A thought came to mind during a conversation with some people. Someone said, “Filipinos don’t rest.” It dawned on me how true this is. We work so hard, all the time. We don’t rest. Even thinking about it sounds tiring. It has been this way for as long as we know. If you live in the Philippines, you need to work to survive.
What is survival? Basically, we know it as having a roof over our heads, having three meals a day, and living a safe life. But there is so much more. I mean, if this definition is enough, why do we keep working? Filipinos want a comfortable life wherein they also get things beyond the basics. Having a good life is the goal. Working seems to supply us with the means to survive, and to have a good life.
I’ve always had this sense of guilt that if I don’t move and do something with purpose, I’m wasting my life. I’ve grown up with this feeling. I’ve also seen people around me, like family, working non-stop. I used to study non-stop. I didn’t sleep well, and had too much coffee to stay awake. Now I somewhat regret not taking a break and enjoying what is in front of me. I started valuing rest. I even advocate for people to know when and how to stop.
But what drove me to work so much is the sense of purpose. I wanted to live a good life, and I continue to have this desire. I want to live a good life in this country. I know people want to continue living here, and in order to get through our daily lives, we work. In cities, we work in order to cover living expenses and to live a certain lifestyle. In provinces, people work in order to get food on their tables. Life is said to be slower in the provinces, but people work.
Filipinos are known as hard workers, but where are the results of this work? We educate so many people to be the best, but they can’t stay here for long. Things don’t go well here, or the job is not enough to sustain them. It’s amazing that even with the lack of proper education, people can still do well in the workforce. Everything seems to be the result of their own hard work, or sariling sikap.
Filipinos are known as hard workers, but where are the results of this work?
We have heard how people from other countries rave about vacations when they travel abroad. For Filipinos, it is commonly known that when we go abroad, we work, or find greener pastures. We are known for our work ethic. In these countries, we normally get the hardest jobs and don’t mind, as long as we get to work and earn a living, so that we can live. Recently, with the accessibility and development of the internet, people have been searching for work online. It seems like there are desirable results from working internationally.
Filipinos don’t rest. It’s exasperating. When do we stop? When do we get to live our lives? Isn’t it tiring to fight for your life? Where is the work-life balance? When do we get to do something that is for our own joy? When do we do something for ourselves? When do we get to taste the fruits of our labor? When do we get what we work for? When do we get the country we deserve? I have so many questions, filled with disdain and anger. It is exasperating when things don’t change and you’ve done your best. We just want change in the country because we believe it will result in a good life. We keep electing officials for change, often believing an official is different from the previous ones, believing that he or she can bring change.
But I wonder, is it our fault? Do we want to work? Is this a matter of learning how to balance things? I can answer this, but I see people around me who live the same and different lives from mine. But they are still living a certain way that doesn’t make them rest. We wake up early in the morning and work until the night. It takes a long time because of a lot of factors, but one common reason is the commute. The traffic is so bad, and for those taking public transportation, it’s not ideal. Recently, because of the pandemic, it is not so safe. These indicate that we have started to accept these kinds of things as normal. I know someone who even works overtime in order to avoid the commute.
Another thought occurs to me: How many dreams have been broken just because people’s jobs don’t fulfill these dreams? I have heard of a number of people who aren’t happy with their current situation. People have worked jobs that aren’t in their plans just so they could earn and do something with their lives. They put their dreams aside so that they can live. Is that even living?
The pandemic seemed to be a time when people rested. But it’s not exactly a rest when you have anxiety. A lot of people still needed to work. Is working for money or for purpose worth it if you’re depressed, full of anxiety, and getting sick? Filipinos deserve to rest. When will we get that? For how long are we going to hope our country is as progressive and well-off as others? When do we get to appreciate what we have or what our country has to offer, and live a good life? I honestly just keep dreaming, and hope I keep my faith in this dream. I really hope we go beyond dreams and get action.
