Lamenting the Social Mindset

May 2010.

I got off the jeepney and began walking towards our subdivision. A man who was hitching a ride on the jeepney (sabit) suddenly grabbed the handbag of the old lady sitting near the exit. She screamed for help, but no one budged. Without thinking, I gave chase to the snatcher, managing to catch up on him before he rode on his accomplice's motorcycle. I drop kicked the snatcher, who then slammed onto his accomplice and their getaway. I managed to get hold of the old lady's bag while screaming "Mga snatcher po mga ito!" to the bystanders, who then alerted the nearby Barangay Tanods, who then finally gave chase to the scrambling criminals. I never knew whether they were caught; all I believed was I did a good favor to someone in need.

---

Sounds too far-fetched to be true? I was just getting in to my third year back during my BS Bio days. It all happened the way I narrated it. To be honest, with the reaction of the people I recount this tale to, sometimes I am left wondering what truly is up with our society today.

Every reaction I get usually is something about "Di mo naisip safety mo?" or "Tanga tanga mo dapat pinabayaan mo na lang" or even "Pag ganyan tahimik na lang tayo, wala na tayo magagawa minsan".

"WALA NA TAYO MAGAGAWA". --> I do not believe in this statement. There is ALWAYS something we can do. Maybe not in the concrete sense, though, but THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING WE CAN DO. Its very frustrating when you reach this point...

We should be afraid that people are asking us to STAY SILENT IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY. Our culture of today tells us to keep our heads low so that we can live in peace. Indeed, it seems that Death comes to those who speak out loud. BUT WE ARE A DEMOCRACY. THERE IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH! Mali yung tumahimik na lang, eh.

But then, how many people, who have spoken the truth and spoken out against injustice, have fallen? From UP Activists to Keyboard Warriors, we are a dwindling minority in today's silent society. Furthermore, many blame the outspoken because they "tend to speak or act without thinking, without proof, tactlessly.." Though, my only gripe is that when one speaks out, he has so many supporters. Yet when he needs them the most, they vanish. Wala eh. 

Alas, just like everything else, there is a limit to freedom of speech. It should not be abused or used to wrong the innocents. Freedom of Speech is a gift to be used in dire times. It should be invoked when injustice is rampant, and when something NEEDS TO BE DONE.

Thus we go back to the price of speaking out: It's worth more than money; people tend to pay with their lives. But it should not be a deterrent to change. It should be a catalyst, a wake up call. I wish to remind my fellow young adults of today that we still have hope for this nation, for this world, because we are hope itself. 

Remember, my fellow youth: It's not wrong to speak out against injustice. It's not wrong to go against the flow. It's not wrong to traverse the road less taken. It's also not wrong to think before speaking/acting. And it certainly is not wrong to introduce CHANGE.

I believed I did a good favor back in 2010 to that old lady. It's 2015; no matter what people say, I will always believe that I did good. To pay with my life, with my blood, in exchange for what is right, for change, is the greatest gift I can offer to this world.

/no1!

Adjustment

Adaptation is the key to survival. As a biologist, I should know this by heart, because the fittest and the strongest ones would withstand the forces of Nature trying to wipe them out from the face of the Earth.

Adjustment is like adaptation. You either fit in or you conk out. Adjustment can be akin to trying to move on after a devastating crisis. It may be positive or negative.

Sometimes, people adjust negatively. They tend to shut themselves in. They tend to let their hearts harden and eventually turn them in to a bitter shadow of their former selves. And then, with that, their world slowly shatters...

Why do we adjust negatively? Because we have fear. Fear is something we should be thankful of. Without fear, we can never become stronger. Fear is good but we should not let it consume us; instead we should face it and overcome it. We should become fear itself...

...or maybe, we should adjust positively. There are endless possibilities in every single thing in this world. They usually are triggered at the right moment when we least expect it. Things do happen for a reason. Maybe, if we all took one step at a time and see things in a different light... things will become better. Also, as the cliche saying goes, Time heals everything.

Adjusting is hard. We all hate change, because change is the only permanent thing in this world. Change can be an unforseen delay in Medical School, an opportunity lost because of things one fought for, a lost love, a lost friendship or even things as simple as being left behind and feeling alone. 

But change is good. Change is, more often than not, for the better. In a fast paced world today, a second differs significantly greater from the last or the next. One minute you feel great, the next, you suddenly feel alone.

But that's the point - you adapt. you adjust. The rate of change today grows exponentially. And it is yourself that you pull down, when you decide never to adapt or to just adjust negatively. Never let yourself be caught in the web. You are stronger than that. 

Adjust well, and you will see how bright things actually are. Adjust well, and you will see things differently, for there is always a silver tint on the clouds of doubt.

Just my 2 cents!

/no1! 

Reality Bites.

Yeah. After graduation on April 20, my batchmates and I will all be officially "unemployed" as we are no longer students, at least until June, that is. 

It's true. Though a friend of mine was right in mentioning that Employment is a choice, not a chance. Truest stuff I've read so far in the past few days unlike the numbers game presented by the prosecution team of CJ Corona's trial.

Just some random thoughts.

/no1!