Sunday, December 30, 2007

The Cogon market is a goldmine!

Too many gold nuggets perhaps that it was thrown all around. One even struck my head. It bled.

It shows how ignorant i am towards the real world. Cogon market is just one of the many centers of trade that somehow encapsulates all positive and negative realities of our political, economic and cultural traits. The hot humid air, the ghastly smell of fish, vegetables, food, and mixed with the garbage and sweat of people are not that tolerable in my "pampered" upbringing. It alarmed me to know that i have no clue in their predicament. Years of social awareness seminars can never fully be grasped if I can't live in these realities. This made me think. The venues the school have provided about immersions are quite adequate, quality - excellent. The problem is my decision on what to experience. In my council life, it mostly deals with a structures, orders, and deadlines which i find superficial. It is still service nonetheless but not quite the thing that hones the real social consciousness we need to have in order to genuinely serve them. First, i consider it logical and a need to go out to the real world, experience it first hand (living with them, working with them in a significant duration) before commiting to any cause, to any ideology, to any institution. Cogon market showed me this utmost need to live with the poor before you do any action, before you eye any position of influence, before shouting the need for change. Experience first before reflecting and doing the eventual action. Action derived from a real world experiences with the poor coupled with reflection on why the status quo is at it is is more effective, challenging, real, and life changing. The alarming situation now is that promising leaders immerse themselves first in the superficial reality rather than going deep into the real realities which our society is built upon and working with. This may breed misguided leadership unsupported by real sound experiences but filled only with technicalities, a personality based ethics, and politics.

The forefront of our actions should be the less fortunate ones, the ones who can't speak or even think for themselves.

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