it’s bliss

We are not rootless, in fact, we are rooted on multiple ground. We are ready to assemble with other identities. So we should be careful who we choose to believe or follow. As I see it, the Filipino does not possess a single essence. We are essences unfolding. And this could be our greatest advantage. It is our challenge to manage all these, to find our own generation’s rhythm. With all its global tones and local hues. And that will be our identity.

We need to sift through all the beliefs we’ve inherited and dismiss all that tarnishes our noble collective soul. When we say we are not interested in partisan politics, we mean only that for the duration of Rock Ed’s existence, we will find out what our political rhythm is. We are a different generation, it doesn’t make sense to just inherit the existing beat of our country’s political dance. Towards 2015, we will continue to formulate our generation’s idea on how our country should be run.

We will discard the lies that have been passed onto generations and build the country and its institutions based on our truths.

And I invite all the people who trust their own integrity, to be heroes in the administration, no longer heroes in street protest, you need to take the helm. But til then, we will continue to ask questions, we will continue to run projects that make tiny dents in social change, we will train ourselves to be people who do not tire of being compassionate, we will work on getting to know our country better and eventually fall in love with it all over again, I am tired of flings with nationalism, I want true romance. Flings are exciting but fleeting. True romance is not as spark-ridden, it takes work and bearing dull days, devotion and fidelity. But this is what we all long for.

We will keep our hopes up– even when it seems unsound to do so.

We will find our stance. And we will stay there. We will be the nervous system of our country. And we will include the country even in our individual dreams. We will be the generation that, at the very least, tried to end the poverty of hope. We will rally each other on through music and poetry, sports and all of the arts. We will be prophets of our own future. We will be that and more. We will re-define Peace as not merely the absence of war or violence but the presence of social justice and development. We have too much to lose if we don’t start now.

I know it’s not hip to be this hopeful, nor is it practical to be this passionate everyday. But if we look at our country’s struggle with poverty with the rawness of honest eyes, then we know it makes less sense not to be.

Welcome to a nation of less excuses and indifference. Welcome to a Rock Ed nation abound with passion, genius, and kindness.

Welcome to Rock Ed Philippines.

——————-
by Gang Badoy, taken from http://www.rockedphilippines.org/

Words like these never fail to move me. It transforms my usually-stable state of mind into a weird mix of goo and cement–something emotionally-tear-salty-wet-and-icky yet emblazed-and-emboldened-tough. I feel guilt. Because it’s so true how I can easily relate to the urgent sense of nationalism, yet it remains something that i DON’T automatically feel in my trivial everyday life.

But I DO try to get involved. I try to include our country in my life’s goals.

And only then do I feel a wee bit stronger. And as I read articles like hers further, I feel inspired and empowered by people who have such strong beliefs and high hopes.

 It’s true what Gang says. About optimism. It seems crazy to feel positive all the time…But I’ve always believed it’s the only way to live. And I’m relieved to see that I’m not the only who feels that way.

I only pray I won’t ever lose the passion.