Si Disiplina o Si Ligaya

It is really getting harder and harder figuring out what to write next. Fortunately, a news clip from "24 oras" gave me an idea. They were showing a video of some poor Filipino families frolicking on Manila Bay, even though it was already prohibited by the authorities. You can also see cottages being built on the shore for rental. Ironically, there were also coast guards seen in the video seemingly unfazed by the whole thing. They do have a pretty tough job. How would they tell these people to pack-up and leave? They're not exactly hurting anyone or doing any crime per se, besides, the only reason why the ordinance was implemented is because the government wants to "protect" the people's health and well being... and the country's image too, I guess. Bale kung ikaw si mamang coast guard, na alam naman natin na mahirap din, pano mo sasabihin sa mga kapwa mo mahihirap na umalis.

Mamang guard na inassume kong mahirap din: "Huy guys, wag naman kayo dito, please naman o, wag na kayo magsaya, wala kayong karapatang lumigaya kasi wala naman kayong pera para bumili ng happiness. 

Mahirap na manginginom sa beach: "Kuys sandali lang kami, ok lang naman na magkasakit kami, hindi naman kayo bibili ng gamot namin diba? dito lang kasi kami makapag swimming ng libre. Pls pls pls.

Mamang guard na inassume kong mahirap din: K.

This is how I imagine the conversation will end up to. Lahat naman kasi nadadaan sa malinaw na pakiusapan. Close kasi lahat ng mga Pilipino. Iba yung bonding moments natin, sanggang dikit, kapit tuko. Tipong: Huy baka pwede namang pasingit sa pila. Kuya baka pwede namang pagusapan to o, 200 lang dala ko e. Maleleyt lang po ng mga 12 hours, konting antay lang po. Salamat huh? Labyu all.

Wag natin i-confuse to sa Filipino hospitality. Kasi pag sinabing hospitality, pakiramdam ko purong positivity to e, isang kaugalian na naipapakita sa mainit na pagtanggap sa isang bisita. Pero itong tinutukoy ko, ang "pagbigyan mo na" o yung "hayaan mo na" mentality, mejo malabo. Kinukunsinti kasi nito yung mga kamalian na dapat ituwid sa kadahilanang malabo rin. Pinagbibigyan ba natin sila dahil kapwa naman nating Pinoy? o dahil sa awa? o marahil tinatamad lang talaga tayong maging pabida?

Either way, this habit is clearly a manifestation of our lack in discipline. There is no denying that we Filipinos are having a major problem in this area. Discipline is something that was not instilled in our culture as a nation. It seems like it was not a priority during our upbringing. 

There are many reasons why we're not disciplined as a nation. The lack of proper education is one. GMRC touched the surface of how to be a decent human being as you grow older, but school can only do so much. At the end of the day, it will still fall under the responsibility of your parents. How were you brought up by your parents? Did they even instill in you how important it is to behave properly in public? or are they too busy minding their own immaturity? We can say lack of discipline can be associated with poor upbringing, immaturity, and irresponsibility.

Sa bahay talaga nagsisimula yan e. Lumaki ka ba sa pamilyang palamura? Lagi ba silang nagbabangayan kahit may bata sa paligid? Nagyoyosi ba sila sa mukha mo? Nagiinom? Nagmamarijuana? 

If you did grow up in this environment, it is more likely you'll end up in the same manner. You'll probably embrace the same behavior, just because you have considered it normal as a kid, without realizing it's totally unconventional outside the comfort of your home. If this is the case, we might be able to understand where you're coming from. However, if you do realize as you grow older (assuming you have a mind of your own) that the only reason why you're the way you are, is because of how your classless parents raised you, then you are definitely an immature inbred.

Mahirap din kung sabagay disiplinahin ang mga nasanay na sa "skwater" na ugali, ika nga nila, you can't teach old dogs new tricks. Pero kung wala ka namang buntot at hindi ka naman kumakain ng sarili mong suka, baka pwede ka namang maging disenteng tao. 

Naalala ko nung bata pa ko, habang nakasakay sa auto namin na nakabukas yung bintana, nagtapon ako ng plastic cup na may lamang softdrinks sa labas. Tapos tinampal ako ng nanay ko at sinigawan ng matindi. Nagulat ako kasi pati yung tatay ko nagalit sakin. Pahiyang pahiya talaga ako nun sa sarili ko. Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan yun kasi, imbis na galit at tampo ang maramdaman ko sakanila, hiya ang nangibabaw sakin. Kahihiyan sa mistulang simpleng bagay, na akala ko "okay" lang at lagi ko namang nakikita sa lipunan. Tumatak sa isipan at sa kultura ko yun. At kahit kelan hindi ko na inulit yun. Tipong kahit gustong gusto ko nang itapon yung basura ko, hahawakan ko nalang muna.

Tapos punyeta yung kaharap mo sa jeep magtatapon nalang ng basta basta. Iniisip ko nalang na walang breeding yung magulang niya kaya ganun. Alam mo yun, ang hirap, kasi hindi natin ugali bilang Pilipino na manita ng kapwa. Hindi kagaya dito sa ibang bansa, pag me ginawa kang mali, sasabihin talaga nila sayo ng harapan. Tipong shit, kung Pinoy ka na salta sa ibang bansa, alam nyo tong sinasabi ko. Kung hindi pa, try mo, ng makatikim ka ng "stateside na disiplina".

Dito na papasok yung immaturity. Napatawad ko na yung sarili ko kasi bata pa naman ako nun. Inosente pa, bobo pa sa ugaling tama. Lagi kong ginagamit yung immaturity na term kapag may nakita akong mali na ginawa ng isang taong nasa tamang-edad na. Ang masama neto, talamak sa tropahan mo, sa pamilya mo o sa sarili mo ang kawalan ng disiplina dahil sa immaturity. Lagi kang may napapansin na ginawa nilang mali, na pwede namang gawing tama, kung bibigyan lang talaga ng effort. 

The way I see immaturity is how a person thinks only about himself and not think about how his decision will affect others. An immature person doesn't see the bigger picture. He does things just because he feels like he can do it and not think about the consequences. Discipline is not existent in this way of thinking. This person acts like a child, no remorse, no guilt whatsoever.

Yung kaibigan mong dura ng dura. Yung mga nagyoysi kahit bawal na nga. Yung mga mag te-take out ng palihim sa buffet. Yung mga magnanakaw ng ballpen sa bangko. Yung mga ayaw i-silent ang phone sa simbahan. Yung mga hindi nagaayus ng upuan sa restawran at mga babuy sa lamesa.

Yung mga taong mag kakalat at sasabihing "May mag-aayus naman nyan, trabaho nila yun e". Eto yung mga lagi nating naririnig na paliwanag. Mga taong wala sa tamang wisyo, mga walang pakialam. 

Yes it is true that someone will eventually clean your mess for you. It is true that it is actually a part of their job description. But you didn't have to make a mess in the first place. You didn't have to make their job harder than it already is. Your whole being is reduced to the way you think in this situation. It doesn't make you cool even if you believe otherwise. Hindi ka madiskarte, o maabilidad. Ignorante ka. You are a child and your future children shouldn't be proud of you. It is unfortunate that they have you as a parent. 

And if by any chance you decided to become a parent. It would be your responsibility to incorporate a sense of discipline in them as they grow up. Do not let your parents' inadequacy be your standard of good parenting. Give them the right foundation while you still can. So when they reached the right age, you will be the benchmark of values for them. They will grow up thinking they were raised by responsible parents. If they happen to meet shitty people along the way, just be confident that they'll do the right thing and mind your own business. haha Whatever they decide to be influenced by when they grow up is mainly their decision. One way or the other, I can assure you they will always remember at least one instance when you corrected their mistake.

Regardless of what caused your lack of discipline, I also believe that a firm, and a strict law should be enforced. Rules should always be instructed and should be followed by every one. A strong and an unforgiving leader could be a major turning point on how we Filipinos perceive discipline. 

Kung tumawid ka sa maling tawiran, pagbibiyan ka lang ba ni mamang opiser? Kung hindi mo hiniwalay ang nabubulok sa di nabubulok, kukunin parin ba ni kuyang basurero o hahayaang maimbak sa harapan ng bahay niyo? Kung itatapon mo ba yung basura sa ilog, itatapon ka din ba ng pulis sa ilog? 

Kung may isang lider na may kamay na bakal, kung may lider na magpaparusa sa mga hindi sumusunod, magiging chill pa ba ang pamumuhay natin? Lagi na ba tayong matatakot at ilag sa mga kilos natin paglabas ng bahay? Willing ba tayong i-compromise ang kaligayahan ng Pinoy para sa disiplinadong pamumuhay? Magiging masaya pa ba tayo kagaya ng mga batang naliligo sa Manila Bay?