Jaren

Water is the most valuable natural resource on Earth. With its vital and significant role, it is often equated with life itself. The Philippines, in particular, greatly relies on water. Being an archipelago surrounded by huge bodies of water, the country heavily utilizes water for common necessities, agriculture, and industry. However, as the country undergoes massive urbanization, vast industrialization, and rapid population growth, water pollution has started to prevail as an urgent environmental issue.

According to the Water Environment Partnership in Asia, the quality of Philippine waters has drastically worsened throughout the years especially in densely populated areas and regions of industrial and agricultural activities. The organization Greenpeace lists down raw sewage, chemical products, solid waste, industrial wastewater, and agricultural runoff as some of the many contributors to the extensive pollution in water bodies. For one, the Marilao River that traverses through Bulacan and Manila is often part of lists of the most polluted rivers in the world because of the aforementioned reasons. And it is just one of the 50 dead rivers in the country.

Combined with natural causes such as El Niño and climate change, water pollution has caused severe scarcity of clean water for sanitation, drinking, agriculture, and industrial purposes. In 2018, it was projected that the country will most likely face severe water shortage in the next ten years. Only 47% of the 127 freshwater bodies in the Philippines has good water quality. Water.org stated that nine million Filipinos rely on unsafe water supplies while the UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene program notes that 30 million do not have access to adequate sanitation facilities. As a result, 55 people die daily according to a report of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

With the alarming state of water pollution in the country, there are several policies and programs created by the government and private organizations to alleviate the problem. The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275) is a government mandate that “provides a comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent and minimize pollution through a multi-sectoral and participatory approach involving all the stakeholders.” Led by the DENR, the R.A. 9275 obligates every governing and sectoral body and agency in implementing proper waste disposal practices and water quality management. Fines and penalties ranging from ₱10,000 to ₱3,000,000 and criminal charges will be imposed to violators, especially manufacturers. The World Bank, through its Manila Third Sewerage Project, has helped in solving the sewage wastewater problem in Manila Bay. It provided 77,000 water-sewage connections, desludged over 262,000 septic tanks, improved soil conditions with treated sewage, and educated 3.5 million people of the importance of clean water advocacies.

Greenpeace Philippines, in collaboration with the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register, is pushing for the concept of Clean Production. It aims to revise production and consumption patterns by eliminating hazardous chemicals, reducing generated waste, decreasing the need for raw materials and energy, and utilizing clean and renewable energy sources. And just recently, the San Miguel Corporation has made astounding progress in its ₱2-billion Pasig River cleanup initiative. By July of 2021, 54,000 metric tons of slit and solid waste from the river have been removed. With its current output, it is expected to reach its goal to extract 3 million metric tons of waste faster. The Pasig River project is also part of the corporation’s larger goal on cleaning up major waterways connected to Manila Bay. They are also involved in cleaning up the Tullahan River system and enhancing the river channel of the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River system.

Although all the listed solutions above have massive budgets, strong manpower, and influential leaders, they wouldn’t be a success without the community’s involvement. As a matter of fact, these projects would not produce results if normal citizens do not contribute to the greater cause. This is why it is important for every Filipino to be involved in clean water initiatives whatever way they can. The most common way is by adhering to the rules of the Clean Water Act. Although it may seem small in comparison to agricultural runoff and industrial wastewater, household wastewater negatively affects water systems just as much, if not even more because of its total accumulation. This is why proper waste disposal must be practiced in every household to avoid blocking and contaminating waterways with food waste and oil among other things.

People can also join or donate to organizations like Greenpeace and Water.org to amplify the initiatives and advocacies of the group. Participating in peaceful protests, fund drives, workshops, and outreach programs will significantly help in reaching and realizing the organization’s visions and goals for clean water. One can also volunteer to be part of local river and water clean ups. Before the SMC’s Pasig River project, there were already a team of “river warriors” that initiated the clean up of the Pasig River. Beginning a cleanup project can attract both huge investors and the government to help out and provide more support. And most importantly, every single citizen must stay updated and educated of the state of water pollution in the country. Progress will only happen if everyone is aware of the undertaking. It is the responsibility of every person to educate and help one another.

Water is undoubtedly of the utmost importance in the Philippines. Not only does it provide an aesthetic boost to the country’s rich archipelagic landscape, it births and gives life to the Filipinos. Taking care of it is a non-negotiable task for everyone. And right now as the country progresses and develops, it must bring along virtues to protect water. After all, the Philippines wouldn’t be where it is without water. It is time to fully realize the responsibilities implied in the all-true saying, “Water is life.”

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management or DRRM refers to the implementation of ethics and procedures that aim to reduce damage caused by natural hazards such as floods, land ruptures, and fires. Unlike before when it only involves government response and recovery, DRRM urges each member of the community to learn about their areas and its risks and properly prepare before natural hazards occur. It measures the disaster risk of a community by taking hazard, vulnerability, and exposure into account and formulating action plans to be done before, during, and after a disaster. Implementing DRRM significantly lessens the damages on buildings and infrastructures, prevents adverse socio-economical losses, and most importantly, protects the lives of many people.

With the help of HazardHunterPH, I learned that our location is safe from most hazards; only ground shaking and ashfall being the biggest threats. And I believe that the damage these two critical hazards can bring are lessened because our house is built in accordance to the Structural Code of the Philippines (mitigating ground shaking) and can be closed off completely (preventing ashfall from entering).

screenshots from HazardHuterPH assessment

Our barangay also conducts some DRRM activities like Fire Prevention Month during March, drainage and street cleaning, and road and facility reconstruction. Right now as I write this, our street’s drainage system is being fixed by the barangay to prevent potential flooding.

Although our location is safe from most hazards, we will still strictly practice and adhere to DRRM guidelines. Personally, our family will buy a battery-powered radio and start stocking up a food and water bank that we can depend on when we’re forced to stay inside our house during calamities. Besides that, we will be actively participating on barangay DRRM activities like community cleaning and DRRM orientation and education. If possible, I would volunteer as a “teacher” of DRRM that would go house-to-house in our barangay and provide residents hazard assessments through HazardHunterPH, action plans, and first aid and response kits (flashlight, whistle, gauzes, disinfectants). Overall, I aim to shed light on the importance of DRRM in our households and our community.

When I was a kid, I used to think that as long as you know the National Anthem, you show respect to the country, and you help your fellow Filipinos, you are a good Filipino citizen. However, as I grew up, I came to the realization that it wasn’t that simple. A major turning point for me happened during the height of the war on drugs. To combat the Philippines’ drug problem, President Rodrigo Duterte commanded police and armed forces to extrajudicially kill people they either suspect or confirm to be drug dealers or users. At first, I felt pretty indifferent if not supportive of it because I believed it had good intention – to bring criminals to justice. But then, news of falsely accused people being unjustly slain started to blow up. 2017 was especially eye-opening for me when the story of Kian delos Santos, an innocent teenager who fell victim to the extrajudicial killings, came to light. These brutal events proved to me that my understanding of what makes a good Filipino citizen is immensely naïve. And to this day, as I become more exposed to the realities and injustices of our country, I feel more than obligated to learn the answer to the question “What makes a good Filipino citizen?”

As a start, I employed the help of my best friend Len and her mother Manang by asking for their opinions. I had these questions for them:

1. Are you proud to be a Filipino? What do you think makes a Filipino a Filipino? Do you identify yourself more in terms of your regional ethnicity or as a Filipino in general?

2. Have you experienced any issues on cultural sensitivity and diversity?

3. What makes a good Filipino citizen? What can you do in your everyday life to be a good Filipino citizen?

With the first question, they both said they are proud to be Filipino. Manang’s answer to the second part, however, was particularly interesting and thought-provoking. She said that she identifies herself equally as a Bicolano and a Filipino, unlike Len who said that she sees herself more as a Filipino in general. And according to Manang, being proud of both one’s regional ethnicity and one’s nationality is what makes a Filipino a Filipino. Both I was astounded with this answer as I had the mindset that you should set aside your regional ethnicity and embrace your Filipino nationality more to be a Filipino. What Manang said gave me a brand new perspective on the notion of being a true Filipino.

As for the next one, only Manang recalled an experience of cultural discrimination. She told us that she was mocked and ridiculed because of her skin color. Even though I am used to hearing accounts of blatant colorism in our country, it still angers me how this colonial mindset has continued to persist among us. Len, who has paler skin, added that it was extremely unfair that Manang had to go through that when she herself didn’t have to.

And for the last question, they listed down two main points. The first one is that we should be law-abiding citizens. The next point though is what they gave the most emphasis in. They said that the most important thing that we must do to be considered good citizens is to make sure we are aware and are participating in what’s happening in the Philippines. Len specifically stated that registering for the elections is the best action that we do right now. She stressed how it’s vital that we vote for the right people and that we encourage others to do so.

Len and Manang provided excellent responses to my questions. In general, their mindset of what makes a good Filipino citizen can be summarized into three main points – one must be proud of their identity, must be strongly against cultural discrimination, and must be actively involved in the country. I think the reason behind this lies on their personal experiences and views. According to them, they are constantly trying to make ends meet that Len had to pause college and look for a job. Manang said that even though hard work is an admirable trait for young people to have, it shouldn’t come at the cost of having to stop their education. They would also share and agree on observations of their neighbors. Manang mentioned how sad she is that many children, including her grandchildren, in their neighborhood has no resources to go to school and also added how there has been an alarming increase in teenage pregnancy in where they live. Len attributed that to the considerably high unemployment rate among the parents of these children, stating that without enough money to sustain anything except basic necessities, children are left with no choice but to grow up faster. These to them are clear indications that change must happen. And for that to come true, we must become good Filipino citizens. With their insights, I continued on my search.

I decided to first revisit the origin and the meaning of the word “citizen”. According to Aristotle, a citizen is someone who participates in the political life of the state. Contrary to our usual understanding of politics, politics meant something different for Aristotle and the Ancient Greeks. Politics refer to the activities and ongoings inside the city-state or the Polis. That would mean that every citizen within the Polis, regardless of standing and identity, is a valuable participant in politics. Furthermore, being a citizen means being free. A citizen has the freedom to speak, compare their views with those of others, persuade others, arrive at common agreements, act, initiate new beginnings, and organize. This Athenian definition of citizen is helpful in recontextualizing our image of a good Filipino citizen. It is true that us Filipinos are actively involved in the political sphere of our country, but most of us see it more as a hierarchy of rulers and followers. Some of us idolize certain figures that we end up voting for them to rule over us, not represent us. Our prevalent idea of a good citizen is someone who merely follows the rules regardless of its implications and never challenges the rulers who made them.

After that, I looked up more on nation and culture and its extension with nationalism. Benedict Anderson describes nation as an imagined community that is limited and sovereign. There is so much to unpack from this but at its core, nation is seen as a group of different people that share a diverse culture. Culture is a set of shared experiences and history that serves as the foundations of a nation. It constantly evolves and strengthens the identity of its people. It is extremely clear how nation and culture are fundamental aspects of our lives as humans and how important it is that we put in our best effort to protect and fortify its integrity. This is where nationalism comes in. Nationalism is the act and virtue of placing importance in the nation and its culture when making and institutionalizing executive decisions and actions that will significantly affect the lives of its citizens. Often confused with patriotism, scholars emphasized that nationalism serves and advocates for the rights and welfare of the people in a nation rather than its pride and ego as a collective. Although this is how it’s defined, history shows us that this hasn’t always been the case. Duterte’s war on drugs is a vivid example of misguided nationalism. Instead of reassuring the safety and security of the Filipino people, the war on drugs was more inclined on presenting the Philippines to the world as “clean and disciplined” thanks to the administration’s great efforts. It never had the Filipino public at its best interest. It was more of a publicity stunt to show off the power the government holds. This is obviously worthless if not even destructive for the entire Filipino nation and culture. It had no sense of genuine nationalism that the country needed especially at the time.

Now, going back to the question “What makes a good Filipino citizen?” The answer lies on intelligent citizenship. Equipped with the knowledge and true understanding of citizen and nationalism, we can slowly build up our plans on achieving intelligent citizenship. We begin by introducing ourselves to our main essence as citizens, freedom. We must fully embrace our inherent right to speak and act freely. We can only be true citizens if we are free from any restrictions placed by other people like censorship, silencing, and killing. To fully achieve freedom, we must start manifesting what comes with our freedom in ourselves. We do that by practicing our right to act, organize, and initiate new beginnings. Together, we can work towards reclaiming what was taken away from us by people who didn’t see us equally. We need to realize that our current understanding of politics does not embody its true Athenian origin. This must be changed as we have as big of a part in politics as those who are in position. We, normal citizens, own politics, not the other way around.

With that being said, we should also keep in mind that freedom has its own setbacks. Freedom to speech and action can also breed lies and misinformation. This is why we must advocate for education especially for young people who are impressionable and easily influenced. It is important for us, people who were given the chance to learn, to extend to those who haven’t yet. Another thing is that freedom does not guarantee us a unified mindset and a preferential treatment to our truths. There will be people, educated or not, who will go against what we stand for. So for us to truly progress, we should be approaching this through genuine dialects and productive conversations with one another. We must also accept in ourselves that along with our ability to persuade, we ourselves can be persuaded. And through education and patience, we know when and where we have to do which.

And much like the meaning of citizen, we must also recognize and understand true nationalism. Especially now when more and more are suffering, it is time we initiate actions that amplify the voices of the Filipino people. Fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, for example, are in desperate need of our help to protect and fight for them from international threats that seem to go unnoticed by officials with the lack of response. Indigenous groups like Lumad tribes are being constantly raided and bombed by soldiers who were sworn to protect all Filipinos because of cultural discrimination. These are just a few examples that highlight the importance of nationalism. We must uphold the inherent value of every Filipino. No matter what language they speak, what customs they follow, what color their skin is, and who they are. Every Filipino deserves the right to live.

Without a doubt, being a good Filipino citizen is not easy. It goes beyond knowing the National Anthem, respecting the country, and helping your fellow Filipinos. It is a draining and tiring endeavor that we will have to do every day. It can seem too idealistic, unrealistic, and maybe even impossible. But, this is the only way we can have a future that we can be proud of. Like all of the heroes in history, we must continuously stand up for ourselves. We don’t need to go full on from the get go. We can start small by helping a friend in need, a family, or a small neighborhood. And if we can’t do that, we can vote and support people that will be able to help them. Every small act of compassion and love for our nation, people, and culture is a huge contribution. What’s important is that we don’t stay silent and meek. Because if we do, we may never live to see what could’ve been a great nation of great people.

When I think of a film that represents an extremely marginalized gender group in the Philippines, Die Beautiful comes out on top. The film narrates the life of a transwoman, Trisha Echevarria, through her funeral. By her request, she is transformed into different celebrities during her week-long wake. And with every makeup look and every gorgeous gown, her bittersweet story unfolds. Every major event in her life is retold to highlight the grim realities of a human deemed “unnormal” by society in her pursuit for purpose and happiness.

While it showcased the flamboyant and entertaining life of Trisha as a beauconera, Die Beautiful didn’t shy away from presenting the ordeals she went through because of her identity. As a matter of fact, her dazzling looks and hilarious gimmicks provided an effective juxtaposition to the severity of her experiences. She constantly faced prejudice from a heteronormative society; was kicked out by her father without having the means to live by herself; suffered physical and sexual trauma; was emotionally manipulated by people she trusted; and was overall denied of her rights as a human being because of her gender. Die Beautiful is an artistic manifestation of real gender issues transwomen face in our society.

Trisha’s story reflects the unfortunate truth of many transwomen today. Countless stories of transwomen being subjected to discrimination and hate have made headlines. Some of these even reach worse levels like in the case of Jennifer Laude who was murdered by Joseph Pemberton in 2014. And Pemberton’s release in 2020 further proves the systematic injustice in cases involving transwomen. The fact that Die Beautiful didn’t have any scene of Trisha seeking justice implies a lack of support, protection, and justice for people like her. There’s not enough constitutional mandates that guarantee the safety of marginalized gender groups in the Philippines. And that has to change now.

The passing of the SOGIE[SC] Equality Bill will significantly help in alleviating the problems faced by marginalized gender groups like transwomen. Under this legislation, it outlaws people who perpetuate and use stigmas and stereotypes of other’s SOGIESC to inflict hate, violence, and abuse. It also addresses the socio-economical security concerns of people who are denied jobs and resources because of their SOGIESC. It promotes education and understanding of SOGIESC among people. And most importantly, it emphasizes that a person’s SOGIESC does not remove their inherent rights and dignity as human beings.

Die Beautiful, through its vibrant and colorful imagery of the lives of transwomen, reminds us that they are as valuable as any other person. And as per Trisha’s “If I will die and be blessed to live again, I want to still be who I am in this life today” spiel, we owe it to people like her to make the world a better place for them in the future. Because like us, they are humans who deserve to not only die beautiful, but also live beautiful.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significant role of health workers in our society. From social media posts to news stories, it is evident how the country relies heavily on the dedication and hard work of these frontliners during these tumultuous times. However, despite their undeniable importance, a lot of them have started to step down and quit due to poor working conditions and delayed salaries and benefits. Not only are they assigned to high risk departments like COVID wards and emergency rooms for extremely long hours, their compensations are also either late, unsustainable, or even worse, not given at all. Last year saw about 40% of private hospital nurses resigning and this seems to have continued up to today. In April 2021, St. Luke’s Medical Center received an influx of resignations, most of which are from people who have found better opportunities abroad. As of September this year, 127,332 health workers are still waiting for their special risk allowance from the Department of Health. And it looks like next year would be harder for them as the department’s 2022 budget did not allocate funds for these benefits. And because of these, some of them have come to the streets to demand for their rights only to be met by silence or hate. These, among other problems, reflect the depressing and infuriating situation of essential health workers in the Philippines. And an immediate yet strong solution is needed more than ever.

It must be emphasized that health workers are the backbone of the country during this health crisis. Therefore, the government must place a huge priority on their safety and welfare. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as surgical masks, respirators, isolation gowns, gloves, and face shields should be regularly supplied. The Department of Health and other related agencies should encourage and cooperate with companies to increase PPE productions and delivery. They should be willing to reach out to private sectors for help to ensure that health facilities are supplied with sufficient resources. Wages and benefits must always be given on time. It may not be increased salaries, but giving health workers their promised compensations must still be done. Bills advocating for the proper and timely compensation of health workers should be made and passed to hold the DOH and employers accountable for any mishandling of funds dedicated for benefits and stipends. It must be set in stone what the responsibilities and obligations of the government are on health workers. As for us, following the guidelines set by medical professionals would prevent overwhelming the health workforce. If capable, we ourselves can make donations of any kind that could help them. And most importantly, when we see health workers standing up for their rights to good working conditions and sustainable salaries and benefits, we must stand up with them. Call out people who mock and insult the rightful shouts of medical workers. Demand for their rights and privileges to be given to them.

Words of appreciation and gratitude for these frontliners are not enough. We must remember, that like us, they also have responsibilities outside of work. They have bills to pay and families to sustain. Instead of being passive about their struggles and hardships, we must fully understand and empathize with them. If we truly see them as our modern heroes, we must also acknowledge that behind their heroic façade lies humans with rights and dignity that we must all defend and fight for. It’s one of the least we can do for what they have done for us.

To combat the spread of COVID-19 in the Philippines, different quarantine protocols and lockdown guidelines are mandated by the government. In heavily populated areas like Metro Manila, even stricter rules are imposed. Some of which involve longer curfew hours and higher age restrictions for outdoor mobility. Multiple problems arise from the strict nature of these protocols, one of which came in the form of unjust and extreme implementations by authorities. This year, multiple news stories of quarantine violators being subjected to inhumane and unnecessary punishments came to light. Darren Manaog Peñaredondo from Cavite was reportedly forced to do 300 rounds of pumping exercises as punishment which caused his eventual death the following day. Ernanie Lumban Jimenez died from his injuries after being allegedly assaulted and beaten by at least two barangay tanods in Laguna after being caught outside. 59-year-old mentally disabled Eduardo Geñoga was shot dead by a barangay tanod during curfew hours in Manila. And countless numbers of violators are either arrested and forced in overloaded detention facilities or publicly paraded and shamed by police forces. This is obviously a huge civil and political human rights violation that must be given the utmost attention.

Besides providing guidelines for citizens, imposing constitutional rules to be followed by the implementing bodies and figures is a huge part of the solution. It’s important to make it known and clear to everyone, especially defenseless civilians, what can and cannot be done to them to avoid being victims of power abuse and to hold authorities accountable. Instead of harsh punishments, alternatives like fines, community service, and COVID-19 education would be much better and actually more beneficial. Joint Task Force COVID Shield Commander Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazer even pointed these as the most logical courses of action. Fines collected from violators could be used by Local Government Units for COVID-19 response and other projects. Community service allows LGU programs to proceed faster with the added manpower. COVID-19 Education, of course, serves as a tool for people to understand the severity of the pandemic and the importance of complying to health protocols prepared and approved by professionals. Admittedly, this is all easier said than done as some violators will break the rules again and again. This is when us, other citizens, can step in to help. Be active in reminding other people of the different health guidelines that must be followed like wearing face masks and social distancing. Extending help to those struggling to meet needs brought by these strict protocols. However, while we’re doing these, we must also keep authorities in check. And when they step out of line, we must demand justice no matter what.

Although quarantine protocols and lockdown guidelines have immensely helped in slowing down transmission of the virus, this will never be a reason for authorities to be abusive towards the society they serve. Curfews and other restrictions do not grant them the power to inflict violence and brutality to people who can’t fight back. This is why our voices is important especially during this time when we are grounded by more restrictions. No amount of rules can strip away our rights and dignity as humans. It’s always with us and we must always stand up for it.

Much like any quirky Gen Z out there, I decided to take a personality test to learn more about myself. As a matter of fact, I’m so quirky that I took two – the Myer-Briggs Type Indicator or MBTI and the True Colors Personality Test. Now, I do like my fair share of personality tests. By that, I mean those little Buzzfeed quizzes where they tell you which Disney character you are based on your favorite foods. So, taking these comprehensive and actually used-by-experts tests took my typical light-hearted self-learning sessions to a whole new level.

I’ll go over my MBTI results first, INFJ. INFJ stands for Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Judging. First off, I think it was able to accurately describe my social battery and learning process. Being Introverted (I), I get tired when I’m with a lot of other people and I definitely need to have my alone time afterwards. I would almost always choose to be by myself, or at the most with a few close people. As for being Intuitive (N), I mostly learn from patterns and impressions and I enjoy thinking about the possibilities. I do catch myself a lot of times envisioning what the future is like instead of focusing in the present. Although, the thing that struck me the most about my results was how it described me, along with other INFJs, as a “walking contradiction.” A prime example of that being my next two traits. Having Feeling (F) as my dominant approach in creating decisions clash with my preference for structure and firm decisions in Judging (J). I was bewildered at first but upon reading the explanation, it started to make much more sense. The results explained that I may place a great emphasis on my emotions rather than facts but that doesn’t mean I’m wearing rose-colored glasses. My decisions are influenced by both my ideality and the reality. There’s so much more to unpack from my MBTI results but these points are the most impactful for me. These confirmed some of my surface level understanding of myself yet also dove deep into letting me know more about my complexities.

As for my True Colors Personality Test, my primary color is Green at 28%. It’s followed by 24% Blue, 21% Gold, and 10% Orange. My results focused on my primary color. Surprisingly, it had pretty much the same points as my MBTI; like how much I need time by myself to recharge and how I enjoy thinking about the possibilities. Besides that, it also points out how I have an innate desire to always do my best in my work which I can even attest to with this very writing. I am doing extra research and reading right now just so I can be sure that I’m discussing things right. Speaking of doing extra work, I also looked up the meaning of the other colors. Similarly to my MBTI, having Blue as my next color illustrates the way I greatly value emotions and compassion. As for Gold, it reiterates my need for structure and order which my MBTI stated. These two colors, like Green, do a great job at explaining who I am. Orange, on the other hand, is definitely last for a reason. Being Orange means being spontaneous which I am not. I prefer being prepared and I get very anxious when I’m put in sudden situations that I have no idea of. I do love fun adventures but I enjoy them when I have a firm understanding and good control over them. Overall, my True Colors was pretty much accurate to me. Although, I do have to say that True Colors was much more general and wasn’t as specific as MBTI was. Unlike in MBTI where you can get combinations of certain traits, you can only get one primary color with certain characteristics in True Colors.

Besides the things I mentioned from my results, another notable thing about these two personality tests was how a lot of the questions revolved on how I feel about other people and what I think others think about me. Maybe it’s because of the shallowness of the personality quizzes that I like to take, but I rarely think about others in getting to know more about who I am. When I sit down and reflect on myself, I really focus on myself. And now that I took the MBTI and True Colors tests, it was very immature of me to only consider that. So, these questions that revolved around others forced me to rethink about myself again. This time, considering others.

Like the INFJ and Green that I am, I decided to consult other resources to go on about this. I listened to a podcast episode of Serbisyong Tatak UPD that talked about understanding self and others. One key point discussed was how our lives are influenced by our surroundings, and that of course involves other people. And these other people all have varying levels of connection with us which in turn, have varying levels of influence on us. The podcast used family, friends, and strangers to illustrate this. As children, we mostly build up our character based on our dynamics with our families. Then when we grow up, we branch out and connect with strangers from which some become our friends. And with all of these different influences combined, we gradually form our own identity with simple things like hobbies and interests. This discussion helped me in understanding why some parts of my results are the way they are. For an example, I think a huge contributing factor as to why I am introverted is because my parents didn’t allow me to play outside with other kids too much due to my heart condition. Even though it may sound sad, it actually built up my appreciation for alone times. Even as years passed, I most enjoy being by myself or with my family and a few friends. This is just one of the many ways other people influenced a certain characteristic of mine but just knowing this one is a clear representation of how much others have an effect on my identity.

The next major point tackled in the episode is how self-awareness is the most important part in understanding one’s self. The podcast specifically labelled self-awareness as an impressive skill to have that serves a vital role in our lives. Looking at the world around us is a step towards knowing the reasons behind our character, but self-awareness is another step towards comprehending these reasons. Self-awareness is knowing, reflecting on, and accepting the influences others had on us. We evaluate all of the experiences we had growing up, apply the lessons from these, and change for the better moving forward. Through self-awareness, we can unlock more complex parts of ourselves like our strengths and weaknesses. My MBTI and True Colors might have helped me to become more literally aware of my personality, but what really drives me the most to rethink and be the best version of myself is other people. For one, I remember when I was starting high school that I stuck to the rules and never considered being flexible to accommodate people. It was cut and dry for me; either you follow or you don’t. This made some of my friends dislike me because I was being too strict even though I could have been more understanding. And because of that, I was urged to reevaluate myself and realize that I should be operating with a balance of both rationality and compassion. Reflecting on the ways others see me helped me in changing myself for the better.

The concept of others being vital in understanding ourselves put so much in perspective for me. I realized that our lives is a constant cycle of learning about ourselves and changing ourselves. It is indeed repetitive and may be tempting to try to break out from. However, instead of finding ways to avoid it, I believe that we should embrace it. What’s important in this life-long cycle is that we always think about others. We can only learn about ourselves if we are open with what others have to say about us. We can only change ourselves if we take into heart what others think of us. We can only help others if we have learned more about ourselves. I definitely will move forward having this on my mind. I will still take my time to answer my favorite Buzzfeed quizzes but this time, I will also take my time to listen to others, reflect on myself, and accept change. It’s not going to be easy. But I know, as a quirky Green and INFJ Gen Z, that I am not by myself. I have other people, all with different MBTIs and colors, by my side as I go through the journey of life.

The National Security Council of the Philippines points graft and corruption as one of the biggest threats to our national security. It states that graft and corruption saps public resources, undermines the morale of the civil service, affects the delivery of basic services, and hinders the country from addressing other national security concerns. This is extremely relevant now as we hear news and stories of the alleged participation of different government figures and sectors in this heinous act and the adverse effects this has had to our country.

So, what can we do?

We VOTE for the right people, ADVOCATE for transparency and accountability, and EDUCATE ourselves with the people and events that will shape our country and our future. It is important that we do these, especially now when our country has the biggest chance to change for the better. Together, we can TEAR DOWN graft and corruption!