Pakikiramay

We Filipinos are supposedly imbued with the cultural trait of pakikiramay. Compassion. And this was spontaneously shown by the initial responses to the victims of the recent flashfloods and landslides in various parts of Central Luzon.

But what makes my heart sink is the other side of us — our lack of staying power, consistency, and priority of values.

With the crucial needs of our families in Infanta, Aurora, Nueva Ecija still going on, many of our people, particularly in Metro-Manila, still went on with their super-expensive Christmas celebrations, with no visible pakikiramay at all. As an example: It was with awe and admiration, rather than shame and dismay, that people went to Policarpio Street in Mandaluyong to watch the houses of the rich that were completely covered with Christmas lights! I could not believe it when I saw the picture in the newspaper. What goes on in the hearts and minds of the owners of these houses? What’s the point? You tell me.

Then came the day after Christmas — when the most horrible tsunami disaster and earthquake occurred in our neighboring countries, resulting in enormous tragedies of unspeakable proportions.

At the height and depth of all this human agony and pain, what did the city government of Makati do? They spent P18.5 million for their New Year celebrations. Fireworks and pyrotechnics displays, concerts, food, and what-have-you. Similar celebrations were done in Quezon City, Manila, Alabang, and other places. The Makati fireworks were designed by foreign experts, after the tradition of Times Square in New York City! Not to be outdone, the Manila City Hall officials and the DOT labeled their fireworks displays as "Pasiklaban," "Paskong Pinoy, Pusong Pinoy."

May the Lord forgive us! Where is our priority of values at this point in time? Where is our consistency and staying power in our pakikiramay with so many of our suffering brothers and sisters – here and in neighboring countries?

But some may insist: "The show must go on…" Who says so? This is the height of heartless rationalization. On the contrary: The show must NOT go on when there is a compassionate reason and an emergency situation that compel us precisely to stop the show and respond to the greater priority need.

Hongkong and Singapore, like us, were not directly affected by the tsunami disaster. But they cancelled their New Year celebrations, in solidarity with their neighboring Asian countries who are suffering from the said disaster. The Tourism Commission in Hongkong cancelled their scheduled fireworks displays for New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and January 2. In Singapore, their giant fireworks display was cancelled. Instead of their traditional performance at the main acts center, a remembrance prayer service was offered for the tsunami victims.

As the Book of Ecclesiastes says: "There is an appointed time for everything…a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." (Ecc. 3: 1, 4).

We are a CHRISTian nation. Are we? If Christ were to be physically with us today in flesh and blood, what would He say and do? Would He recognize, own, and join the way we celebrated this past Christmas and New Year? In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus allowed Himself to be baptized by John, precisely as His way of being one with mankind, in His pakikiramay with the human race (Mt. 3: 3-17). He must have laughed and danced, as in the wedding feast at Cana. But He certainly wept and mourned with those who were weeping and mourning, and did what He could to release them from their pain.

We have begun to respond to the tsunami disaster, both the Church and the State. A delayed reaction. Better late than never, you might say. But will we remain this way for the future?