Building Resilience: A Path to a Stronger Philippines

 

The Philippines is one of the world's most populous countries. Its gorgeous scenery, abounding with verdant rainforests, clean beaches, and breathtaking vistas, contrasts sharply with its vulnerability to a slew of natural calamities. This archipelagic country is affected by an average of 21 tropical storms of varying strengths each year, making it one of the world's most vulnerable to climate-related calamities. Typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and increasing sea levels are all part of life in the Philippines. The Filipino spirit, on the other hand, is unbreakable, and the country is working relentlessly to become more robust in the face of these obstacles. Resilience is woven into the fabric of Filipino culture. The 'Bayanihan' spirit, a traditional practice of communal unity where neighbors help one another move an entire house, reflects the collaborative nature of Filipino society. The ability to find joy amidst hardships, as exemplified in the concept of 'Tibay ng Loob' (strength of character), is a testament to the Filipino's ability to face adversity with a smile.

The Philippines were frequently referred to as the other countries' most resilient people. Resilience directly means “elasticity” or "vigor,” which generally stands for the tolerance of the disruption of a system. Humans can recover from adverse circumstances, grievances, illnesses, and failures and start anew (Amann, 2015). In Filipino tradition and social media, Filipinos often portray themselves as a group of people smiling during the face of adversity. A smile is an asset, and it helps to portray the idea that Philippines is a strong country that can crack jokes swiftly. Observing this kind of approach to making light of the circumstance somehow raises the spirit and conveys the idea that life is every day and will continue soon (Jocson, 2016). The idea of resilience as a process of recovery to stability is also supported by a number of regional researchers.

The people of these islands have developed a remarkable capacity for overcoming hardship, adapting, and cooperating. Filipinos are an example of the power that can result from togetherness and a shared will to overcome life's hardships, having been shaped by their historical context, cultural beliefs, readiness for natural calamities, and strong community bonds. Filipinos' resilience is more than just a trait; it is a way of life that inspires and connects with people all over the world and serves as a constant reminder that, even in the most trying circumstances, there is power in togetherness.

 

Reference:

Hechanova, M. R. (n.d.-b). The development and Initial Evaluation of Katatagan: a resilience intervention for Filipino disaster survivors. Archīum Ateneo.

https://archium.ateneo.edu/psychology-faculty-pubs/52/

Rebuilding differently for resilience in the Philippines | United Nations Development Programme. (n.d.-b). UNDP. 

https://www.undp.org/philippines/press-releases/rebuilding-differently-resilience-philippines#:~:text=The%20Philippines%20is%20one%20of,with%20varying%20degrees%20of%20strength

The Telegraph 

https://pin.it/2Ga9SJE

 Filipino in Flood Smiling. (2018, January 14)

    https://primer.com.ph/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2018/01/filipino-in-flood-smiling.jpg