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Realizations of a Genuine Kind
by Irwin Angelo M. Amago
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A few days ago, while skimming through a speech, I read what for me is one of the most striking and bold statements that a man can say about his society. He who uttered these words is not Plato. He is not Aristotle. He is not Socrates. For us, who wallow in the indifference of philosophical realizations, he is no one. But in his time where existential notions were given credence, he was greatly exalted. His name is Plutarch. And it is he who is attributed to this statement, “What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.” This rather astute observation of reality is a reiteration of what we may already know. But what we may already know does not necessarily reflect how we act. And it is this quote to which I am most endeared that I realize the gravity of a certain aspect of my life. |
It started one weekday afternoon. What date precisely, I have already forgotten. All I remember is that it was when the seniors were met by the Director to announce the awardees for the year’s graduation. For me, it was a time to know whether my labors had borne any fruit. But at the same time, I never expected nor anticipated anything. What is an award anyway? Many, in fact, would counter-argue that an award makes superficial what is actually a hard-fought battle against whatever obstacle.
But deep inside, I really wanted to get an award. Yes, even as I tried with all my might to remain stoic amidst the jubilation of my peers, I envied them. I tried to keep mum to hide disappointment if ever my expectations were to remain as fruitless dreams. But what I deemed as a far cry from reality actually happened. My name was called. All eyes were finally on me. My face was clearly flushed. Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardee, our CISD chief said. At that moment, my bodily functions succumbed to an inner joy that had long wished to come out. I kept my calm. I sat down with a smile on my face.
Days became weeks as my batch mates and I anticipated our emancipation from the burgeoning world of high school. When that day finally came, it was, as every graduation is, a bittersweet affair. None of us cried, our clearances were not yet accomplished. It was not yet goodbye. That same day, I received the medal I was most euphoric about. The moment it was hanged on my neck, I looked at it with utmost curiosity. Emblazoned on it was the face of a man. This was obviously Gerry Roxas. Then again, who is Gerry Roxas?
Months passed, and that question faded like all the incessant memories that I had. I entered a new world, college, and I faced valiantly the many challenges that came with it. But one fateful morning, while walking near the bulletin boards close to our school library, I read a poster. This most interesting poster called for all Gerry Roxas awardees to establish communication with the Gerry Roxas Foundation as soon as possible in anticipation of the 50th Anniversary of the foundation. This most serendipitous moment started what I now call my GRF journey.
After finally establishing communication with the foundation, I volunteered to participate in the Second Youth Camp for Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardees. Little did I know that it was through this camp that I would realize the invariable contributions of a man named Gerry Roxas to the lives of 50,000 students. And how Pultarch’s remark holds water in the most colossal of circumstances. How a man’s advocacy created for many others a chance to become more than what they deemed themselves be.
The date was November 30. It was 6:30AM when I arrived in front of Isetann Building on a rather cold morning. This was the start of two fantastic days with 45 fantastic people. In the bus ride to Laguna, there was a shrouding silence. Only small chattering could be heard as the bus started moving. On the way, I dozed-off. This is what I would do in long bus rides as I am greatly susceptible to the horrors of motion sickness. It is, therefore, safe to say that I am not the best seatmate in a bus if you want a rousing conversation to pass the time.
When we arrived in Pansol, Laguna what struck me the most, besides the cold breezes, was the breathtaking view. Mountains majestic rolled in the horizon wherever you looked. Here we were in this small portion of paradise, together to create relationships that would hopefully last a lifetime. Here, I fast-forward my account of the camp, as I am not the best writer when it comes to describing and capturing the raw emotions of an occasion.
Amidst the many moments of laughter as the first batch of campers welcomed us into the GRF family, we were also given the opportunity to meet the great man that is Gerry Roxas. To be quite honest, I was overcome by an immense sense of grief at the end of the slideshow that Ma’am Annette presented to us. Here was a man, so willing to sacrifice, so willing to fight, and here we were indifferent members of society, often oblivious to events that do not directly affect us. Most of us live bourgeoisie lives and enjoy quality education. But not all of us enjoy the gift of social awareness that we all ought to have. But we are the ones who are alive. And this great man’s life had long passed.
For me, the camp was a great opportunity to synergize different ideas from different people coming from different ways of life for a common goal. And even if the camp was a fantastic way to create genuine relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, it was, more than that, a chance to know what Gerry Roxas fought for and how as a GRLA, I can continue his mission. It is said that the challenge of the youth today is indifference. I concur. But I also say that the challenge of the youth today is proving wrong the many presumptions of society. The challenge is living beyond and exceeding what people expect us to achieve.
We left the camp at almost 5:00PM. By then we were a hyperactive bunch who did not want to let go of what we already had—friendships that crossed and by-passed whatever social or cultural boundary there be. Again, I dozed-off on the way back, fighting the same ordeal I fought in the first bus trip. As I dozed-off, I tried to put into perspective everything I learned in the camp—the value of pakikikapwa, the responsibilities of leadership, the humility attached in following someone else, the sensitivity required to truly prosper as a leader and the realization that great things come to those who aspire for greatness.
The camp gave birth to a new batch of youth leaders, the Pansolites. In our promise to continue what our founder put forth, I ask my fellow campers to remember what I started this article with, the quote from Plutarch. “What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.” There is a simple yet important meaning to this single statement.
And that is for every little change we bring about ourselves—be it for the better or for the worse—we bring about change in the our society. It is through simply existing that we affect our compatriots in this country. But let us not stop there. Because simply existing will not help feed the hungry and will not house the street children. Because simply existing will not curb corruption and will not fix roads. And because simply existing will not bring about CHANGE. It is through following the footsteps of our founder that we shall achieve what Sen. Roxas wants each of us to achieve. In living for a cause it is not impossible for us to affect 50,000 more people or even more. In realizing our potentials, impossible is nothing.
Our realizations may be different but I know here, we share the same sentiment and it is that wherever our founder may be, we shall continue to fight for his advocacy and to pray for his eternal repose.
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* Irwin is a Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardee currently taking up BS Physics with Materials Science and Engineering at the Ateneo de Manila University