It is not new that every time there is a gathering of world leaders in our country, we show our cordiality. Even regular foreign visitors, we provide them with our best. Such trait makes us known around the world. And it is no wonder that foreigners keep coming back to experience this unique brand of hospitality.
In the rural areas, even until now, such display of welcome is very much manifested every time we celebrate occasions like fiestas. Filipinos receive guests, even strangers, in a warm and pleasant way, often going out of their way to make the visitor comfortable. It is a trait not confined to the upper class and can be found among the poorest members of society. We provide our visitors with the best – best china, best pillows, best food, and the list is long of all the best. And to some extent we sacrifice the comfort of the members of our family.
But what makes this kind of offshoot to hospitality is when we resort to band-aid solutions like painting green the roofs of houses along the roads that the delegates would pass by. Another is putting up walls to hide the sea of squatters along the roads. There were also reports of rounding up children from the streets and housing them temporarily in social welfare facilities. And after the event, children would return to their usual place – the streets. The truth is, all these are realities that confront us every day. Going to the mall, to an outside ATM machine or to the church, we simply pass them by along the corridors or entrances. We hold our breath for a few seconds because we know that they have not bathed for days or weeks. With no concrete and long-term solutions, the same recurrent scene would be seen in our midst.
Abodes under the bridge that are like blocks spread out erratically are considered eyesores. But since they have been residents for decades in the area, it would be impossible for them to be moved right away.
Such art of concealing would persist as long as other major social illnesses. Unequal distribution of wealth, corruption, lack of education and access to opportunities largely remain unanswered. And since it is the consequence of much complicated and bigger problems, it cannot be answered by just a single entity and in a myopic view but rather via a multipronged and comprehensive manner. But it should start with a strong political will from our local and national leaders.
Concealing can be by and large acceptable for manageable matters that we don't need to trumpet for others to know. There is no need for others to be involved. But the manifestations of a social illness should never be hidden for they will just constantly bark at us. Their presence within our midst is a constant reminder that something remains unsolved. Actions have to be undertaken. Concealing is not one of them.
When the reality is so blatant, no amount of disguise could hide it. Reality finds its way for what should be done, once and for all.