"Many Hands make the work lighter." anonymous
Can the Filipino do it? Yes, the Filipino can! The EDSA Revolution is a glowing proof that all the beautiful things in Philippine culture and Filipino traits can be energized to accomplish the impossible, to hurdle the insurmountable, to attain the unsearchable. EDSA people power can be harnessed successfully with lasting and tangible results in all levels of society throughout the nation.
The question is, "Can the Filipino do it again?" The need of the hour is to focus people power on the community, on day-to-day living.
Mang Isko is a clerk in a government office. Every day he wakes up at 5;00 A.M. He quickly takes a cold shower. Still shivering he savors two pieces of hot pandesal thinly spread with his favorite coco jam, and comforts his churning stomach with a cup of hot coffee. Then he rushes to the jeepney stop where he scrambles for a seat if he is lucky or for a place to make sabit.
This is his daily routine but everyday the awful sight and putrid smell he has to bear with as he makes his way through the narrow street never fails to nauseate him. Sometimes he utters a curse in desperation or talks to himself, "Why can't the government do something about this garbage problem? How can the people living around here stand the filth and the fowl odor?"
Garbage not properly disposed, clogged canals, rat and mosquito infestations, and diseases spawned by unsanitary surroundings are just a few of the community problems that people power can focus on to bring about lasting solutions. Can Filipinos lick these nagging problems? Of course, Filipinos can do it!
There are Filipino values that can be channeled to nurture a community spirit that enables everyone to contribute to the progress of the community by problem solving and initiation projects for the development of the neighborhood. These are pakikiisa, pakikisama, bayanihan, and damayan.
Pakikiisa refers to conscious efforts to achieve unity. In pakikiisa tungo sa mabuting layunin (unity toward a good cause), people thresh out real problems and decide to join hands in bringing about changes in the system and that will improve the current situation. (Andres, 1988, p.5)
Pakikisama, is fostering harmony with others, seeking peace, unity, and cooperation.
Pakikisama is rooted in the intrinsic Filipino value of pakikipagkapwa-tao. This core value refers to one's desire to be treated as an equal. Pakikipagkapwa-tao is thus translated into acts of helping, sharing, and cooperating with others. (Feliciano, 1990, p.21)
Bayanihan, is a Filipino value that plays a significant role in team building in a community.
It is a Filipino value that denotes camaraderie among the people in the community; and connotes helping one another in time of need. A Filipino adage that depicts this value is "kung sama-sama, kayang-kaya." (Andres, 1989, p.116)
Damayan is a Filipino value that emerges in times of crisis. It literally means "coming to the rescue"(Feliciano, 1990,p.21). Damayan is exemplified by generous donations, material assistance and all types of aids given during floods, typhoons, earthquakes, fire, and other calamities.
"Communities have always existed, and will continue to do so because man is basically a social creature, unable to live independently" (Sherer, 1972,p.2). It is true, no man is an island. Every individual is part of a community. As Filipinos, we have admirable traits that make it easy for us to contribute to our neighborhoods. With pakikiisa, pakikisama, bayanihan, and damayan operational in a community, great things can be accomplished. Any problem in the neighborhood could be solved. Any project can be completed.
Taking a close look at our communities, are we satisfied with the status quo? Or can we do better? Any observant Filipino will not hesitate to answer that we can do better. So, where do we start? Three action words stand out: know, avoid, and get involved.
Know that God has a beautiful plan for our communities.
The commandment of the Lord next to Loving him is for us to love one another. Consequently, we are to be concerned for the welfare of our neighbors and our neighborhoods. The Mosaic law given by God to Israel touched all aspects of practical living in the community, such as proper waste disposal, caring for the sick, adequate provision for the aged and the poor, rules for peaceful living, dispensing justice without discrimination, protection of the weak from oppression, honest business dealings, even preservation of the environment to insure healthful living and a heritage for posterity. Know the basic laws affecting your community so that any violation could be dealt with promptly.
Christine Village is a small village with only 120 single detached bungalows and a few two-story palatial homes. The residents are middle-income professionals who had dreamed of living in a peaceful, refreshingly clean and orderly community. Precisely these features attracted Jun and Amy to the neighborhood. Jun, who was very sensitive to noise and fowl odors, was awakened at dawn one morning by the loud cackling of chickens. Upon investigation, Bing, the efficient maid, found out that the family living next door transferred their poultry from Laguna to their backyard. Fortunately, Jun knew that one of the rules in Christine village is that raising of chickens and other farm animals in the backyard is strictly prohibited. Jun's luxury of a good night's rest was only temporary suspended.
Know the barangay officials who run the community, their responsibilities and the parameters of their positions. Wisdom dictates that is is much easier to work with people we know. Therefore, we must attend community meetings, inquire about the barangay officials, read articles about the barangay, and be informed about community activities.
Know your neighbors. Ms. Lopez was sweeping the street in front of her home when stranger approached her asking, "Is that the house of Mr. Baluga?"
"No. That's the house of Ms. Tanggaro,"replied Ms. Lopez.
Later in the evening Ms. Lopez related the incident to her helper, Bing. Bing commented,"Do you know Evelyn, the daughter of Ms. Tanggaro? Her husband is Ben Baluga."
Ms. Lopez thought regretfully, "If I knew my neighbor, I could have helped the stranger."
Avoid Self-Centeredness.
Christian commitment in community is not base on the extent to which we see the community fulfilling our own needs or the extent to which the interest of the total community matches our self-interest, but rather the extent to which we have given up self in order to live the new life to which God has called us. Unless we are prepared to die for each other, we are not ready to love and live for each other. (Gish, 1979, p.47)
Self always asks, "What can I benefit from this?" On the other hand, a healthy community spirit would ask, "What can I do, what can I share for the good of the whole neighborhood?"
Pride is related to self-centeredness. As we work together in a community we cannot always be number one. It does not really matter if we are the head or the tail. What matters is that we work harmoniously together to improve our communities.
This means avoiding division and party spirit.
It is said that Filipinos are highly individualistic and regionalistic. This is where the kanya-kanya concept enters. It could mean minding one's own business and it could also mean lack of concern for others. (Andres, 1988, p.5)
Do we have to be divided? No! We can transcend our differences and corporately work together to achieve community goals. Proof of this is seen in our school buildings, feeder roads, irrigation systems, and artesian wells built with the least expense in the shortest possible time because of the bayanihan spirit.
Beware of the envy and strife. Filipinos have big hearts, able to accept and ever growing extended family. This is most admirable until envy and strife borne by conflicts of interest create broken relationships and problems that hamper community progress.
The parasite syndrome is also a form of self-centeredness. we have needs and we do not lift a finger to earn a living. We depend upon others, our extended families, who prop us up with dole outs. If everyone is a parasite, our communities would get nowhere. Every member of the community should aim at self-reliance and contributing to the building up of the community.
Get Involved in the community affairs.
The Filipino word for this is makialam. It is so easy for us to say, "Wala akong pakialam!" (I don't care!), if matters do not directly affect us. For example, it is natural for us to keep immediate surroundings clean, yet be apathetic toward garbage outside our fence. Our involvement ends with the boundaries of our property. If our families have problems, we are eager if not desperate to find solutions. If it concerns others we are indifferent. Obviously there is a need for change.
One Filipino concept of property is that public property is my property. "The Filipino value of sakop makes public and private properties assume a communal dimension" (Andres, 1989, p.102). Whenever we are residing, the community is ours. Our boundaries do not end with our property lines. They extend to our subdivision, our barangay, our district, our city.
Get involved and work for and support a clean government. There is a need for us to actively fight corruption in our government. Whatever contribution in our government. Whatever contribution we make matters. As ordinary citizens we can help by refusing to give grease money whether explicitly asked for or implied; by reporting cases of graft and corruption, whether big or small; by expressing appreciation to deserving government employees and officials, and finding ways to encourage them.
Get involved in barangay projects like "Alis Disease", "Clean and Green", anti-rabies vaccinations for pets, street and estero cleaning, damayan during calamities, and orderly conduct in traffic. "Community means relationships, participation in community affairs and projects. Make your life count by serving others" (Jackson, 1974, p.58).
Get involved in social concern programs that alleviate the plight of the poor. Don't just respond to crises, help promote health and wholeness among the less fortunate (Clark, 1977, p.4).
Get involved and help rid our communities of corrupt influences. Residential areas should not allow houses of prostitution, gambling dens, disco and beer houses, and other establishments that erode moral values especially of minors. With people power, our communities can be purged of these institutions and successfully prevent the entrance of businesses that are bad influences.
whatever investment we make in our communities will ultimately return to us.
See You, Other Time..
zoni