Hinding-hindi ko malilimutan noong nag-uumpisa pa lang akong magsulat sa Filipino Journal, may nakausap ako na malaki pa naman ang respeto ko sa kanya—pagtinging biglang naglaho matapos ang pag-uusap naming iyon. Tinanong niya kasi ako kung ano raw ba ang adhikain ko sa pagsusulat sa diyaryo. Sabi ko sa kanya, bukod kako sa kagustuhang makapagbigay ng kasiyahan e nais ko ring maibahagi lalo na sa mga kabataan ang aking mga ideya ukol sa kultura at aking obserbasyón sa mga pang-araw-araw na nangyayari sa paligid at sa mga gawi ng mga taong aking nakakasalamuha.

Dagdag ko pa, nais kong makapagbigay ng mga impormasyong hindi madalas nababasa sa diyaryo; para mapagtanto na ang diyaryo ay kapupulutan hindi lamang ng balita at tsismis kundi pati na rin ng mga bagong kaalaman at paniniwala—mga kaalamang makatutulong sa pagpapabukas ng isipan at pagpapalawak ng pananaw at pang-unawa.

Higit sa lahat, nais kong i-update ang kultura—ipaalám na, bagama’t kailangang panatilihin ang magagandang tradisyon, kailangan din namang kilalanin at pagyamanin ang kontemporaryo, makabago, at moderno.

A truly great culture is a diverse mix of the past and the present, of the old and the new, with a hint of what may be expected and a few pleasant surprises from the days yet to come.

You’re Just Wasting Your Time!

The person I was having a conversation with said that only the senior citizens find time to read the newspapers, and that the young people would rather spend their “precious” time on indulgences and other useless activities. He also added that people, when they get hold of a newspaper, automatically look for the entertainment pages to feast upon the racy pictures and current showbiz gossips. “They don’t care about what’s happening in the world today,” he proudly said.

Such a pessimistic and derogatory view about the capabilities of the youth and the intelligence of humans in general.

Are we going to allow cynics like him to underestimate the youth and humanity’s ability to think? Should we let him discredit the effort of writers and educators to enrich culture and foster knowledge? Are gossips, crime, and showbiz news really the only remaining topics that interest people? Have humanity lost its desire to discover, learn, and explore? Did the fire within us really die when humankind finally discovered fire? Have humans become too jaded, enough to become apathetic and unconcerned?

I don’t think so! As an old maxim states, Learning is a neverending process. And in every generation, there will always be conscientious people—young and old—who will involve themselves in this teaching-and-learning process.
 
Never Underestimate the Mindpower of the Youth

“The youth is the hope of the nation.” I believe so too, that—although the elderly will always be a potent source of wisdom and experience—the youth of every generation—with their young blood and young minds—are also instrumental in shaping society into a better mold. Having a strong sense of adventure and willingness to learn something new, they are capable of taking risks and are usually more tolerant of the inevitable changes that constantly take place in the world. Considering all these positive dispositions of the younger generation, no one should underestimate their ability to think and to observe and assess the current worldview.

I took it upon myself to go out there and get in touch with some of the younger members of the community; and yeah, many of them felt slighted upon hearing the notion that they no longer have time to read the newspaper or any kind of publication for that matter. In fact, many of these kids—like Aris Aguila, who recently graduated from Red River College—got to know me because of my columns in Filipino Journal—a simple proof that they have been reading the newspaper. I still believe that the majority of the youth will always have in their hearts that burning passion and unquenchable thirst for learning.

Sa Madaling Salita

Huwag naman sanang maliitin ang kakayanan ng mga tao—bata man o matanda—kakayanang mag-isip at makibahagi sa kung ano mang mahahalagang nangyayari sa lipunan. Bagama’t hanap ng karamihan sa nagbabasa ang entertainment, naniniwala ako na marami pa rin ang interesadong malaman ang mga bagong aspeto ng kultura. Likas sa tao—anuman ang kanyang lahi—na matutunan ang mga bagay na bago sa kanya.