spirituality

LOCATION: NUS, Singapore
TAKEN: by Jo1, 28 Jul 2007

The resilience of Pinoy OCWs is legendary. Their joys and celebrations are louder than their distress. Only in rare instances do they crack; they gently bend with the wind... They take risks that are beyond the comprehension of local people. Their spirituality is mystical. They seem to clothe themselves with its powers, its magic enabling them to step outside of their selves, and allowing them to bear their suffering philosophically...It is the strength that comes from valuing the intangibles, the meanings that are continually created and understood, when human beings come together to share their lives and their fears, their meals and their memories.

~ Randy David
PDI, 2 June 1996

My college professor Sir Randy David not only defined sociology to me. Rather, he defined me in it. He flared up our then classes with the most profound ideas that changed my way of thinking radically. It's really a marvel that he & his family joined us in this year's Barrio Fiesta - an effort of UP Alumni Association of Singapore to infuse Philippine culture and shared aims to us here in a distant land. He's the best person to be part of a day for us to celebrate being a Filipino, devour on delectable dishes, and take pleasure in singing. He's there from start to finish. He's simply there as one of us.