“Ironically, to believe in destiny, one must choose to.”
DRUNK debates would often divide the one-time philosophers into two groups: those who believe in fate or destiny, or a perfect plan by a transcendent being which cannot be altered, and those who believe in choices, the convenient existentialists who believe that it is us humans who decide our destinies. The dispute would often run into empty gas, with the inebriated unwilling to compromise – “futile to make a choice when my fate is already decided” concluded the other, “We are in control,” retorted the other.
The first interactive film called “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch” shows an interesting theme about choices and destiny (in the tradition of the “Butterfly Effect” movies). The film offers branching pathways to critical decisions, ironically with predestined results by the “maker.”
Hence, just when we thought that we have control over the results of the film and its characters, we realize that the limited “conclusions” were made by the directors just the same, and not by us – meaning, the movie controls us by offering limited choices for us under the pretext of us being in control of the outcome of the film.
In Greek mythology, many stories would show characters who went through lengths to avoid tragic prophesies of their destinies but fulfilling them just the same either by accident, or ironically by their evasions – a foundation of the idea that “choices” are irrelevant, since for the believers, “we are all where we are supposed to be”. Or “they are already written in the stars” – Case in point: while others work their whole lives to become the President of the country to their frustration, it took an unusual series of events and surrounding circumstances (and public frustration) to put a local official to Presidency.
“What was your dream when you were young?” “Is it different from what you are doing right now?” asked Ms. Tipsy. She knew that I never planned to be a tourism officer, never planned to have kids until I’m 40, never planned to settle for community work in my 20s and 30s. I realized that though we do make choices, the circumstances surrounding our choices are beyond our control most of the time – the people that we meet, the places that we find ourselves in, the occasional and unusual accidents and chaos we experience. Choice and fate are the ironies of life that will remain in its shroud of mystery.
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The 2nd La Trinidad Coffee Festival with the same theme: “Brewing Unity through Coffee” will be held on February 7 – 10, 2019 at the Mun. Gym and grounds. The activities include the following; Coffee Stakeholders Conference, Farmers’ Forum, Coffee Facilities visits/tour, Unlimited Coffee at the Park, Assemblies and Meetings. The Coffee Festival as an emerging community and tourism event of La Trinidad, celebrates and promotes coffee as a livelihood for farmers, and as a tourism product that promotes the town, and ultimately an industry that uplifts the socio-economic aspects of local communities.