STANDFORSOMETHING

Gone are the days of evergreen. Those virgin concurrences of the past, old fashioned it might seem, would just be part of our iconic past, no matter how we hardly try to reinstate it back.

Living in a fast-pacing civilization is to be trapped in a hunger-game-like-arena. Given the fact that modernization through technological advancements rules over, the tactical scheme of Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest which depicts a cruel act of competition defines one’s expected approach toward modernity. Moreover, people have their own unique ways of coping up with the challenges, thus not living them far beyond the actions.

The endeavour of identifying those mechanisms requires rigorous effort and time, yet, once uncovered, it would pave the way to some sort of a boon. However, here comes the issue of how do [Filipino] people deal in this raging and fast-growing milieu, insofar as harmony over nature is concerned.

I tried to decipher the given setting and somehow take a clue of a major workaround existing, if there’s any. It’s almost undistinguishable not because of its indefinite phenomenological approach but rather due to the enticements the world offers and apparent rapid execution of things.

At this point, I’d like to shed light on the unmitigated act of Pakikisama. Known for integral relativity on the ‘ethos of the Pilipinos’, this what we all have in common. It might have been given several definitions, be it etymological or something else, yet, given a specific circumstance, only few flawlessly represent Pilipino’s sheer approach toward the present. In a 1996 article I’ve read, Pakikisama has been defined as the ability to get along with others in such a way as to avoid outside signs of conflict. In light with this was a contributory insights of Vitaliano Gorospe who views Pakikisama simply as an act of giving in or yielding to the wish of the leader or the majority, even when at times it contradicts ones ideas or the common good. Analysing these philosophical claims, it could be understood that the subject matter is something that can be learned and subjective in action. In short, if someone wishes to avoid conflict and live with others in harmony, he/she should practice it with ease even to the point of deprivation of freedom. Sounds obnoxious, right?

Standing in a secular point of view, these aspects are reasonably justifiable for who would have dared minding all those philosophical stuffs above all? Who wouldn’t like to be rewarded with cooperation and assistance by simply conforming to group’s norms? On the other side, who would like to be chastised by withdrawal for non-dovetailed deeds? There are lot of things to be focused on: jobs, comfy lifestyle, economic growth and so on. Besides, many people would prefer to yield themselves to the mandate of those above them for they usually see it as beneficial. They’re getting rewarded, they’re feeling the sense of security, they’re moving up. In other words, why do they have to take chances on pushing for their individual rights just to reach the life of their likings if they can have it by the mere act of joining the club?

My intention here is not to take the word Pakikisama in a negative way, thus staining wrong notions about its real essence. As I’ve mentioned, the spotlight in this present era and the thespians are we, Filipinos. That would be too much unacceptable to be blinded of what are obviously going on in our country. Let’s stop sugar coating things out, rather, let’s deal those issues, efficiently. Personally, I could verify the existence of how Pakikisama, Filipino value to be considered, is being handled by the people as specified by Gorospe. Indeed, even values have pros and cons depending on how they’ve been contextualized. Ambivalent by nature, people should ‘understand, practiced and lived’ itself to be of help to ‘personal and national development’. In this current time, competition to success is highly tough. One must be flexibly equipped with proper knowledge and skills to catch up the challenges ahead. Above all, as Filipinos are obliged to follow a single constitution, everyone should step out and make a stand because at the end of the day, what really matters most is to arrive in a point of a ‘just and humane society’.