Showcasing the best of the Philippines
Being a teacher is truly one of those jobs that require a person to delay one’s gratification. The fulfillment that comes with teaching normally does not show itself while the school year is ongoing and when we are too preoccupied dealing with failing and misbehaving students. Sometimes, the true meaning of our job reveals itself at the end of the year, or maybe even only during graduation. Sometimes, it might even take a number of years before it unravels itself in a distant place where you least expect to find it.
We were fortunate enough to catch the last few weeks of the World Expo Fair in Shanghai, China. It was the worst time to visit the grand fair though as the lines for all the pavilions were so long, it would take tourists three hours of queuing before they could enter the gallery of each country. And so, what was hoped to be a day of viewing exhibits ended up as sightseeing and picture-taking tours to the most beautiful facades at the Expo Fair.
In life as in the Expo Fair, the world is divided into the rich and poor. The wealthiest countries boasted unique and creative exteriors that tried to capture the culture of the country. Needless to say, the innovation of the facade is directly proportional to the number of people raring to enter each exhibition hall. Friends who had visited the Expo warned us that we would only be able to enter the exhibits of Third World countries. True enough, it was sad to see that the Philippine pavilion was the only country in the Southeast Asian section that was not thronged by the masses of people. The exterior, compared to other countries, lacked the distinctive architecture identifiable to one’s country. Ours was only a mural of hands supposedly symbolizing the Filipinos’ love for welcome and performance. Though it sounds deep, it was hard to comprehend especially when sandwiched by the Asian-Oriental-inspired architecture of Thailand and Malaysia. Disappointed, we decided we would visit the Philippines last and spend the whole day marveling at the ultra-modern designs of the First World.
Albeit, at the end of the day, we were reminded that the Filipino refuses to be reduced to expectations brought about by exterior realities. Entering the pavilion was escaping from the coldness of concrete extravagance and entering the warmth of a hospitable and joyful people. Visitors were welcomed by the delightful ethnic sound of the PUP’s world-renowned Banda Kawayan. One could literally see the tired faces of people morph into delight and fascination as they were mesmerized by the jovial music. True to its theme, the members of the band were all smiles while performing their difficult numbers with gleeful choreography. Although I was not able to enter the pavilion of famous countries, I’m willing to bet ours was the only edifice where one could hear the sound of appreciative applause.
Exploring the interior, it was clear that the Philippines did not plan to compete with the exorbitant structures of other countries. Instead, it relied on the ingenuity and skill of its people. One area showcased the caring quality of Filipinos by offering free hilot. Another section attempted to capture people’s taste buds through our local dishes and delicacies. The most crowded part was the section where tourists could buy souvenirs of finely detailed textiles and well-made Philippine handicrafts.
To cap it off, I was surprised when a young man clad in barong Tagalog called out, “Mr. Claro!” It was Clement Huang, a former Xavier student and one of the kindest ones I have ever taught in my life. As it turned out, Clement was one of the emcees who welcomed and introduced visitors to the Philippine Pavilion. Not knowing it was he who was entertaining the crowd, I had to wait again for the next batch of tourists to see my former student in action. Clement spoke in fluent Chinese and I’m sure the Chinese locals were delighted to see Filipinos speaking their language well. I could not have been more proud, not just as a teacher but as a Filipino as well.
While listening to Clement, I couldn’t help but reminisce how I had to literally force my first batch of students to love and prioritize Filipino as a subject. Now, one of them is serving his country gladly and willingly. More than that though, I learned from Clement and all his fellow volunteers at the Philippine Expo that it didn’t matter if the Philippines lacked the wealth and resources of its neighbors. What we had successfully showcased in Shanghai is that the true wealth of any country lies in the heart and spirit of its people.
