I see it whenever I do relief work in towns ravaged by a flood. I see neighbors—all victims themselves—helping one another repair and clean their mud-filled homes. The best of humanity rises when we go through our worst.
It doesn’t have to be a catastrophe. I see it when female friends who visit and cry with their friend who just broke up with her boyfriend. (Okay, I take back my words. To that girl, this is a giant catastrophe.)
Solidarity. Camaraderie. Harmony.
But sometimes, pakisama can turn ugly.
When a man is trying to quit drinking, and his drinking buddies would tell him, “Walakanamanpakisama, eh. Walangiwanan. Isangtagaylang!” (You don’t have camaraderie. Don’t leave us. Just one shot!”
When a man explains to his friends that he can no longer treat them for meals like he used to because he wants to save and invest and improve his financial life, his friends would say, “Walakangpakisama. Angyabangmona. Others kana…” (You’re no longer part of the group. You’re proud. You’re now different from us.)
Where do you draw the line? How can you love others while still maintaining your boundaries?
I pray God to speak to you in a special way today.
May your dreams come true,
Bo Sanchez
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