The POWER of "little things"

[cmo]

"At the height of the political crisis last year, a nondescript book was quietly published about “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country by Alex Lacson.”

http://english-coffee.com/images/forum/12-little-things-logo.png

The author’s theory was simple: Small acts like obeying traffic rules, being a good parent and paying one’s taxes could go a long way in healing a wounded nation.

Ten months later, the book written by Alexander Lacson, a lawyer, is proving the power of little things. It apparently struck a chord in many Filipinos who share its author’s belief that the fate of the country depends not on its politicians but on its people.

Now on its fourth printing run, “12 Little Things” has sold almost 25,000 copies, according to Lacson.

At first, the book was available only at Lacson’s Makati office and his White Plains home. He had no marketing plan then, but when word got out about the little book, orders began pouring in, sometimes by the bulk.

On the book’s first run in June last year, only 2,000 copies were printed by Alay Pinoy, whose owner is Lacson’s friend. Within two months, they were sold out.

Soon, the publisher was printing 10,000 copies, then 3,000, and 10,000 more copies.

Here is the site of the book: http://www.12littlethings.com/

http://english-coffee.com/images/forum/12-little-things-logo.png

Here is the list of the 12 things:

1) Follow traffic rules. Follow the law.
2) Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.
3) Don’t buy smuggled goods. Buy local. Buy Filipino.
(Or, if you read the book, he suggests: 50-50).
4) When you talk to others, especially foreigners speak positively about us and our country.
5) Respect your traffic officer, policeman and soldier.
6) Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve.
7) Support your church.
8) During elections, do your solemn duty.
9) Pay your employees well.
10) Pay your taxes.
11) Adopt a scholar or a poor child.
12) Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.

These are the 12 things every Filipino can do to help our country. At first blush, they seem simple. When you study them more closely, they are difficult to do. But all of us, together can do them.

Hello Alex, we hope you can spare sometime and drop by our site. You are doing Great!!!

:welcome:

[ctivnan]

:applaud: This book is just amazing! I have read it and it is very introspective and insightful! I have learned that in such little ways, I can be a better citizen. Whenever I am driving and I would like to cut other cars, especially in the U-Turn slots, I have this small voice telling me that it isn't right and that this is not a way to becoming a better Filipino. :wink1:

This book is a 'must-read' for every Filipino to help our country be better!

[maanantonio]

Bingo! i strongly believe in those 12 ideas. Educate our kids to become a better person. Teach them the proper way to live. Respect for others , honesty in one's work and words and follow the law. I believe all else will follow.

[patis]

not to be a douchebag, but not every filipino has employees, and not every filipino can afford to adopt a scholar or a child. following laws is not necessarily a good thing to do: that would only lead to docility of the people, which is not good if we are to become critical minded. i haven't read the book yet, but so far with your outline of what the author wrote, it smells of a pro-administration summoning. not that i'm anti administration, but i am pro for thinking people. we must inculcate in the minds of the people to think, not to succumb.

[q_sharon]

"At the height of the political crisis last year, a nondescript book was quietly published about “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country by Alex Lacson.”

http://english-coffee.com/images/forum/12-little-things-logo.png

The author’s theory was simple: Small acts like obeying traffic rules, being a good parent and paying one’s taxes could go a long way in healing a wounded nation.

Ten months later, the book written by Alexander Lacson, a lawyer, is proving the power of little things. It apparently struck a chord in many Filipinos who share its author’s belief that the fate of the country depends not on its politicians but on its people.

Now on its fourth printing run, “12 Little Things” has sold almost 25,000 copies, according to Lacson.

At first, the book was available only at Lacson’s Makati office and his White Plains home. He had no marketing plan then, but when word got out about the little book, orders began pouring in, sometimes by the bulk.

On the book’s first run in June last year, only 2,000 copies were printed by Alay Pinoy, whose owner is Lacson’s friend. Within two months, they were sold out.

Soon, the publisher was printing 10,000 copies, then 3,000, and 10,000 more copies.

Here is the site of the book: http://www.12littlethings.com/

http://english-coffee.com/images/forum/12-little-things-logo.png

Here is the list of the 12 things:

1) Follow traffic rules. Follow the law.
2) Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.
3) Don’t buy smuggled goods. Buy local. Buy Filipino.
(Or, if you read the book, he suggests: 50-50).
4) When you talk to others, especially foreigners speak positively about us and our country.
5) Respect your traffic officer, policeman and soldier.
6) Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve.
7) Support your church.
8) During elections, do your solemn duty.
9) Pay your employees well.
10) Pay your taxes.
11) Adopt a scholar or a poor child.
12) Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.

These are the 12 things every Filipino can do to help our country. At first blush, they seem simple. When you study them more closely, they are difficult to do. But all of us, together can do them.

Hello Alex, we hope you can spare sometime and drop by our site. You are doing Great!!!

:welcome:

really good post patis!!

:thankyou: :hey::hey:

[patis]

really good post patis!!

:thankyou: :hey::hey:

uuuhhhh..... wrong quote or wrong object of gratitude.... but if it was really for me, then thank you too! :D

[ctivnan]

not to be a douchebag, but not every filipino has employees, and not every filipino can afford to adopt a scholar or a child. following laws is not necessarily a good thing to do: that would only lead to docility of the people, which is not good if we are to become critical minded. i haven't read the book yet, but so far with your outline of what the author wrote, it smells of a pro-administration summoning. not that i'm anti administration, but i am pro for thinking people. we must inculcate in the minds of the people to think, not to succumb.

Try reading this one, patis. I may have not given it justice in my kinda review. I agree that we should be critical-minded and by blindly following rules, we become dummies.

[patis]

Try reading this one, patis. I may have not given it justice in my kinda review. I agree that we should be critical-minded and by blindly following rules, we become dummies.

i'll squeeze them in my tight schedule, maybe after this sem ends. darn reports and term papers and incompletes LOL

[ctivnan]

i'll squeeze them in my tight schedule, maybe after this sem ends. darn reports and term papers and incompletes LOL

That'll be grand! :lol: Good luck! :clover:

[q_sharon]

uuuhhhh..... wrong quote or wrong object of gratitude.... but if it was really for me, then thank you too! :D

yes , you are right. i should have acknowledged cmo!! sorry for that. but not really, there's nothing wrong in saying thanks, right?

thanks anyway. he he!!:cheers::taz:

[q_sharon]

"At the height of the political crisis last year, a nondescript book was quietly published about “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country by Alex Lacson.”

http://english-coffee.com/images/forum/12-little-things-logo.png

The author’s theory was simple: Small acts like obeying traffic rules, being a good parent and paying one’s taxes could go a long way in healing a wounded nation.

Ten months later, the book written by Alexander Lacson, a lawyer, is proving the power of little things. It apparently struck a chord in many Filipinos who share its author’s belief that the fate of the country depends not on its politicians but on its people.

Now on its fourth printing run, “12 Little Things” has sold almost 25,000 copies, according to Lacson.

At first, the book was available only at Lacson’s Makati office and his White Plains home. He had no marketing plan then, but when word got out about the little book, orders began pouring in, sometimes by the bulk.

On the book’s first run in June last year, only 2,000 copies were printed by Alay Pinoy, whose owner is Lacson’s friend. Within two months, they were sold out.

Soon, the publisher was printing 10,000 copies, then 3,000, and 10,000 more copies.

Here is the site of the book: http://www.12littlethings.com/

http://english-coffee.com/images/forum/12-little-things-logo.png

Here is the list of the 12 things:

1) Follow traffic rules. Follow the law.
2) Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.
3) Don’t buy smuggled goods. Buy local. Buy Filipino.
(Or, if you read the book, he suggests: 50-50).
4) When you talk to others, especially foreigners speak positively about us and our country.
5) Respect your traffic officer, policeman and soldier.
6) Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve.
7) Support your church.
8) During elections, do your solemn duty.
9) Pay your employees well.
10) Pay your taxes.
11) Adopt a scholar or a poor child.
12) Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.

These are the 12 things every Filipino can do to help our country. At first blush, they seem simple. When you study them more closely, they are difficult to do. But all of us, together can do them.

Hello Alex, we hope you can spare sometime and drop by our site. You are doing Great!!!

:welcome:

:thankyou: for this post. :jumpingangel:

[allen1109]

any idea if this book is available in nbs or powerbooks?

thanks for the info.

[ctivnan]

any idea if this book is available in nbs or powerbooks?

thanks for the info.

Hiya!

I think this one is available in National Bookstore for less than P200 (the last time I checked last year, anyway). :bounce:

[LitaPo]

Hello everyone,

I have not read the book but thanks to q_sharon for sharing the list.
The author does not say that it is the law but that these things when done by Filipinos will make our land a better place to live in. We may not be able to do everything in the list because that particular idea is not applicable to us but for sure some of the things listed there can be followed by us.

I say three cheers to this book because no matter what place you live in , if you follow the list, it makes you a better person as well.

lots of love, joy and laughter,
LitaPo