Filipino Value: Originality in These Trying Times

The essence of originality is the original and the essence of the origin is the origin. Originality exists because of the presence of the original. It is the outward expression and reflection of the original.

Presentation of original output by government employees during a CRFV workshop

The original is the person whereas originality is the character trait of that person. Originality, thus, was defined by Thesaurus dictionary as the quality or condition of being original.

Originality naturally comes out because of our original nature. The above inference is best illustrated by artists or sculptors. They create artistic works out of scraps or bare objects but undoubtedly the products of their imagination or visible manifestations of who they are. What comes out is what has been initially formed or created internally. We are originally and distinctively created. This is the philosophy behind our fingerprint that is commonly used to determine our identity.
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It is a virtue that we must enrich because of its beneficial effect. Looking into it as a value to possess, originality is always associated with inventiveness, innovativeness, or creativity. It results to the production of intellectual creations that responds to emerging needs and, in the long-term, national development and progress. This calls for the considerable and reliable support of the government to our scientists, inventors, and artists. It must not only be through the crafting of custodial laws but the tangible recognition and assistance to the production and enhancement of their handiworks. Any prototype made should be protected and accordingly upgraded with the help of the authorities.

It is also a lesson on this subject that we ought to respect the intellectual property rights of others. Any authorized reproduction of the work of others is a crime. The state should be vigilant, not only in the local arena, but also in the international field. The manner of carelessly allowing the entry of counterfeit or infringing products within our borders is a patent disregard to the talents and skills of our local producers and manufacturers. The high quality of our locally produced goods is downgraded by this endless unethical and corrupt practice. The principle of free trade should not even be named as an irrational excuse.

We should continue to employ the value of originality in all fields of endeavor. The above reality should serve as a wake-up call, not only to the concerned officials of the government, but also to us who profess to be Filipino citizens. We should not simply dispose our formula or inventions in exchange of money. Neither should we just let our basic model, method, composition, or process be developed by foreign countries. On the other hand, we should continue to employ the value of originality in all fields of endeavor, whether in the production of goods or in the rendition of services. A continuing review or assessment of our services in view of customer or client satisfaction may lead towards innovation and ingenuity to achieve prompt, courteous, and adequate service to the public. In so doing, everyone will be encouraged to contribute for the common good applying originality.
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Together, let us rebuild our nation. Time and again, we should recognize the fact that we have wasted a lot of opportunities in the past. We have experts and scientists who left our country because they lose their hope for a better future in our native land. It is time to bring them home. (CRFV)

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