LATELY I get a lot of invites to dinner gatherings with some of the elites in this city. Common friends from overseas and those I met in some of the social events here have somehow gotten me connected with this new circle. Being new and alone, those invites were very much welcomed.
Nights with the local elites are always fun. Conversations are always stimulating, their humor are always in good taste, and while I very well know I am from a totally different breed, they never made me feel like an outsider. I would always go home bringing happy thoughts of a fine night with very fine company in a fine place.
Almost always as well everytime I head home from posh gatherings, I would always take a detour and hangout with my pack of friends who are working at food establishments and restobars in the city. With them, I don’t see glitz and glamour. Subjects of conversations are sometimes out of this world but their company is equally warm. They all look forward to our nightly gatherings and would never mind waiting for me if my schedules are full.
Last night I was at a small gathering in a sports bar at Lacson Street and in our table a friend differentiated to me Illonggos from Negrenses. You see, for an outsider like me, anyone who speaks the local language here is an Ilonggo. Apparently, such is technically not correct as Illonggos are referred to people from Iloilo while Negrenses are the people from Negros. In the course of our conversation, she also differentiated the term Negrense from a Negrosanon. She said in the recent past, Negrense is used to refer only to the landed elites while the rest are called Negrosanons. The social classes were very distinct then up until the recent rise of the middle class and the entry of Chinese businessmen. This time, the distinctions are hardly noticed anymore as the workers before already have professionals in their family; some are running their own businesses while some others are working overseas and are earning pretty well.
But I have to say, my little exposure with this city pretty much captures the glaring contrast of the “haves” and “have nots”, and I am just lucky to be able to blend with both; Negrenses and Negrosanons.
Yes, indeed there are rich and poor in this world. But who’s to say one is better than the other? Who’s to say one is truer or more genuine? Who’s to say one is of more quality?
On the surface, one might think that the “haves” are obviously privileged and therefore have a better quality of living and are happier in life. Though that may be true to most extent, I also saw that the limitations and deficiencies in life present more opportunities for self-actualization that can somehow lead to a deeper sense of fulfillment, something lacking in a too comfortable life.
That being said, I still think there is a great need to bridge the wide gap between the poor and the rich in our society for the very reason that the gap breeds corruption. It has become the haven of injustice. This is where effective legislation and governance come in. This is the call of our time. This should be the real measure of development.
And while I continue to work with organizations that try to bridge the gap between these two worlds, I just feel so blessed that I am surrounded with Negrenses and Negrosanons who treat me as one of theirs -- a family.