Week 4 | Keeping Bayanihan Spirit Forever Burning

Small But Terrible. The spirit of 'bayanihan' as observed in the colony of ants. Photograph courtesy of Mystic Shroom.

Success maybe the sweetest word our lips can ever tell once we’ve done an excellent job. Have you wonder what’s the reason behind this? It’s teamwork.

During my senior year in high school, my mentors convinced me to run for student executive council. Personally, I don’t like to be involved in politics. Ever since I saw the conditions of the Philippine government through various medium like TV and internet, I thought that the political scene in our country is in constant state of flux and have been dehumanized by our local opinion makers. For that, I decided not to join such an administrative body. One morning, my world began to stumble. A realization struck my heart and mind. I thought that how can I change the world if there’s a piece of me trying to escape the challenges of the real world. I felt that my school needs me that time to be part of everyone's dream. “I should be the catalyst of change”, a principle that pulled me to the verge of the challenges towards the betterment of my school, my nation and the world. My schoolmates granted me a position as one of the members of the council holding their trust and loyalty. The test that I faced on that year made me understand the true essence of teamwork. With everyone as part of one goal, I can humbly say that the projects and advocacies for my high school alma mater, whether big or small, became successful because of teamwork among the student body.

When was the last time you collaborated in a group project, or last time you supported an advocacy for nation-building? Most of the time, I felt depressed when I hear a story about Filipino pulling down a Filipino. Crab mentality, an action that is culturally unethical, should not be inherited by our younger generation. Dr. Jose Rizal once said, "It’s a useless life that is not concentrated to a great ideal. It’s like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of any edifice." We are on the same shoe doing what is right and what is better for ourselves and for our country. The real essence of 'bayanihan' starts within us. Extending our hands to those who need it, at the same time considering everyone’s idea, everything is possible. In the end, we are the still the one who will achieve victory together or may suffer the consequences. Remember the phrase, “United we stand, divided we fall”, the progress of our nation and goodwill among individuals lies in our hands. Now may I ask, have you keep your 'bayanihan' spirit burning?

*Premise: Teamwork