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I believe that the future readers of this blog deserve to know my main motivation as to why I started this in the first place. In other words, I have to answer the question: "Why bother?"
Well, my answer to that question has always been the same. Human beings BOTHER to do certain things because instinctively they view the task at hand as something capable of achieving a result that will benefit them in one way or the other. You might say this is a totally selfish motivation but a completely selfless act devoid of any "value" cannot be assigned as a motivation. Motivation according to Jung is inherently with value. That value is inevitably governed by our most basic instinct: SELF BENEFIT. We do not eat just for the absolute sake of eating otherwise, we would be eating things that are harmful to our bodies. But there is more to than just the self benefit instinct. It is tempered by reason and informed by experience. Ultimately, this equilibrium of instinct, reason and experience are necessarily personal and at the same time social.
What this blog aims to achieve is a simple goal: PARTICIPATE. I, as a free citizen not just of the Republic of the Philippines but of this diverse world, firmly believes that if there is to be meaning behind "value", then that value must be defined by those who participate in it. Participation therefore is inherently founded in the principles of freedom for without freedom, there can be no inclusion.
So which or what value urged me to "participate"? Or I can reformulate the question what is really value? This is a hard question in which the answer touches on the territory of moral philosophy. However, that question brings us back to the continuum of participation. I would like to emphasise then, that this blog refuses to establish a system of values for itself but rather provide a platform for dialogue through participative and inclusive discussions. This blog will contain mainly my thoughts and reactions to the happenings around us through balanced attempts in answering the most pressing questions facing us. Participation? Yes, you can participate by posting your own arguments and thoughts. In the end, values are really not beyond the reach of discussion.
I have to confess though, that I personally prefer to answer complex questions in life through the language of poetry. So I will close this opening post of the blog with a poem I wrote in Cebuano hoping you will answer the call.
TUBAGA ANG HAGIT
Naay mga pulong
nga dili mopadayon, mabugto
ug mapalong.
Ngano malisang man ka makighimamat
sa hagit aning nagdilaab nga pinulongan?
Ang imong tubag
kung dili pagdawat, motalikod ug mamiya.
Nigahi na ang imong dila
sa kanunay nga pagpakahilom.
Hangtod na lang diay ka sa gitagong pagtan-aw
unya magtukaw
sa walay utlanang kagul-anan? Gawas! Ipakita
ang imong nawong dinha sa kahayag!
Hilak
ug siyagit ug kusog aron sila makadungog
sa imong tingog!
Paghubo!
Panit ug singot, mao ni ang tinuod,
mao ra ang kamatuoran. O talikdi
ang tanang kahadlok,
isalikway imong mga walay pulos nga bitbit
ug barog
dinha sa tunga.
O wala tay kaulaw! Walay makapugong
sa atong mga damgo.
Kay niabot na ang atong gihuwat nga takna
sa paghugyaw
ug sila motalinghog sa atong pinulongan.
