The Bigger Picture

(This essay was published in the March 28, 2010 Issue of the Baguio Midland Courier)

Today, being strong is equated to being independent. For every setback we encounter in this life, we tend to be headstrong and try to face the dilemma alone. We even term it maturity—and we justify that since the consequences or rewards are exclusively for us to reap, then we might as well rely on our own.


Same is true when we address bigger issues. We count on our own individual powers and intuition and say “Hey! I did what I had to do.” Then we sit back and wait for the rest of the world to do their individual responsibilities.


So much for “you have to start with yourself.”


Let’s face it, being an individual, you are like a dot in a vast canvas and you don’t have the ability to effect a big change. Sure, your action made a slight alteration in the society, but in our present era where quantity is necessary like in People Power and the political elections, where does being alone stand out?


In this era of economic instability, social sites, YouTube campaigning, and “virtual life” (as in, a technological alter ego), the lethargic mind set of every Filipino results in a country that misses its purpose: a progressive and colorful country where there are no hungry mouths to feed nor estranged feelings with each other needed to be dissipated.


I was reminded of my History teacher who said that the Philippines was conquered well and easy way back because the Filipinos were divided by language and disparate ends. Although they all seemed to want freedom and revolted against the oppressors, their sense of camaraderie was limited to who they knew only—thus, they are in small numbers and tribes and can be easily attacked by the foreigners.


Likewise today, we are all divided by our different passions and beliefs. We tend to believe so well in the notion that individuality is what can lead us to that big thing called development. What is worse is, we limit ourselves to our single human powers and expect others to do the same, not realizing that some still need help and inspiration.


Let us not stop by ourselves. As human beings, we have our social proportions to fulfill. Let us change the notion of being alone. Yes, it should start by ourselves, but it should also pull others to do the same. And, like a child’s play of connect the dots, we can see, that the minute dots can form something—a bigger picture.

[March24, 2010]