Thoughts on Real Issues (Reflection)

             It has been an overwhelming experience to be part of last Sunday’s (August 31, 2014) event of THEO 141 class as an alternative outreach program to our fellow humans.  I’m glad that I have been educated with real issues which were supposed to be given more attention to. As a starting point for this reflection, let me begin it with these lines which I wrote way back 2011:

It’s hard to live life to the fullest when many

Of our fellow humans suffer for poverty.

 It’s hard to laugh at simple things when

 Simple is too high for them.

How can society reach its stability?

When there is inequality.

            I guess the above lines fit for the mood of this reflection. It is sad to know that many of our fellow Filipinos are experiencing hunger, deprivation of many things in life, sufferings and many other forms of dehumanization while others who are in powers are  spending too much for their own luxuries. Tracing back the historical facts, greed for power was already there in the beginning yet the saddest part was that it had been repeated from generation to generation up until now.  Can there still be “hope for change” in the present society that we have?

            It is an honor to have meet people such as the panel of reactors in the event who are still hopeful that this society would change in the coming future and who are not afraid to fight for every people’s right. There is a sudden shift of thought when I realized that they are indeed an agent of change in their own ways. I thought before that those people shouting in the streets are just desperate enough to go against the government but now, they earn my respect. I may not agree with the way they make their move towards change but I respect their views. The question then; where is God above all these experiences? What waits in the future of these people?

            In Luke 6:21, it says “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” The question is when will be that moment happen where the hungry would be satisfied and those who cry would laugh? Do we have to understand it literally and wait for the moment when God will come to comfort the poor? The call for the outreach program is PRAXIS. We have to act now to become an agent for change in our very own means. We have to give sympathy in each and everyone’s experience. We need to help one another. It is not enough to just stare and feel sad of others experience. It is not enough that we only provide the immediate solution of a problem; instead we have to go deep down to the root cause and fix it. Neither will the learning and realization be enough when there is no intended action for such. There is indeed a need to be on the shoes of those who are in-need most of our help so that we could realized how difficult their life is.  

            The challenge for us in these days where corruption is inevitable is that, how can we be an agent for change in our own ways? Would we still wait for blood to shed before our very eyes in order to care for others? I appreciate people such as the KABIBA group who really care for the poor children. I realized that in a little ways, we can make a difference. Instead of wasting time checking for FB statuses or tweets, why would not we write lines expressing the real experiences of a Filipino. In this little ways, it is not impossible that soon we can achieve equality. I just hope so.

            In general, I think the activity is a striking event to all those who participates.  It leads us to think outside the box. I hope every student will get to realize the value of every life in this world. As for me, I know how it feels to live with poverty at hand.  I’m one of those poor children; my family is one of those economically and financially struggling. Above all, I am happy that there are still people who are good at heart, who never look for things in return. I believe God is there in the midst of every struggle that we had. It is up to us on how we are going to see things around us. Whether we go with it or go against it, what is important is that every reason behind our choice must be reflective for the common good of the society. The call for this journey is not selfishness; instead, it is love and gratitude that we should plant in this world.