The Filipino habit

Prayer is defined by Merriam-Webster as an earnest wish or request which is addressed to God or a god.
The Philippines, being one of the most Christian populated nations in Asia, never miss to pray when they need something from God. Moreover, they thank God for all the blessing He has given. They also ask God's forgiveness for the mistakes they may have committed. Praying is actually one of the best traits Filipino have.
In the course of Philippine historty, we could trace how much prayer has affected revolutions or changes. Vital to the success of the EDSA I was the withdrawal of the support of the military to former President Ferdinand Marcos. I firmly believe that what moved the military to do so was the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit which was prayed over by the millions of people who stayed in EDSA to pray together in unity. EDSA I was followed by EDSA II which still proved to be successful with the Filipinos' prayers. Even in our everyday lives, our prayers have always guided us in the things we do. It has moved us to change and be guided in making our decisions. It has been our time to talk to God. When we are alone, we never loose a friend since we know God is always there to talk to us.
It's sad to see that nowadays people do not anymore see prayer as a priority in their everyday lives. Prayer has become an occasion to them that they only pray when they need something from God. Some people in EDSA might have only prayed at that time since they were starting to seek peace. But I doubt if everyone who prayed there prays at least once a day thanking God for answering that one request they asked for. We have to realize that prayer as defined by the dictionary is not only a request but it should be a communication with the Lord. It should be a regular practice for us to pray because we have a lot to thank God for. Just the fact that we know He is always there for us is already something to thank for.
I have realized these things in the course of my search of true meaning in life. Before, I also do not prioritize prayer in my life. Like most people, I think more of how I could attain the material things I want in life but just like what they say, "Pag namatay ka na, hindi mo naman madadala ang kayamanan mo." This is very true. And what you could only bring with you in death is your faith.
Our country offers us so many means to pray and practice our faith compared to other countries. There are so many churches everywhere. But not having churches is not a hindrance since we could always pray at home. God is everywhere and He listens wherever we may be.
At the current turmoil we are facing, with wars erupting in different countries, disunity, and poverty; the more we should be praying. Far more than that, we should be thanking the Lord that despite the uproar, we still have our families and friends that partially blind us with the harsh realities of life.
Always believe in the power of prayer.