I've always believed in the dignity of labor. I'd like to think that the nobility of one's work––any kind of work––isn't defined so much by one's particular occupation, but by the manner one practices one's profession, and the happiness one derives from one's job.
It is comforting to know that there are some who subscribe to this philosophy. It surprises many that the Supreme Court's most outstanding employee isn't a lawyer, but a clerk. Not that his lacking a law degree prevented the awards' judges (composed of the Senior Associate Justice of the SC and the Presiding Justices of the other appellate courts) from recognizing excellence when they saw it––proof that intelligent people know that an individual's worth isn't reflected by one's title, rank, or salary.
Unfortunately, title, rank, and salary matter much to the majority of the Philippine population. Many hold the members of the following professions in high esteem: medicine, law, engineering, accountancy, or architecture. Corollary to that, they think less of those who aren’t in the abovementioned professions, such as those in theater (no money), music (a hobby), visual arts (a pastime), or government service (financially unrewarding).
Something that happened recently is a perfect example of this mentality. A lawyer friend of mine told her officemate that if she had a choice, she would have pursued a career in theater rather than go to law school. Her officemate, a law graduate––but, take note, not yet a lawyer––replied, "Theater lang?" I find it strange that many Filipinos consider theater (or other performing arts, for that matter) a second-rate profession, as this is one particular field in which many extremely talented Filipinos have made their mark on the world stage (e.g. Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson, the Filipino-American Idols, et. al.).
My next example is taken from my rather distant past. Just before handing in my application to U.P., I learned that the quickest way to give a parent a heart attack––or to trigger his hypertension––is to answer "fine arts'' to the question ''what are you taking up in college?" I can still remember the incredulity on my father's face (as well as many others) when I––according to them––''wasted" my (supposed) brains by choosing to take up Visual Communication in college, rather than pre-med, pre-law, or preparation-for-a-high-paying-job-that-will-bore-me-to-death.
Such disdain for artists and those belonging to supposedly less prestigious professions is almost universal in Philippine culture, even among the more educated. One time, a doctor asked me what I did for a living. ''I'm into graphic design, and I write," I replied. "Okay," he said, "but what is it you do?"
I wonder how the good doctor would react to the story of a friend who left U.P. Law in her third year so she could pursue her lifelong affair with the written word. He would have probably said, ''what a waste," and he wouldn't be alone. Most of you who read this would likely echo the same sentiment.
But define ''waste?" Had my friend finished law and passed the Bar, she would be making lots of money doing something she didn't like for the rest of her life. Instead, she is now being paid to write––something that she would do for free, something she does well and truly loves.
My friend was lucky to have parents (both of whom––surprisingly––are lawyers) who respected her wishes. Most, however, are not as fortunate. Far more common are parents who push their children to take college courses they (the kids) don't like so they can pursue careers they won't love.
Most will say, however, that parents such as these cannot be faulted for looking after their children's best interests. "Interests" being their progeny's (and perhaps, their own) financial security, not the things they're actually interested in. It isn't surprising that Philippine society accepts this kind of cram-it-down-your-throat career guidance counseling––the kind that puts more value on how much money one can earn, rather than the individual’s desire in pursuing a particular career.
This phenomena is just another manifestation of the materialism inherent in our culture––the materialism that fuels the bias that will ensure that the potential of talented artists will never be realized; that there will always be a short supply of NGO workers; and that government will continue to lose the best and the brightest of our youth to the private sector.
Money can't be our only raison d’être. What motivates you? What really moves you? Love of country? Art? Numbers? The high gained from making a stage and your body form a living, breathing canvas? Solving the mysteries of our tax code? Or the satisfaction you derive from knowing that your job––no matter how low-paying––helps people?
(Originally featured in the April 30, 2005 edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer's Youngblood column.)
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