Filipinos are well-known for being resilient, but is it really something to be proud of when it acts as a stopgap in dealing with the real problems? The aftermath of four consecutive typhoons hit and devastated numerous parts of the Philippines leaving communities submerged in high waters.
Death tolls continue to rise and Filipinos on different social media sites are calling the attention of the rescue teams to help those who trapped in their houses’ and roofs. A call of help for donations to the typhoon victims poured out like rain, public organizations, sectors, and the government sent teams to distribute the relief goods. With that being said, pictures of the ‘Filipino Resiliency’ once again resurfaced online.
Everyone is familiar with the word resilient and it has always been associated with the Filipinos particularly if there are calamities in our country. Yes, resiliency is good but if it gets out of control it becomes a bad habit and attitude it becomes a stopgap. What is a stopgap? According to Oxford languages, it is a temporary way of dealing with a problem or satisfying one’s need. You see, the resilience that people talk about becomes a reason for them to turn away from their problems. Their minds are determined to assume that every challenge would be overcome if one had resilience. Forgetting the fact that the pandemic and the consequences of the typhoon are tangible and thus require a realistic and long-term solution.
Being resilient is not bad; in fact, it is good because it gives hope amidst the storms in life but when the word itself is exploited by becoming the government's scapegoat instead of providing a full, support to its own people with all their might.
On the other hand, the majority of the people in the Philippines are poor, which is why people tend to romanticize hardships and believing that life is truly hard and should be hard, blinded by the truth that government should do its job right, making the lives of every Filipino easy for quick progress. They are stuck in this situation because people doubt that politicians can support people to have better lives, not just during campaigns and elections. Politicians on the other hand just care about money and business over people that are suffering. Filipinos should start opening their eyes and see the reality that they are facing.
When they overcome calamities, other blamed the government because of what happened. The time that everyone acted like they know everything. Government's shortcomings are the reason, people are shouted for their voices and rights. They always looked up to the government's sustainability because they are in need. In facing this kind of situation, others may expect that the government will help them and sustain their needs. Having resiliency is not always they need but an outlook and preparedness for upcoming calamities. They need outlooks to compensate for the outcomes of the calamities on how they manage the time that the calamities, and disasters have come, and how they are prepared to save their lives, and their pets as early as they can. On where and how to move for safety. When they only have resilience, then how can they stand up with their feet when others always wait to the government's funds. Romanticizing resiliency cannot mask the government's shortcomings in the country's disaster preparedness nor how the Filipinos rely on it even if they can do something on their own to help themselves.
Words by: Vanessa Dagohoy, Rommel Guanzon and Shella Carpina
Drawn by: Zandra Jane Bollo Layout by: Rayzhel Gonser
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