Philippine economy

[OPINION | New School] ‘Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga’

Ruth Anne G. Tudoc

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[OPINION | New School] ‘Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga’

Illustration by Guia Abogado

'The same society that praised my classmates' resiliency and commended their success is the same one that shamed impoverished people for being stuck in their situation'

“Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga.”

My parents tend to overuse that popular saying. Both of my parents grew up poor, and they had to work hard to get to where they are now. As I grew older, they also wanted me to learn the value of hard work and perseverance — that nothing was impossible if I just strove hard for it. They would tell me there was no excuse for failure, that if they had done it, then I should, too. They were the type of parents who would scare me by saying I would end up like fruit vendors, jeepney drivers, or street sweepers if I did not finish my studies.

I believed them, of course. As any other kid would. I thought the blame was on the poor for not studying hard in school, or not listening to their parents, but as I grew older, I figured that that way of thinking was classist, tone-deaf and anti-poor. 

I had big dreams for myself. I wanted to become an acclaimed doctor, to work abroad, and maybe even find the cure for cancer— among a lot of other goals that I had. The sky was the limit.

But as I grew up, I realized achieving them was not as easy as it seemed. All of a sudden, the pressure on me to get a scholarship so I could pursue medicine heightened. Being from a middle-class family, we could not afford med school in a private institution. I had to qualify for a scholarship at a public school and settle for the pre-med course that they offered. If I still wanted to achieve my dreams, I had to work hard for it. They came with conditions. My dreams and my goals were suddenly limited to what we could afford and what was considered appropriate for our status.

Studying in a state university, I was exposed to other students from different walks of life, with their own stories to tell. I had classmates who had to maintain a certain GPA for their scholarship; classmates who had to balance their academics and extracurriculars because they badly needed the extra credit; classmates who sold goods at school to finance their allowance; classmates who had no other choice but to stay in a dorm, away from their family, because this was a great opportunity for their education. I knew people who worked part-time because they needed to help provide for their family, who couldn’t afford to pause schooling or repeat another year because they had to graduate as soon as possible.

I didn’t realize the privilege I had back then. I admired these classmates for being such hard workers and being dedicated to their studies. But as I spent more time with them, I started to realize how blessed I was to have almost everything handed to me. It opened my eyes to the problems and injustices of society. The same society that praised my classmates’ resiliency and commended their success is the same one that shamed impoverished people for being stuck in their situation. 

People look at others and their success as just another inspiring story of someone who went from rags to riches, but overlook the fact that not everyone is given the chance or even the choice to turn their lives around. They say, “They just have to work harder,” or, “They’re just not working hard enough.”  

I worry about getting into the best school, but some cannot even go to school at all. I worry about not being able to take my dream course, but some struggle to even afford sending themselves to college. I whine about my allowance not being enough, but some can barely make it through the day with theirs. I complain about not getting the opportunities I want, but some are not handed any opportunities at all. I have a choice and they don’t. The time I spend complaining and worrying is invaluable to them.

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Most opportunities aren’t accessible to others because of social class, race, gender, religion, and a lot of other factors. Some are fortunate to have their basic needs, but not fortunate enough to focus on their long-term goals. Some of them do not have enough time to decide on what they want to be — and some just don’t aim to be successful and are already content with their situation. 

I learned that hard work does not always equate to success. 

For most, the nilaga’s ingredients are not accessible. Many cannot afford that dish because they have other needs to provide. Or maybe they do not have enough time to cook it. Or maybe that dish is not their cup of tea.

It’s important to remember, then, na hindi lahat ng nagtiyatiyaga, may nilaga. – Rappler.com

Ruth Anne G. Tudoc, 17 years old, is a Grade 12 student from PUP Senior High School.

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