I ENTERED the school gate expecting another long day packed with lectures and exams. As I walked briskly toward the courtyard, the bell rang, echoing in the stillness of the morning. Instinctively, I put down my bag and stood at attention together with the rest of some 1,000 secondary students dressed in the same sleeveless, blue pinafore.

The red and white horizontal striped flag was slowly raised as the national anthem was played. When it was over, I continued to stand still as the other students recited the pledge in one voice: ?We, the citizens of Singapore??

It was a familiar sight, a scene I have witnessed every morning for the past couple of years. And yet I always looked at it with detachment. Deep down in my heart, I felt that I should be singing our own anthem and reciting our own pledge.

In October 2007, I flew a thousand miles away from home in the hope of getting a better education. It never ceases to amaze me, this great blessing to have been chosen as an Asean scholar and given the opportunity to come to Singapore. I had read a lot about this nation, more commonly known as ?the little red dot,? ?the melting pot of different cultures? or simply the place where chewing gums are banned. But I really knew very little about Singapore until I had my first-hand encounter with her own people and culture. And day by day as I continued to learn more about this country, the more I grew in admiration and the more often the question kept popping up: ?If Singapore can do it, why can?t the Philippines??

I mumbled the words in my head as they continued with the pledge: ??regardless of race, language or religion??

On my very first MRT ride in Singapore, I was greatly surprised to see so many non-Chinese people surrounding me. Beside me was an Indian man wearing a white long-sleeved polo and talking away on the phone. In front of us was a middle-aged Malay lady, tightly holding her daughter?s tiny hand as the train accelerated to the next station. I had thought this nation was filled with Chinese-looking Singaporeans, but I was wrong.

On the train, I felt uneasy sitting beside the Indian man who was still on the phone 10 minutes later. So I tried to look somewhere else, only to exchange stares with the Malay lady in front of me.

Coming from a Chinese family and studying in a Chinese school back in the Philippines for 13 years, I had always felt secure in the Chinese-Filipino community. I had always thought it normal ? a way of life ? that the Filipino community was different from the Chinese-Filipino community. This was best exemplified by the exhortation of many Chinese parents against marrying a pure Filipino.

I was apathetic to the flaws of my beliefs until I came here where everyone is treated equally regardless of their ?race, language or religion.? If only all of us can see the importance of living in harmony and not ?judging a book by its cover,? then we might be able to understand each other more. Conflicts, big or small, can be avoided. And as we learn to appreciate the diversity of our nation, mutual respect will be enhanced. Then we will see people around us in a different light, and not on the basis of what clothes they wear, their social or financial status or even which part of the country they come from. Only then can we foster friendships that last a lifetime.

The pledge ended: ??so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation.?

Every time I walk along Orchard Road, Singapore?s famous shopping district, the sights and sounds of Filipinos talking and laughing loud never fail to catch my attention. There is a misconception that most of the Filipinos here work as domestic helpers. In fact, a larger percentage of us here are working professionals and students.

Sometimes, I wonder what the Philippines would be like if all of her professionals went home and contributed to the local economy. It is universally acknowledged that our country is suffering from brain drain, but I believe it is not too late to reverse it. It may be hard to attract back those who have left the country, but we can begin by instilling a sense of patriotism among the younger generation so that they will have confidence in our country?s future. Only then will they be convinced to develop and grow abroad while keeping their roots in their home country. After they immerse themselves in foreign cultures, they will come back home and give back and contribute to the development of our nation.

Many of my friends and family members ask me if I would want to stay in Singapore or go back home. But much as I want to help my home country, the thought of the many unrivalled opportunities the rest of the world offers makes me think twice about going back. I am still learning and searching for my long-term goals and I intend to continue my studies abroad. However, I think that in the end I will go back to where my family is. Home is where I belong.

Katrina Tan, 16, is a secondary 4 (4th year high school) student in Singapore.