"I am the Philippines" (Countryhuman)

Introduction

Author's Note | Just so it is easy for me and for you, assume everyone in the story can understand each other unless it is mentioned that they cannot understand each other. Things that have asterisks (*) after them usually have meanings or explanations after each chapter.

2019

A usual evening took place, the switching channels from one to the next, the Philippines lazily pressed the button of the remote again and again, currently he is now on channel 223 and the country stopped there, finding peace in the static emitting channel. Lulled by the sound, he was about to close his eyes when Singapore, his fellow ASEAN* member, burst through the door of his apartment, halting the country's temporary peace of mind.

"Philip, what the heck is wrong with you?" Singapore exclaimed as he raised up a crumpled copy of today's newspaper, the headline says 'Philippines to Maharlika'* in bold letters. Philip shrugged, "It was merely a suggestion made from my boss. Wasn't really my fault that my name is from some dead spanish king so yeah" he explained, it seemed that the usual giddy aura from the country kinda vanished nowadays.

Singapore looked at the country with dismay. "Look, Philip, I know there's some changes going on with your clay but it has nothing to do with your name okay? I know you're going through stuff since Duterte took control but he's doing good you know? You know you're a strong person and I know you are." the other country spoke. "I saw how you handled the terrorists at Marawi* and I am really proud of you, you handled that situation and I am really proud of you." he continued. Philippines smiled a little by the other's words. "Gee, thanks man for your words. I appreciate it" the country thanked, his spirit boosting up just a little. His small joy was soon stopped when Singapore received a call from China, the other looked at Philip in a apologizing manner. Philippines understood the situation and nodded, the two smiled at each other before Singapore bolted out of Philip's apartment.

Philippines sighs as he switches the television off. The thought of China made his spirits more worse that before, Singapore been avoiding taking phone calls from China whenever he's near Philippines after the issue about South China Sea Arbitration* and it's freaking the country out a bit. It kinda feels like that China has a grudge on Philip even though they had 29 agreements after their private meeting with each other.

Philippines' POV

I stood up from the sofa to close the door, seems like the call was really important to make Singapore (out of all people) forget to close the door before he ran out. Things have been messy these, it's already two years yet my injuries from the Isis-Maute battle from Marawi haven't healed yet, and UGHH! I threw a pillow at some potted plant out of frustration, leaves went bursting from the impact, making a small mess of greens at it's radius.

I shrugged at the mess, it was an impulsive act but at least I'm not as tense as I was before. I decided to clean the mess tomorrow. Maybe a good night sleep will help a bit more. As I approach my room, I turned off the light from my living room. Whispering goodnight to the nothingness of the room, I went off to my room.

There I sat down on my bed, eyeing the knock-off design of the sheets I got from Quiapo*, the design was pretty at first glance, a simple flower design repeatedly scattered around the sheet in a pattern. But now with the frequent use, you could see the literal pixels from the flowers. It's subtle but you know it's a knock-off when you shove your face in it for countless of times.

My mind floated off to my phone, which was just loosely hanging by my bedside table's edge, I immediately took it once I realize it's existence.

Before I even noticed, my cellphone turned off, I sighed as I was about to reach the climax of the show that I was watching. Guess it's gonna wait for tomorrow. I rose up from my bed and found myself stepping on it's charging cord and I plucked it from the ground, and I plugged the port in. Placing it on my bedside table, I returned back to my bed.

After saying my prayers (because I'm a good Christian boy), I rested my heas down on the pillow. Staring unto my ceiling with no intention but to sleep.

My brain isn't up for sleeping so I ended up thinking about stuff. About my people, my clay and about my plans to expand my number of allies. Then my thoughts went ridiculous when I suddenly remembered my time before my independence. I shivered at the memory. Not like the 'cringe' shiver but it was the true fear kind of shivers. I felt the deep scars from my battles with Spain, America and Japan.

I still feel queasy around them. I don't know but whenever I'm around them I just really feel uncomfortable and nervous. I know they changed their ways but I just can't forget about the things they've done to me. Especially Japan, being the recent ones of my 'abusers'.

I'm a bit more comfortable with America though, he was the one who taught me education and he was the one who gave me independence on 1946 but still. He's no betted than the rest of them, he lied to me during the Spanish-American war and severely hurt me after I retaliated out of anger.*

Feeling droopy, my mind slowly went blank as I closed my eyes.

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Author's Note | Hey! I'm here to fill you in some subjects some of you won't probably know. Take note that most of these are probably over-simplified because blame me and my teacher in History (or we call 'APAN' or Hekasi in the PH). Me for not listening most of the time during class, and my teacher for only talking about the important points (though I'm thankful for that hehe) Some of those information are from Wiki and other various sources.

ASEAN - Association of South East Asian Countries. Consisting of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It's basically like the European Union but it's just exclusively for countries located in South East Asia. Philippines was the former chairman but we passed it onto Singapore.

Philippines to Maharlika - Basically our president, Rodrigo Duterter said some things about changing Philippines's name to Maharlika, since Philippines's name is from some spanish king from the 1500's.

Terrorist Attack in Marawi - I think terrorists were demanding to make Marawi/Mindanao it's own country? But Duterte is like "No!" and that angered the terrorists and yeah,

South China Sea Arbitration - It's about who get the Spratly Islands that's REALLY near to the PH's and China's territories. I think both governments have already agreed on something so it's alright. (for now)

First chapter for my first book! Please be nice and please point out any errors I made. I love reading comments so yeah :D Just comment down below whenever you feel like it.