'The problem with the Filipino isn’t because he lacks resources, but because of his perception,' he begins. 'Our perception forms our personality, our personality dictates our attitude, and it is our attitude that determines our performance.'

Clearly this is not going to be a simple recounting of events in our history — this is going to be an introspective, a critical look at what we have been doing so far as a nation and how we have been looking at it.

'For too long our history has focused on failures,' Jocano asserts. 'How can we feel pride as a people when failure is constantly ingrained into our consciousness? We rallied behind our heroes despite a lack of arms, and yet history brands them as insurrectos while the foreigners are glorified as heroes. It was a Filipino who killed Lawton, and yet who do we name a plaza after?'

Bemused is certainly just one of the reactions among the young people gathered, including myself. We had grown up with so much of the culture of the West around us that very few of us ever thought of questioning the information that we have been receiving. Jocano is doing the opposite, pointing out and deconstructing our Western-influenced way of thinking.

'We do not write our own history, rather we conform to what others think of us,' he said. 'If we write our history in a positive light, then our points of reference will also be positive. We will feel like we belong, and your sense of belonging will give you pride, that in turn strengthens your commitment.'

Everyone is buzzing with excitement and perhaps, even feeling a bit nationalistic. Whatever it is, a palpable emotion is going around the group of more than 80 young people who had been promised 'a meaningful experience that will change their life.'

I don’t know about the students, but that three-hour ride to Pagsanjan is certainly an experience.

For someone who’s grown a bit cynical and who’s always expected a political undertone to"