One of the things that continuously amazes the world and foreigners present in the disaster areas ravaged by typhoon Haiyan is how Filipinos can still manage to smile through calamities. That they see them with bleeding wounds on their faces and bodies, mourning their lost loved ones, with no homes, and yet they can still manage to smile and be gracious. It is not a sign of weakness, or stupidity, no, not at all. The Filipino is born with a good sense of humour, and so the load is lightened with a joke, or a smile. But it is also about being resilient; having a certain stoicism in times of adversity, a strength inside that has developed through growing up in hardships and poverty; also faith, yes, a lot of faith in the goodness of men, the sovereignty of God and hope in the ability to rise up beyond tragedies. Suffering purifies the character, almost like gold being refined, and a stronger nation arises from the ashes.
As the world witness that strength to survive and keep living amongst the people, when we see the innocent children playing amidst the chaos and hopelessness, there is a glimmer of hope, a flicker of light that will continue to shine and lift the Filipino spirit. Then we clearly see there is nothing to fear, and that there is hope – that the nation, once more, will survive.
As the world witness that strength to survive and keep living amongst the people, when we see the innocent children playing amidst the chaos and hopelessness, there is a glimmer of hope, a flicker of light that will continue to shine and lift the Filipino spirit. Then we clearly see there is nothing to fear, and that there is hope – that the nation, once more, will survive.
~ written with a lot of love and respect for my people, Rowena Isidro, 16 November 2013
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Photo credit: World Vision
Photo credit: World Vision
rowena2020 
I saw the smiling faces, and thought, “oh, no, you don’t, potential donors might think everything ‘s alright with you, and therefore don’t need help.” But you’re right, Filipinos can’t help it. this is who they are. They will smile even in times of adversities.
🙂 it is in the psyche. Smiling comes naturally, and the load lightens that way. Thanks for visiting.
You offer hope when many people see none… thank-you for your message.
Thaks Christy. Hope allows us to keep going.
I love Fijians for that reason and I might visit this place one day ..its amazing how people with very little are so happy whereas some others who have everything sometimes don’t know how to be happy….lovely post Rowena..and wonderful message in this post
Very true dear. Being rich or poor has nothing to do with happiness. Happiness is what we are inside, not what we have outside.