Please do care

Since yesterday, I've been disturbed and bothered by a lot of things. One major factor of course was the nonchalant killing of a mother and her son in front of the perpetrator's child. Up to this moment, I still haven't seen the video. I just read news articles related to it, but couldn't really bring myself to watch it. Yet, here I am, enraged with the lack of human decency, poor parenting leading to an egoistic kid, and the never-ending police brutality (as well as impunity). I know this isn't the first time, and unfortunately, it might not be the last. I'm horrified for our future, but I'm more troubled for the now. Because what we do (or won't do) will determine how this culture of fear from our "leaders" or those who should "serve and protect" will tarnish our humanity. I understand we're already exhausted by merely clinging on to our lives every waking day, but I hope we do not forget to also look around and consider the plight of those in need, may it be our family, friends, acquaintances, community, and our nation.

I'm not that credible expressing these things, I know, since I've been also shutting myself off to the world most of the time amid this pandemic. I do not intend to bear the call for action and be a catalyst for change since we all know it's not an overnight deed. Maybe, I just want a reminder of what I'm capable of in terms of contributing such as writing beyond myself.

When my youngest brother asked me last night if I knew what's trending on Facebook, I just told him to limit his social media consumption because I was concerned for his mental wellbeing. Then it dawned on me that this issue might be difficult to take in, but we need to know, understand, and get involved in it. This isn't a time to sit idly by and just watch our usual "escape" films or series to get off the frustrations that haunt us deep within. We can take a moment like this to let our voices be heard in whichever way possible - either through online platforms or by educating the people within our reach first. Not an ideal conversation starter or catching-up message, right? But it's still worth a shot, hoping we can have at least one real person a day (not those online trolls) to understand what Sonya and Frank Gregorio's death (and many more) mean to the now and the future of us, as individuals, and as a nation.

May we emerge victorious in our personal and societal battles.

#StopTheKillingsPH #EndPoliceBrutalityNow #NoToPoliceImpunity #Philippines