Transit Dialog

07/09/2024

“𝘈 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦: 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘶𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦?”

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹
𝘉𝘺 𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦 ‘𝘠𝘰𝘯𝘨’ 𝘈𝘧𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘧

Having a moral sense is good, but habitually using it to judge behavior is terrible. We can be pulled in different directions or engage in unproductive arguments. It can make us unhappy. We often think we follow profound, unshakeable principles, but this is untrue.

A mix of ancient instincts and cultural stories shapes our sense of right and wrong. What we see as fair or unfair could have been taught by 𝘭𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘴 and 𝘭𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘴, but these could be irrelevant today. Our cultural setting also comes into play, like when we tend to trust white-skinned people more than dark-skinned ones.

Our ancestors learned to cooperate and fall in line because it helped them survive, which could be why we think 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 is wrong. We think we’re so modern and advanced, but we still play by the same rules as centuries ago.

Caring for family, being loyal to kin, and respecting authority are all part of the survival playbook. They still make sense today, but consistency is waning. Familial loyalty may not be as hot as before. Relatives scam each other or may not support each other in need. Authority has lost its luster to abuse and corruption.

Religion has been our grand conductor. We believe a higher power guides us toward goodness, but the truth is that morality existed long before priests got us into the church.

The church might lend us a bit of solace, but we have always been 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘬. We don’t live in the bosom of the Almighty but by our crazy, unpredictable instincts.
Morality is hardwired into our being, independent of divine commandments. We used to judge others before we started praying to the above. The moral compass in our pockets has existed for a long time — religion just added a fancy casing. (https://tinyurl.com/2uc345e9)

Moral fashion is accurate. What are good and noble changes depends on where you live and who you try to impress. Mahinhin was in vogue generations ago. Today, it is plastic. Why are politicians called chameleons? They change moral color depending on the audience.

Many people think beautiful and fair people are also good human beings. It is so ingrained that we often don’t realize it. On the contrary, some believe being dark and ugly is God’s punishment for bad people. WTF! (https://tinyurl.com/5bujncyn)

That bias is more than skin deep; it messes with our heads. The irony is that we pride ourselves on being rational and objective, yet we can’t resist imparting goodness to a pretty face. How much of our so-called moral judgment is just wishful thinking?

Economic pressures can also twist our moral paths. Today, we all face a world where wages don’t keep up with the cost of living. That is turning many people into moral contortionists. Suddenly, fraud doesn’t seem so bad — it’s a clever way to make ends meet. (https://tinyurl.com/24kuu8nk)

The fraud triangle is a neat little theory explaining why people cheat — they need money, find a loophole, and convince themselves that no one’s getting hurt. We habitually rationalize our behavior this way.

We are taught to respect those in power, but what happens when authority leads us wrong? A moral dilemma as old as time: do you follow dubious rules or listen to your conscience? Yet, without authority, chaos could reign, and that’s the knot we’re stuck with. We crave order, but what is the cost of our freedom?

We are in a telenovela where the script keeps changing, and we’re left trying to improvise our lines to fit the scene. The more we climb the social ladder, the more flexible our morals become.

This is both a blessing and a curse. It allows us to adapt to new challenges but also leads to inconsistencies that can undermine the fabric of our souls.

We all play the rationalization game, whether we admit it or not. We dress up our impulses in fancy logic, convincing ourselves that our choices are well thought out. We claim moral certainty, but it is just mind and word games.

Let us admit our moral compass is often confused. When moralizing, we must consider everything from evolutionary instincts to economic pressures, cultural norms, and physical attractiveness.

It’s a chaotic dance of competing influences. The lines between right and wrong are never as clear as desired. We will never figure it out.

06/09/2024

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥.”

𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
𝘉𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘦𝘭

In the world of video games, winning can mean vastly different things, and players of widely varying interests come up with ways to “beat” the game. In order to find these game-winning techniques, players do what is called “limit testing,” where they, from the name itself, try to gauge how far the game can allow them to do certain things.

The most common example is how much damage can be inflicted on the boss in one hit, or finding out whether a game can be finished by making use of loopholes or glitches to avoid some or even all parts of the game and instantly win. They are not cheating in the sense of the word, since the game allowed it to happen, anyway.

Anyone who has been confronted with playing a game would already have this instinct. What’s the best way to beat this? What’s the solution to this puzzle? Is there even a solution at all? The repeated Game Overs that flash on the screen attacks the willpower to continue, but a sense of obligation emerges from within, unlocking that intuition that desires nothing more but to win. It is adrenaline, it is primal instinct, it is natural for humans to seek victory in life.

Which is why games are also not for everyone. There are those who channel that energy towards real life accomplishments, who aptly call their tirade the “game of life,” scoffing at video games to be a waste of time. Inversely, not everyone has the capacity and privilege to have the pieces and roll dice to play the exact same game, which the simulation of video games adequately provides. Everyone wins in their own way. Everyone is already limit testing.

But why then do game studios pour in millions of dollars to create a game that can be finished in under 20-50 hours? Like everything that is breathtaking and cathartic, video games have been regarded as an art form. Albeit produced by a multitude of programmers, level designers, and artists, the end product is a world to be discovered, with people to relate with, a story to immerse in, and of course, gameplay to be distracted with.

And so game developers committed themselves to increase the length of the gameplay experience, fleshing out the story with a plethora of characters, conflicts, and interlaced relationships. Some games have been designed to be played on constant repeat, playing the same thing over and over again without end, with each instance making the player stronger and more effective — the excitement gradually keeps on increasing and ever more complex.

For some outliers, select games don’t even have an ending to keep the game at an all-time high, never reaching climax, but a story that keeps on building upon itself. There is no cliff to hang on.

Great artwork can be stared at for hours on end, every minute unfolding a new meaning as the eyes peruse the canvas. In the same way, great games can feel like a movie, the player being moved by the story as well as taking control of the main character’s story. In many cases, players can empathize deeply with the characters they play, making ways to express those affections into real-life artistic translations. If you ever see a young artist, writer, or even cosplayer, count on it that one of their inspirations is a video game they played during childhood.

Which is to say that video games are an avenue for talented people to emerge, being in close contact with forms that are inspiring to create and re-create. Making games is essentially creative work under the umbrella of business, celebrated by people who choose to spend their time to unwind and find strength to face another work day.

The antidote of routine labor and rote processes is the endless possibilities of exploring a fantasy world. Every time the controller is picked up, there is the expectation that soon enough, victory will be achieved, something the real world cannot guarantee, regardless of how extensive limit testing is made in order to “beat” the game.

Transit is a virtual space where conversations and evolving ideas meet through words, art, and design

05/09/2024

04/09/2024

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴…”

𝗧𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰’𝘀 "𝗠𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝗦𝗮 𝗕𝘂𝘄𝗮𝗻" 𝗜𝘀 𝗔 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁-𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝘉𝘺 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘰

Barefoot Theatre Collaborative is surfing on a strong staging of hits in 2024: Bar Boys, and now, the restaging of 𝙈𝙪𝙡𝙖 𝙎𝙖 𝘽𝙪𝙬𝙖𝙣 (𝙈𝙎𝘽) at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. Not simply content to just replicate their previous production, MSB 2024 features new sets, snappier pacing, and sharp technical direction.

For some lucky attendees during opening week, they also got to witness Cyrano understudy 𝗣𝗮𝘄 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼 in action – proving the choice to cast him was a strategic and thoughtful move. His Cyrano is flesh-and-blood, street-smart, and has occasional leanings toward 𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘭 humor even with his poet’s soul and brilliant brain, making the theatergoer believe in his loyalty to his comrades and unquestionable adoration of Roxane. (Yes, we all have that friend who has an unfortunate weakness despite the gifts bestowed upon them by the universe… it all ironically balances out, right?)

Because of this, and with a new director at the helm, his fellow performers react to Castillo and each other a little more differently, as if rediscovering the fire that moves them, animating them with an urgency and making everyone riveting to watch. You want to see how it all plays out, even for the ensemble or side characters without lines but are imbued with rich backstories that you do care and search for them in subsequent scenes.

It will also be intriguing to see how the tweaking of the work affects Myke Salomon’s Cyrano, who came across as predominantly cerebral and mercurial in previous stagings.

Key players like 𝗣𝗵𝗶 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀 as Rosanna, 𝗚𝗮𝗯 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻 as Roxane, and 𝗠𝗖 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝘇as Christian are just as critical to this successful staging. Here, the subtext of Palmos’ Rosanna having feelings for Cyrano is played up, and the fierce maternal nature of the character is so palpable you want a spinoff musical just for them.

Pangilinan becomes believable as a woman so in love she dares find her way to a rebel encampment and is ready to pick up arms to defend the lives of her friends and loved ones. Dela Cruz imbues his Christian with compassion and a softness or tenderness of heart that make the loss of his character palpable for both Cyrano and Roxane.

Played out against the backdrop of pre- and post-World War II Manila, with giant representations of Escolta’s buildings gliding in and out of scenes, and passing references to entertainment institutions, 𝘔𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘚𝘢 𝘉𝘶𝘸𝘢𝘯’s audience following and the passion with which it dares to improve shows a commitment to evolution and finding ways to tell the story better.

As Barefoot Theater Collaborative embarks on ambitious projects, such as the pro-shot version of 𝘏𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘢: Isang Musical and the eventual filmed version of MSB, it is hoped that they continue to receive the support they deserve in order to keep creating work that needs to be seen by other Filipinos, and appreciated by the rest of the world.

𝘔𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘚𝘢 𝘉𝘶𝘸𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝟪, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘛𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘶𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘎𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘸𝘢𝘯.𝘤𝘰𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

Transit is a virtual space where conversations and evolving ideas meet through words, art, and design

02/09/2024

“𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦.”

𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼
𝘉𝘺 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘰 𝘎𝘶𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢

Yes, it is a lie.

There are no forests in the megalopolis that is Manila.

However, there are places where it is possible to see trees. I am not talking about spaces that only have token trees or are only accessible to those living inside gated communities; I am talking about the last bastions of greenery in the concrete jungle that we live in.

While some of these are not necessarily considered as “𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗴𝘀” by the media, they are by all means serving as places where people can socialize and get some refuge from the scorching heat waves that we are experiencing nowadays.

Let's start with the obvious culprits: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘇𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗲 and the nearby 𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘆 𝗔𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 are an essential source of fresh air for the thousands of people who flock to these places daily.

Then, we have the 𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸. With thousands of trees and a storied history, it is no surprise why it is considered as one of Metro Manila's last lungs.

There's more though: Just within walking distance, one can enjoy the 𝗠𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀 and the refurbished 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸. One might argue that they are not living lungs, but they are still green, they have lots of trees, and they serve as important public spaces!

Going on to Pasig, we have the 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸: 6.5 hectares of greenery is nothing to scoff about. Needless to say, it has become an integral part of social life in the city.

In San Juan, there is one place that isn't a park, but has lots of trees and shade: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 serves as an accessible patch of green inside one of Metro Manila’s smallest cities. One can find lots of joggers, picnickers, and passersby everyday.

Makati has actually a couple of parks, but they are quite small and thus do not really possess the gravitas that the other parks in the list possess. Still, they offer a respite from the hustle and bustle that is typically associated with life in that part of the metro.

I am personally not that familiar with the South; however, the 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲'𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 comes to mind when it comes to public green spaces. Based on the pictures though, I really hope that the stakeholders who operate the park would add more trees and find a way to expand the place (so that it would accommodate more people).

There's one thing to note though: There are ongoing projects to build and integrate linear parks beside rivers and creeks, as well as minor greenification projects at the level of the LGU. I just really hope that all of these efforts come to fruition; after all, we here in Metro Manila could really use the additional trees!

𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Can't we have more parks in the Metro? Is it possible to go beyond the token parks that have been built by private developers? Is it possible to have more green spaces for the public — not just for the sake of the environment, but to provide additional third spaces to make life more liveable in this metropolis?

Finally, why are we counting the public parks that we have? In other metropolitan areas around the world, parks are ubiquitous enough that only the most unique ones merit a mention.

This recent heat wave should serve a lesson for all of us when it comes to the importance of having green spaces in the places where we live.

Parks are not just public places. They literally allow us to breathe and to stay alive.

The sooner we learn this and put it to practice, the better off we would be.

And, yes, there are still no forests in the metro.

Transit is a virtual space where conversations and evolving ideas meet through words, art, and design

31/08/2024

"𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭."

𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗽
𝘉𝘺 𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦 ‘𝘠𝘰𝘯𝘨’ 𝘈𝘧𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘧

𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗲 (𝗠𝗖𝗦) is like a honey trap. It happens when we enjoy thinking of ourselves as the hero in our own story while everyone else plays a supporting role. This empowering sense makes us believe we are destined for something great and motivates us to achieve more and find success and happiness.

MCS is not the same as narcissism, which is a recognized mental syndrome. It came about through social media about five years ago when ordinary people realized they could become mini-celebrities in their own right. Thanks to numerous followers and likes, they started to express themselves in ways that drew thousands of reactions.

MCS fits nicely into a world that celebrates individualism and ambition. It encourages us to pursue our dreams and leads to personal achievements like starting a business or leading a movement. It aligns with our desire to be "𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴." Believing in our importance can create positive change, innovation, and progress.

It's said that MCS emerged on social media about five years ago. It didn't take long for it to become widespread. Some people thought Pinoys would be slow to adopt this ego-driven mindset because we value harmony and community over ego. We are not eager to outshine others or act superior.

But surprisingly, MCS spread as quickly as COVID-19. While we are known for our values of respect and modesty, we often behave differently. Nowadays, ego-boosting has become incredibly popular. We've all become the main characters in our national drama — be it politicians, influencers, hackers, trolls, or performers.

The creeping societal shift brought about by MCS has not been without difficulties. It has led to conflict and division, contributing to the generational change from 'we, we, we' to 'me, me, me'. Communities have become divided as we compete for the spotlight. We now live and breathe self-promotion in this new normal, a reality we must acknowledge and navigate.

While MCS has its downsides, it's important to remember that it's not all bad news. A touch of MCS can also lead to positive change and innovation, sparking creativity and new ways of thinking. The young activists who have stepped into the spotlight could one day become outstanding leaders, far better than those we have today. Ego-driven individuals might also become creators and entrepreneurs yet remain honest and passionate about the community.

As with many things in life, finding balance is critical. It's about understanding that while we are unique and entitled to our vanities, the people around us are just as exceptional. Our story is just one of many. If we see ourselves as the only main character, we risk losing touch with reality.

On the other hand, if we reject the idea, we might never reach our full potential. We should feel empowered to pursue our dreams while staying grounded. We should maintain our connections as we navigate the complexities of modern life, respecting each other's cultures and worldviews.

If we approach every situation as the main character, we risk misunderstanding or offending others. By being mindful of how others see themselves and their role in the world, we can build stronger, more meaningful relationships.

Mental health is also important to consider. The pressure to always be the hero of our own story can lead to burnout, stress, and anxiety. We must step back to realize it's sometimes okay to play a supporting role. We can find joy in the successes of others.

MCS can motivate us to improve, achieve more, and drive change. But it can also lead to isolation. It's important to remember that everyone else also has a story as we share our stories. We're all main characters in our own right, and sometimes, the best thing we can do is step back and listen to someone else's drama.

Transit is a virtual space where conversations and evolving ideas meet through words, art, and design

30/08/2024

“𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.”

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
𝘉𝘺 𝘙𝘢𝘥𝘯𝘪𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘯𝘻𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴

When I was a child, I realized that achieving what I wanted in life required grit, dedication, perseverance, and contentment. Through experience and reflection, I learned that to move forward in life, despite my struggles, I should be content with everything I have, big or small.

I came from a humble family with a housewife and a farmer for parents. We had limited resources, and their income was just enough for hand-to-mouth survival.

My parents struggled daily to sustain our needs. My childhood made me insecure about the things I didn’t have, constantly comparing myself to others. I had many “what ifs”: What if I had money, fame, and material possessions? What if my parents could provide for all my needs and wants? What if I could travel or dine at fancy restaurants?

What if I could visit malls and amusement parks whenever I got bored? What if we could travel out of town every week to unwind? What if I had awards and certificates to recognize my efforts? All these thoughts roamed in my mind.

As my childhood memories grew clearer, I realized I needed to be more content, be real, and work hard for what I wanted. Entering primary school, my dreams and aspirations ignited, but I felt insecure seeing my classmates with new supplies and neat uniforms. I saw myself as simple and messy, and insecurity fed into my mind.
There were moments when I belittled myself for the things I lacked, knowing that my parents couldn’t provide.

Moving on into my secondary school, I felt like I was nothing. I didn’t have a new phone, friends to share my highs and lows with, or academic achievements to testify to my abilities. I felt like I was left behind. There were times I sobbed and cried until my heart broke. The pain still lingers in my heart.

Finally, in college, I understood that everything I desired required dedication, perseverance, and contentment. My experiences shaped me and taught me that contentment is the source of strength and motivation. Being content with what I have, embracing and celebrating all things despite mediocrity, is essential.

Reflecting on our childhood experiences, we shouldn’t dwell on negative thoughts; instead, we should use insecurities as motivation to grow. Insecurities are part of human nature, but mastering ourselves can help us overcome them. Transforming insecurities into contentment is a sign of maturity. Being content brings self-fulfillment, reflection, and growth.

Looking back, I see that contentment is not about settling for less or giving up on dreams. Instead, it’s about finding peace and happiness in the present moment, acknowledging and appreciating the journey, and recognizing that every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory.

It is about understanding that our worth is not determined by material possessions or external validation but by our inner strength, resilience, and the love we give and receive.

This realization has empowered me to chase my dreams with a balanced heart, grounded in the present yet hopeful for the future. Contentment has become my anchor, a source of strength that keeps me steady amid life’s inevitable storms, reminding me that true fulfillment comes from within.

𝘙𝘢𝘥𝘯𝘪𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘻 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘢 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩.

Transit is a virtual space where conversations and evolving ideas meet through words, art, and design

29/08/2024

28/08/2024

"𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦."

𝗣𝘂𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀
𝘉𝘺 𝘈𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘭 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢

One Sunday as I was taking my time beholding various artworks exhibited by a prestigious university, one painting really caught my eye.

The painting depicted an image of a person that had a huge puzzle space in her chest. Around her were puzzle pieces scattered about containing different images.

At first, I thought that the artwork implied the tendency of human beings to normally look outside when we feel something has been missing in us. However, as I stared longer at the painting, I noticed that none of the scattered puzzle pieces would fit the space in her chest.

So I thought that the void within could not be filled by external factors, particularly if they were only based on the views of others.

I studied the images contained in the puzzle pieces closer and realized that the artwork could really mean something deeper and more. As I reflected on what the images might signify, I was overwhelmed with insights.

The first puzzle piece contained the image of lungs. Instantly I thought of lungs as the symbol of body, health, and something related to the physical. So I figured it means that we should give attention to our body, because the body had been said to be the temple of God.

I thought that it would be okay to eat well, exercise, and even get enough sunlight.

However, the downside of focusing too much on our body could be purely basing our worth on its size and shape, which commonly results in body shaming. Making our body look healthy isn’t all about beauty, but brains as well, because it takes the right information and discipline for our body to look good and become good.

So lungs could mean two different things, in my point of view, particularly the contradicting concepts of beauty and brains.

Next, the second puzzle piece contained the image of a lotus. The first idea that came to my mind was spirituality and sense of self.

Initially I thought that there was nothing wrong with prioritizing our spiritual life because it had been our essence. But I came to realize that we cannot just feed our spirit, we also need to feed our stomach.

So I would say that we should pair our sense of spirituality with a sense of practicality. We ought to couple our sense of self with a sense of survival, as the lotus also signifies survival.

So the image could be interpreted in contrasting ways; it could either be about spirituality or survival.

Then, the third puzzle piece contained the image of a compass. Right away, I was reminded by the idea of direction.

The compass has been a positive symbol because it represents the concept of going places and improving life. It could also mean leadership skills, accumulating wealth, and the possibility of success.

But as I reflected better on the image, I remembered the notion of a moral compass. So the object could not be all about physical movement or tangible measurement. Because moral compass is about our sense of right and wrong, the just and unjust. It highlights the value of relationships.

This image could mean that we could not be all about competition but also cooperation. It could suggest that we ought to compete for one particular role or position, but cooperate with others who rightfully acquired their own positions.

So the compass could be contradictory in meaning, too, because it could be about competition or cooperation.

Finally, the fourth puzzle piece contained the image of a star with a check. My first thought was about popularity that had brought inspiration and influence. Usually, star qualities refer to celebrities.

But the downside of considering popular or public figures as stars is the possibility of becoming delusional and people pleasing. On the other side, we could perceive the star as the sign of our Savior that was born in Bethlehem.

So it depends on us how we would define the star. We could put celebrities on pedestals and consider them the star, or we could humble ourselves before our Savior.

The star could really mean two different things: honor or humility.

Nevertheless, no matter how I view the image, determining what exactly had been the missing puzzle piece in a person would be subjective. We could never really tell what would make someone whole, instead, it's a personal process or internal experience.

It had been and would be different for everyone, so we should let others go through their personal journey. As such, we should also allow ourselves to be subjective in knowing ourselves as we go through our own journey toward the center of our very existence.

𝘈𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘭 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵.

Transit is a virtual space where conversations and evolving ideas meet through words, art, and design

26/08/2024

“𝘈𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘥 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘐 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵; 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥.”

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸?
𝘉𝘺 𝘑𝘩𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘊. 𝘌𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘥𝘰

I’ve been asked this question many times lately by people who, in the back of their minds, expect me to wear corporate attire.

At times, I find myself unsure of how to respond. While it’s a seemingly simple question usually posed to someone who has just recently graduated, I can’t help but feel its “side effect”. Although I understand the curiosity behind it — it’s either a gesture of genuine concern or, at its worst, it can make one feel pressured by the harsh realities of the world.

Among the myriad questions I face, this one bothers me the most; It’s as though my sense of freedom is being questioned.

Where do you work? There’s always this classic joke for fresh graduates: “Congratulations, you’re now officially unemployed!” It’s a stark reminder of the expectations people have after college – that finding a job should be immediate and something that aligns with your course or program.

However, the reality is far from this one-size-fits-all notion, as career paths are diverse and often require consequential exploration beyond initial expectations.

Moreover, recently I stumbled upon a Facebook post — a screenshot of an old tweet from the FTTM (Follow The Trend Movement) page. It’s been circulating again, garnering a lot of shares (I even shared it myself).

The post reads, “Believe me when I say your most difficult days won’t be your thesis days. It will be the time after graduation when you’re finding out what and who you wanna be, trying to land a job, and getting existential crises due to the feeling of lack of purpose… all at once.”

Reading this, I couldn’t help but nod (a couple of times) in agreement.

Where do you work? The “post-grad” existential crisis is a natural phenomenon that I now acknowledge as a normal part of life. The period between graduation and mapping a path forward is a transitional phase.

At any rate, it is daunting to get a grip on “adulting” and suddenly face the responsibilities and expectations of adulthood or simply life after graduation.
This phase often highlights one’s state of inertia or, conversely, direction toward greener pastures. But as for me, I want to be that person who prioritizes mental health over anything else that only brings discomfort.

Interestingly, after completing my degree with flying colors, people around me eagerly await my next steps. Despite this, I still feel a sense of freedom and proportion. More importantly, my concept of adulthood has evolved — it’s not solely about what you are as a job description or where you’re employed, but also about finding peace and fulfillment in what you do and where you are in life as of this very moment.

I believe I am well-versed now in understanding the importance of personal growth and contentment alongside professional achievements.

Where do you work? I am currently working on finding the answer to this question while looking forward to all the greatness that’s in store for me – little by little.

𝘑𝘩𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘊. 𝘌𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘥𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴. 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘰.

Transit is a virtual space where conversations and evolving ideas meet through words, art, and design