The Grievances of the Ordinary Filipino

Image courtesy of Inquirer

Why is the world so cruel to those with agonizing circumstances? Why can’t it spare a modicum of consideration for the everyday man who has nothing but incomparable grit and abundant ambition?

There’s a unique kind of torture in waking up each day to an inescapable reality, especially when it’s the only option standing. It’s so easy to preach mindset shifts and silver linings to the distressed, but even if they give it an honest shot, the illusion breaks down the moment they land back in packed trains and nauseating sidewalks under the sweltering heat of Manila.

And yet the ordinary Filipino continues to persevere, even if that means trudging through flooded streets, squeezing through sweaty crowds, and working with insane dedication for a wage that barely sustains life. And how funny it is to be put through the wringer constantly, just to be viewed as the emblem of the nation’s “resilience”. Why does the suffering of the common man have to be celebrated? The world sees an inspiring story, but has it ever tried to read between the lines?

When that perseverance becomes a cry for help, does it still remain a poetic tale?

When that suffering hardens into resentment, will the world still celebrate?

In a snobbish metropolis like Manila, where the elite thrive and the poor survive, demanding an end to injustice is rarely dignified. Oftentimes, hoping for it is even deemed naive. But what else can the masses cling to but hope? When the rain won’t let up and the jeepneys run at a faster pace, they can only hope to get home to their families intact. When they’re dumped with a late shift and a daunting workload, they can only hope to catch the last train. When the pending bills loom overhead but the money runs low, they can only hope to stretch what little they have left until the next payday.

The world doesn’t like it when that hope grows bigger and louder. And once that grievance becomes collective, it is treated as a nuisance and likened to a whining child deprived of sweet treats. The inspiring story then becomes a trashy headline: Have the masses become greedy?

The ordinary Filipino is condemned for simply wanting a better life, and the rich man has once again averted his gaze.

And everyday I grieve for and with my countrymen, wondering when the world will finally be in favor of the indefatigable.