Smiling Through the Storms

Life in the Philippines is most often a blend of beauty and challenge. The recent floods in Manila are a firm affirmation of that fact. I watched these people coping with the waters from the floods on some videos, and it was really so touching, very strong, and very positive. No matter how the water was creeping up on them, they still were able to smile and help one another out.

​Seeing these scenes reminds me of how it feels like to overcome other difficult times we have faced. It was in the year 2013 when Typhoon Haiyan struck, one of the world's most powerful storms. 

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To say the damage was overwhelming would be an understatement. But so, too, was the courage of the people—families who had lost everything worked together to rebuild; communities mobilized and found hope in a collective cause.

Another that I can remember is the typhoon Ondoy 2009. Images of people walking on chest-deep waters, carrying their children and whatever they could save, are just imprinted. But even in such a situation, there were acts of unbelievable kindness. Strangers helped one another; volunteers brought food and clothes, and everybody did his or her part to lift each other up.

What touches me most deeply is the resilience of the Filipino spirit. We have this miraculous way of always finding the light even in the darkest of times. Our strong faith, close family ties, and supportive communities allow us the strength to face any challenges. We believe that no matter how tough things get, we will overcome them together.

Let me emphasize, though, that I also share some kind of difficulties, being an Overseas Filipino Worker. Being away from family, faced with demands and expectations of foreign employment, and dealing with life in another culture get tough. But in all these, I try my best to have the same resilience I see in those smiles: their hopes are endless, even amidst hardship, and it keeps me going.

The recent floods in Manila confirm, in fact, how life is unpredictable; but at the same time, it shows the Filipino people's resilience and spirit. We do everything with courage, relying on faith, family, and community. And through it all, we still find reasons to smile, laugh, and move on, never losing that spark of joy and hope that defines us, even in the darkest of times.