“We only have what we give.”
― Isabel Allende
WHENEVER I write, I choose a Spotify list to help me. Whenever I am enraged, I choose a rock and roll playlist; it helps me release all the bad vibes. Whenever I am inspired, I play Andre Gagnon, Alexis Ffrench (yes double F), and Jane Leslie. So when I read about the SPMC tweet by you know who, I almost automatically reached out for the rock and roll playlist. But then something happened. I began to read other tweets. One particular stood out. It said something like people in Davao had “misplaced pride” or we had “inferiority complex” and “this city needs a therapist.” There. After I read that I was almost tempted to make a brand new playlist that would include some of the meanest and loudest rock and roll songs ever composed. And I would not blame myself for doing so. Some of my Facebook friends erupted in defense of the city and rightfully so. I even read someone’s passionate reply was amazed by it because she is one of the sweetest persons I know. She was mad. Enraged. And rightfully so. We should all defend the city and yes Bong Vega ( because we who know him, know him) and SPMC because it is the right thing to do.
For years, I have seen some people mostly from Manila discriminate about Davao. (the latest of which claims that if there is Imperial Manila there is Inferior Davao. I have several good friends from Manila so I am not saying all here but only focusing on a special breed.)
I have written several articles about this because discrimination has been relentless, cruel and imbecilic. So I am used to it. If some look down upon us as being “provincial” or ignorant that really is not our problem, it is theirs. Let us not live in their world. Frankly, it is tiring and boring already. Let them be. They have their own demons. You really cannot change possessed people. For that, you need an exorcist. It is easy to malign, it does not take much. Real strength and courage come from the stability of mind and stillness of the soul. But we all know that.
So let us take that further. Isabel Allende is right. We can only have what we give. If we give respect we get it, If we share compassion, it is given back. If we wish peace, peace will be ours. The most serene people are those that share serenity because they have it in the first place. Those who are heartless have no hearts to speak of. Those that are cruel can only know that because kindness is alien to them. It is not possible to continually spew venom if venom is not in your blood. Only those whose blood is poisoned can survive their own toxicity. Do you want to live like that? Where everything is a curse? Where everything is evil? Where you seek every moment to have foam in your mouth? Where every occasion is a time to strike? Where you measure your worth and delusion with every tweet you post? Do you want to live like that?
The bottom line is compassion. Let us be compassionate to those who rarely experience it. Let us be kind to the unkind because they need kindness the most. Let us be strong for the weak. Be an angel to the demon. Be a light. Not easy but we always have a choice. And the choices we make reflect what is inside us.
This will not end here. Soon another issue will come up and once again kitang mga taga Dabaw makatilaw na pud ta . Sige lang. Lami man ang durian. Ug suha, rambutan ug mangosteen.