Filipino attitude toward financial opportunities

One of the Filipino characters we are known for wherever part of the globe we stay or whatever way the world brings us into madness is resilience. It’s easy for us to stand up from an ugly situation and smile like how we do it during fiestas or birthdays. There’s is nothing to celebrate, but naturally we see some fun even in trying times that’s why we do say it’s more fun in the Philippines.

Now a pandemic comes in. Some of us are still proud of being resilient in the aspect of looking for fun despite the horrific situation of being contaminated by a virus while some no longer enjoy it. Our suffering now brings us more stress and learning most especially, I’ll say it again, about financial stability. We are thankful for the government subsidies but as we learn we realize not to depend and entrust our entire appetite to them. One of the heaviest problems that give us more trouble than any other is our empty pocket. We have no work, we also have no pay. We have risky work but we also get less pay. The core which is common to the two is most of the working middle and lower class did not prepare to save money for this unexpected global crisis. Some reasons which might be the problem prior to our situation now are our “bahala na”, “alam ko na yan” and “saka na lang” attitude as identified by The Financial Today site. These are some qualities that we are also known for when it comes to dealing with financial opportunities.

Another thing which sounds perfectly good but crucial when we are not yet in heaven is our habit of putting everything in faith without grinding. We pray unceasingly which is spiritually good but never try hard to understand that one way to answer our prayer comes from our choice and will to do whatever it takes.

At the early outbreak of this pandemic, for example, I heard a lot of expressions from anyone like “Ginoo nay bahala, ampo lang ta”, “Aw, kong maigo sa virus, igo gud hadlok manta nga naa may Ginoo!”, and “kung panahon na nato edi dawaton gud!” I’m not sure if this is the sound of giving up but I’m pretty sure this is the sound of a call to responsible freedom. It sounds unfair but truly everything depends on our choice; if you made a bad choice you also get a bad consequence, so don’t think that God would make a choice for you. God has already given us the power to help ourselves. God is there to fuel us through others and through the opportunities around us. The same with our financial stability problem, we don’t have to wait for the grace of God to come. Of course, something will surely happen by law of helping but for personal progress it’s a different story.

May we learn to work so hard and be wise with using our energy to generate good income. May we understand the value of saving for tomorrow. Work and pray as if the next crisis is coming. Sustain life and don’t surrender by simply dying. Protect your dream, protect your life. Know you can do it.

Edmer John Caballes

Cebu City