I posted this on Twitter last night after a hearty talk with friends. This has been a long overdue topic running inside my mind like crazy and I am finally setting it off.
I don't have anything against people who love material things. I only have something for people who define their character or judge other people by their status in life, what shoes or bags they have or what-not.
Truth of the matter is, I am like this because material things have never been an axis in the town where I was raised.
I was raised in the province -- in a very laid back, very simple and humble community of Pulupandan with only around 25,000 people. This is what my town looked like --
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This is the landmark of our town. According to legends, this is the grandmother of Lea Salonga. Apparently, this holds true because Lea claimed that her grandfather was once a mayor of our town. See link here. Photo courtesy of www.skyscrapercity.com |
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Our town is known for its international port. They said that this is where the Japanese embarked during WWII. Photo courtesy of www.viewphotos.org |
It was a very humble town. There were a lot of sugar cane fields. People loved to sleep after lunch time. People loved to gossip. One story could spread around the town in just several hours. The town wakes up at five in the morning and closes its windows by six in the evening.
So this was what it was like when I was a kid. There were no malls. We had Nintendo and television. But this technology was passe.
I loved patintero and climbing datiles and mango trees. I biked around town and went with my Tito to hunt for birds at the fields. I pretended to sleep whenever my lola would put me to bed at two in the afternoon (she had a twig with her, I dare you to try going against her utos). I completed five annual field demonstrations with all the costumes and funny makeups. I joined Flores de Mayo and sang at the church choir. This was my life.
Grandeur was never an issue. My parents instilled a virtue of spending for what was needed (which I am very grateful up to this day). We did not have a lot. But what we had was more than enough. What makes it even more meaningful is that we were and we are a happy family.
So coming from all that, I have this phobia of rich, snooty people who look down on people's past, their origins, their bank accounts. I guess I would rather be with people who, at the end of the day, when you are with them, appreciate you for who you are and radiate a happy vibe whenever they are around.
I would like to end this with the words I live by written by Max Ehrmann -- Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Ciao!
xx,
Corporate Junkie