Thursday, August 18, 2011

Exploring the Filipino Psyche Day 21: “Have Mercy” (Inspired by Conrado de Quiros’ article today (August 18, 2011: “Still, ‘awa’ ”)


               ‘Awa’, this word was part of Conrado de Quiros’ title for the day in his column, and I chose to ponder on the same sentiment. This, in the English language, means sympathy for others or mercy. Now the challenge for me right now is to be able not to mince Conrado’s words with mine. His words are his, and I will see what I can come up with by using mine.
                The Filipino behavior is kind and forgiving in nature. Although I do believe that this forgiving quality is a strong point of the Filipino, in my opinion, this quality is also our flaw. While reading Conrado’s article, I could not help but give approving nods in parts where he stressed the Pinoy’s ‘awa’ factor. Filipinos were brought up in a Catholic/ Christian environment, so it seems to me that even though we are not one in this faith, since majority of the people belong to this faith, its influence had rubbed off to the culture itself. Thus, having the similar definition on how to handle forgiveness and mercy.
In the Filipino community, forgiveness to those who have wronged us is very much integrated within our system that the end result is usually forgetfulness. In all this exchange I get myself into regarding issues of all sorts, I find this statement taken by the bible—“Let the man who has never sinned cast the first stone.” –as a recurring remark of others to defend their stand. In my view, this line has been somewhat misinterpreted in essence. Mary Magdalene was judged for being a prostitute. She was judged for being who she was. And this may be in line with someone who has AIDS or someone who did drugs. They are judged. But the difference is they did not do anything to directly hurt us. They did not treat us badly and they did not offend us in any way; but the people I  refer to, such as the corrupt officials, did. These people have treated us harmfully and in a very hurtful manner: they steal from us, they oppress us, and they disrespect us. And here we are, when we see them suffer a little, ‘awa’ outpours and everything is forgiven.
                 I remember when Mr. Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada was jailed after EDSA 2, suddenly a somber mood filled the air and everyone, or almost everyone, went “Kawawa naman (Pity him). ” when he was finally arrested, rethinking if we should really put the former president behind bars and in such a sorry state. After a few years, the rage that turned into pity transformed into forgiveness, and finally forgetfulness. And this enabled Mr. Estrada to run again and almost win the presidential seat. He finished number 2 in the race.  
Then there was Mr. Angelo Reyes who was called by the Senate for questioning. He was scrutinized and badgered. A shock came to the country when suddenly he committed suicide. Everything was forgiven, after a little while, again, everything was forgotten. Amnesia spread all over the country that he was even buried at the “Libingan ng mga Bayani”. I do not believe in mocking the dead, but to be given so much honor to someone who died with corruption still connected to his name, at least in allegation, should have been buried quietly by family and close friends—a private burial should have sufficed. Just like a friend of my sister said, “Angelo Reyes’s suicide can not be defined as a heroic act and should not be seen as ‘hara kiri’. Hara kiri is a Japanese practice, and we are not Japanese.” And as someone born and raised a Catholic, Mr. Angelo Reyes himself may have not perceived his own doing as an act of bravery, but a surrender to cowardice. I respect him as a human being, but I believe the probing of his connection to corruption should not end with his death.
Next is the gentlemanly move of Mr. Miguel Zubiri. Never in Philippine history did a senator resign when hunches of anomaly surrounded his being an elected official. I look up to what he did. But after a few days, I saw a paid ad in the newspaper praising too much the honorable act, and suddenly I doubted the man and his sincerity. For it is displays like these that makes me think: “Are you taking advantage of our ‘awa’ behavior to win you some ‘pogi’ points?” It has happened then, it is not far from possible for these things to happen again.
Then there is the former President Gloria M. Arroyo, also known as GMA. St. Lukes Hospital is where she runs to when called for questioning by the Senate. She may be in a serious condition, and she may be suffering from physical pain; but it is not far from my thoughts that she might be hoping to bank on our ‘awa’ trait to forgive, and eventually forget her wrongdoings such as taking us as fools by sucking us dry.
So the ‘awa’ behavior, or the sympathy we have for others is a good trait, but also a bad one. This sympathy should be for those whom we have judged. But mercy for those who have wronged us gravely and who have chosen to strip us off our dignity, well, to forgive them—maybe, in time; to forget what they did to us—never.


Conrado de Quiros' article : http://opinion.inquirer.net/10151/still-'awa'