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Saturday, July 16, 2005
Batuhan: Triumph over tragedy
By Allan S. Batuhan
Foreign Exchange
Moving. For the last couple of weeks, my life and that of my family has revolved around one thing only—moving house.
Unlike in the Philippines, relocating in the UK is basically a do-it-yourself proposition. Back home, one does not have to lift a finger to move house. The ones with a simpler existence among us rely on the old bayanihan spirit that still exists among the rural folk, and neighbors help with packing up belongings, providing logistical support and literally transporting the house itself, if the move requires such an effort.
In most of the developed world, any bayanihan spirit that remains can be invoked only by the action of a pen writing on a checkbook. And even then, the degree of assistance that can be paid for is still fairly limited.
In my case, we paid for door-to-door service, which should have meant that the only thing we would have had to do was drive from our old residence to the new one, open the door to our new home and everything would be hanky dory.
Well, not quite the case, as it turns out. The well-paid relocation company simply lifted everything from the old house, drove with its high-tech truck 200 miles away to the new residence, and just dumped the things on every inch of carpet space it could find. I almost had a heart attack.
Slowly but surely, though, my wife and I managed. Life in the family is now regaining some semblance of normality. We can now declare victory over the challenges of moving house.
Victory is one of the themes for us over the last fortnight. Not least because of our partial success with the house move. The other reason is that the UK was itself in a celebratory mood, at least for the first half of that period.
First came Live 8, and the consequent focus on poverty in Africa that the G8 leaders were forced to pay attention to. It was an achievement gained without acrimony and anger, and with everyone involved breaking out in song, and joining hands for Africa.
Then came news of London’s triumph in its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games—an announcement that surprised many who were expecting the Parisians to bring home the bacon, or rather, more apropos—the paté. Londoners thronged the streets in spontaneous celebration, savoring the moment that was made much sweeter because it was totally unexpected.
That would have been my fortnight of sweet euphoria—home sweet home, London in 2012, and nostalgia over the Live Aid reprise a generation hence. Except, of course, that the ultimate spoilsports of all time decided to ruin the party.
Blowing up four bombs and killing over 50 people is nobody’s idea of celebratory fireworks. And it was not celebration the London bombers had in mind when they did it either. It was to kill, maim and terrorize anyone and everyone who refused to share their distorted view of the world.
But the bombers’ ideal will not triumph. The human spirit is too strong, too stubborn and too daring to be subdued easily.
London was not supposed to win 2012. And many naysayers were doubting what Bob Geldof could come up with to convince the world’s most powerful nations to sit up and take notice of Africa. But London overcame the odds and came through. And the G8 summit produced the first-ever comprehensive plan to eradicate poverty in Africa.
The bombers are in for a rude awakening. Just as 9/11 proved, Madrid validated, and London will reaffirm once more—optimism always triumphs in the end.
(allan.batuhan@pzcussons.com)
(July 16, 2005 issue)
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