During my pursuit for something "bloggable", I've arranged a few series of testimonies from different people. I think that a good way to work on knowing what's best for everyone, is knowing first what everyone thinks. So for the next few days, maybe weeks, I'll be talking it out with different friends and family to well, hear what they have to say. No surveys, no formal interviews, nothing. No names, since it isn't necessarily needed, and since most of them, have chosen to you know-- be anonymous.Nothing but good old conversation on what they know, feel, or say about divorce, and why it should or shouldn't be allowed in the Philippines.
The next person I got a chance to talk to, and I've been talking to a lot of people, is a mother. Si Tita Anna, which is also not her real name. (Secretly amused by thinking up aliases. sharing.) Tita Anna is a mother to a single daughter, Lisa. She is the wife of a romantic musician, who plays good folk music in bars and lounges for a living. She is also a regular Church goer, she works as a clerk for a bank, and is content with her life. She enjoys people, and enjoys long conversations. She is my Tita, and she is a very compassionate person, which shows in her answers. She is against the Divorce bill but is Pro RHB, which is new to me. Here is her say on a few things about the topic.
"Masaya akong tao, pero that doesn't mean that I haven't experienced hard times in life. My family and my relationship with them is no exception. Pero naniniwala kasi ako sa kapasidad ng tao eh. Hindi mo naman kailangang maging matalino o mabilis para makagawa ng mga mabubuting desisyon. Kaya ako against sa Divorce."
She further explained how people, even under tough situations, especially Filipinos, have the ability to endure hardship. Which I believed and shared to her, was a double edged quality. She believed otherwise.
"Iba rin kasi ang resilience. Being resilient means that you get to learn and accomplish things dahil hindi mo piniling mag-give up. Which is an outstanding quality of Filipino families."
True. But, there should be a fine line between being resilient, and being abused, which she also admitted was necessary.
"I am aware of the growing number of separations, but can you blame me for believing that love is stronger than any legislation?"
It was a breath of fresh air talking to a person who had a very positive way of thinking. I admire Tita Anna. She knew what she was talking about. She had experienced hardship and trials between her and her husband, but her resilience fueled their relationship.
"I'm proof diba? That love really works. And that marriages should be given that chance, no matter how bad it is, they should always be provided a chance to grow and learn from trials. Kasi ganoon talaga ang pagmamahal" (cheesy, hahahaha)
As much as it is very ideological, wouldn't we also want to believe that Filipino families are made stronger by trial and growth. That there is actually hope for every family, regardless of the situation. It's a long shot, but doesn't it make life brighter knowing that some people really do believe in the old-school way of looking at love. The Beatles couldn't have summed up that ideology by singing "All you need is love, Love is all you need."
"Diba? Tao lang din tayo, at kung bibigyan lang ng easy way out lahat ng couples, eh papaano nalang tayo niyan? I have faith in people, and their capacity to love. Don't you?"
I'd like to think I do.
Thank you Tita Anna.
No comments:
Post a Comment