Typhoon

The concerns over the devastating typhoon in the Philippines is all over my Facebook newsfeed. Although I am enjoying sunny California weather as I write this entry, I am not oblivious to the situation in my home country. Growing up in Manila, typhoons and floods have left a frightening impression on me. Yes, I know what its like.

Before I go any further, I would like to ask my readers to excuse my honesty. This blog is for me to express my opinion and this is what I am doing.

Its been four years since I left the Philippines. Ever since then, it has been my observation that concern towards national issues have only been addressed by the general public whenever catastrophic typhoons are in season. For example, there was a lot of hype when typhoons like Milenyo, Domeng, and Sendong hit the Philippines a few years back. Year after year, the prompt response of students and other citizens to provide and distribute donations became the country's most reliable means to aid those who were most devastated by the disasters. It seems to me that it is only when a bad storm hits that the act of "lending a hand" gets associated with patriotism in the Philippines. With this in mind, my point is simple: does it really take a typhoon to remind the Philippines of its national crisis?

I left Manila because I wanted to learn more about the world, but ironically the longer I was away from the Philippines the more I learned about the country. Because majority of the research that I conduct for university is on the Philippines, I suddenly found myself more and more interested in the country's economic history, agriculture, and power structures. As a result, I was able to understand some of the reasons as to why the Philippines became what it is today. I am sharing this bit of my academic life because I'd like you to know that the more I learned about the Philippines, the more angry and disappointed I became.

I was angry because it seemed to me that no one cared. No one understood. And most importantly, no one wanted to know the same things I was learning. I am referring to the general public. In the Philippines, there is a national crisis everyday. You see poverty everyday. There are hungry children everyday. But what do we Filipinos choose to invest our time on? Advertising? Media? Fashion? Corporation? I feel disheartened because it seems to me that in the Philippines, people ignore basic human security issues like food, shelter, and inequality everyday in their lives. Moreover, the fact that many of the country's youth have chosen to displace themselves from gaining any interest in resolving the country's problems is a troubling situation. In my humble opinion, I think that the admiration of superficiality has distracted and created a saturated Filipino nation that remains unmoved by the poverty that surrounds it. That to me, is a big problem.

I wrote this entry because it makes me sad that people only begin to show concern when there is a natural disaster happening. Listen, I am not saying that you should abandon your current lifestyle of enjoying pinterest and fashion, or that you should brood over the country's problem at all times... no, that is not what I am saying. All I wish to do is to remind every Filipino out there that the Philippines is in a national crisis everyday.

It shouldn't have to be a typhoon to remind you.

And to those who do not fit the "saturated-like" description I have mentioned above... to the Filipinos who are dedicated in improving human security issues in the country. To you I say, I am proud.

Nica