Friday, June 27, 2008 Antalan: Tough people By Roger P. Antalan Dateline IgacoS
LAST week, a group of friends had an informal sharing about the present crisis. Everybody agreed that these are hard times. People are hard hit and reeling from the spiraling costs of prime commodities. There was a lot of sharing on how to stretch their meager income. At the end, somebody said: "Mabuti na lang hindi umaalma ang mga tao." (It is good people are not rising up in arms).
The prophets of doom have been saying that we are sitting on top of a seething volcano that is about to erupt. Fortunately, it does not look that bad, for now. The people, especially the poor, are patiently surviving. They are long-suffering but still, very peace-loving. They do not want to add to their troubles by going out to the streets to protest. They are taking things in stride, making the most of what little they have, and fervently hoping for the light at the end of the tunnel to appear soon.
In one section of our palengke, I see lots of people lining up very early morning to avail of the lower-priced NFA rice. Patiently, without much ado, they take their ticket number and join the queue making light conversations with one another. One old woman said with a smile: "I have no problem lining up. In fact, I line up for others who really need to buy rice but have a hard time with the long lines."
There is a picture that stuck to my mind. A number of years ago, I saw on TV a man almost neck-deep during the floods on the Marikina river. Holding his precious belongings up, he still managed to smile at the camera. He was in a precarious situation with the swirling floodwaters around him. How could he still smile?
"In thunder and in storm," some people still put on a brave front with a smile. Instead of cursing the darkness, many of our people count their blessings and find time to spread good cheer in their hearts to others. Once I was served in a restaurant by a bubbly waiter. "Good day, Sir. What can I do for you? Anything else, Sir. Thank you very much, Sir."
All these, spoken with a smile and lively musical voice. I felt good listening to him. So I asked: "Why are you so happy. Do you do this to all your customers?" He answered: "Oh yes, Sir. I have a good job. I have a nice family. And I live to serve people." What a wonderful day! And yet, come to think of it, he had less in life compared to most of us.
A happy disposition can lead to better opportunities. A young man had to stop schooling after high school. He worked as a waiter for P 160 a day. After work, on his way to his boarding house, he was asked by a stranger for directions to a secluded place. He did not only bring the man to the right place but delighted him with pleasant conversations. The man who happened to own a coco-oil company was so impressed that he hired the waiter. By this coming October the young man will became a regular employee with a better pay.
It is said that adversity brings out the best in people. It is amazing to see people exhibiting good cheer in the midst of hardships. This attitude should not be interpreted as surrender or acceptance of fate that they cannot do anything about. Instead of shrugging away all troubles, it looks like people are now taking seriously the rallying cry of the Island city as it participates in the City of Character movement: "Kung kita molihok lang gyud, dili kita maglisod." (If we really work hard, we will not be hard up.)
Alvin Taffler said it well when he wrote his best selling book entitled: "Tough Times Never Last, Tough People Do." The present crisis may become worse before it becomes better. Hopefully, there will be no social unrests, and that the trials and tribulations will end soon. You can be sure however that the Filipino with his smiling toughness will survive.
