Rise Above the Storm

As I helplessly watch and read news about the victims of the Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, I wonder, what the hell am I doing here in a company / country run by people with excessively lavish lifestyles while my countrymen suffer?

Out of frustration, I blame it on Janet Lim Napoles and all other corrupt government officials who abuse the use of the country’s funds. But then I thought, who placed these greedy monsters to their seat of power, isn’t it the people as well? But what about those who voted for the right, honest politicians, well, they did not believe enough in their candidates to campaign for them and made sure that every Filipino chooses wisely. 

But no matter where I point my finger at, 3 other fingers point back at me and yes, I ask myself, “What have I done for my country?” I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication but I chose to be a corporate slave in a foreign company just so I could support my family. I have access to very powerful tools in social media such as Facebook and yet I chose to post selfies that make Donya Ina’s blood boil and other nonsensical outbursts instead of being an example of a concerned citizen by using the media as a tool for RELEVANT information dissemination or for soliciting change for the betterment of a cause.

Though these things display careless apathy on my part, I did not cause the political, socio-economical, natural and moral chaos in our country by myself. Many people are involved. In the country’s current state, almost majority of the Filipinos have spun the web of self-destruction in the country.

The forever closet-optimist that I am, (or so I think) is hoping that it is not too late to start with little habits or acts of caring for the country. These little ripples of love for our country (and Nature) should start within us to achieve the effect that we want and need now, more than ever.

I ask each and every educated individual who uses the internet, please be conscientious and responsible in using the medium and turn it into the powerful tool that it is to effect change for the country’s rise above all storms.