YOUNG VOICE
Funny Bone
A robotics company in Japan created the first thief-catching robot. It was designed to answer the unstoppable occurrence of graft and corruption throughout the world. The company was very eager, thus decided to set up a dry-run. The robot was sent to Russia, and amazingly after forty minutes, the robot had captured 40 thieves, leaving the Russians befuddled.
The company couldn’t be any more confident about the robot’s efficiency, so they sent the robot to the United States of America and witness another quality performance. Thirty minutes later, on American soil, the robot caught 50 thieves. The company was almost assured of the test results, but decided to try for the third and last time. The robot was sent to the Philippines. Ten minutes later, the robot has been stolen.
This cracked my funny bone during a joke-time session with my classmates before another lecture starts. It's downright hilarious to imagine a thief-catching robot, standing for just about ten minutes in Philippine soil and ends up stolen, nowhere to be found.
The joke was discriminating, generalizing the entire archipelago to be filthy robbing scumbags. Yet, I don’t know what came into me that I simply disregarded the prejudice buried deep in those laugh-worthy words. I may just be among the several other millions of Filipinos who just had the same amount of chuckles. I may just be among the several other millions of Filipinos who remained to be optimistic despite the harsh stereotyping and cruel criticisms. Filipinos are indeed happy and hopeful people.
We Pinoys certainly give justice to the maxim, “taking it as a grain of salt.' Amid problems, no matter how big or destructing they seemed to be, we always find a tiny speck of light radiating from the end of the dark tunnel. Super-typhoons may sweep our rooftops to the next barrio or drench all our appliances and furniture as if our house were some goldfish aquarium; we always found the time to pause for an interview and smile at the video camera on national television. The common answers of most typhoon victims range from “they are still thankful because they survived (maayo ganikay buhi pa kami)” to “its okay, God will provide (okay lang na, may kaluoy ang Ginoo)”. We Pinoys are riding on the balanced see-saw between the unfaltering faith in the Supreme and the unwavering hope for a new tomorrow.
Our mourning rituals contain fewer tears rather, echo more laughs during a play of mahjong or a considerable pass of juicy showbiz gossip at the coffin-side.
I remember when I was about three years old at my great-grandfather’s wake; I didn’t have much concept on how death could be the final end, at how grief sets in and hydrate the eyes with tears. It was time for picture taking and I noticed everyone was far from relaxed while posing around my great-grandfather’s casket. My father was the one taking the pictures and right before his next click, he told us to say “cheese”, to smile. Surprisingly, everyone did. Our coping behaviors and capacities for stresses may appear to be that exceptional. We, Filipinos, must have our cortisol (stress hormone) regulators working extensively 24/7.
It indeed pays to be serious. It counts to be upright and forward. But, there are times that we need to joke around and play along, especially with our problems, with our stresses, and with all the pressure that keeps us from tickling our funny bones. A problem in itself is already serious and stress-provoking. A problem dehydrates all our positive energy and engulfs our hopes until we see them no more. Thus, our personal selves should be stress-free, should take these problems wholly but lightly. Sure, these losses, these failures, these deaths can be very discouraging. But let us keep in mind that we’ll get nothing but dark spots, wrinkles, sweaty underarms and body odor when we dwell with these problems as if there won’t be any tomorrow.
So, right now if you feel like the weight of the world is at your shoulders, remember that there are people who have far greater problems than what you have. These problems become heavier because we perceive them to be.
One of the many reasons why I’m proud to be Filipino is because of our optimism, our remarkable talent to smile amidst adversities.
My dear readers, let us believe on what Little Santino reminds us every night, May Bukas Pa.
P.S. To whoever got the robot, please return it.
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