Nadine Lustre laments 'toying' gov't, alleged Siargao assaults, tree cutting in mindfulness plea
MANILA, Philippines — Actress Nadine Lustre opened up to fans as she deplored a number of issues going around the Philippines.
Nadine shared a series of messages last May 22, Friday evening, to thousands of people in her "Daily Rant" Instagram broadcast channel to share things sitting heavily on her mind.
She shared opening her phone to seeing more stories and videos about "how deeply messed up so much of the world has become," calling it "undeniably overwhelming" and difficult not to be affected by consstant absence of respect.
"I've been thinking a lot about how respect goes far beyond politeness. I think it's a consciousness," Nadine continued. "A way of moving through the world with awareness. The understanding that we are not above anyone or anything else here."
The actress first brought up the recent alleged assaults of foreign nationals toward local establishment owners in Siargao, where she is now based.
Nadine described the treatment of locals as if they were lower class individuals, "As if hospitality means servitude, as if kindness gives them permission to disrespect boundaries, spaces, and people."
She laid down the "stories of aggression, entitlement, violence, and complete disregard for the community" which was already on the island before tourism boomed, lamenting her pain to see Siargao be treated like a "temporary playground."
The message then shifted to issues in government, which Nadine described as "a blatant s***show that it almost feels insulting."
"It's so obvious that so many of them are just toying with us, treating people like we're too blind to notice the corruption, incompetence, performative concern, and endless cycle of disappointment," she said. "And somehow ordinary people are always the ones left carrying the burden of their greed."
The actress also alluded to the recent cutting of decade-old trees in Metro Manila intended for the construction of the Southern Access Link Expressway to connect the Skyway to Roxas Boulevard.
She called the actions done in the name of "development" and "progress" feel more like steps backwards. "It's unsettling watching people destroy the very things that keep us alive so casually, as if nature is just another object to consume, reshape, or remove whenever it becomes inconvenient."
Nadine, an advocate for animal rights, also touched on the disregard for animal lives as if creatures don't exist beyond human convenience.
"People intentionally harming innocent beings that have done absolutely nothing to deserve cruelty. Treating lives as disposable because they cannot speak our language," said the actress.
The actress noted such incidents occur every day and circled back to consciousness, awareness, and mindfulness.
"I believe it's still worth reminding ourselves to move through the world with more mindfulness. More awareness. More love and compassion. More respect for people, communities, nature, animals, and lives outside of our own," she ended. "At the end of the day, the world doesn’t become gentler on its own. We have to choose it."
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