John Paul T.

Romero LLB-MBA I Human Relations in Business

December 14, 2013

Being Tough Means You Care

Recently Typhoon Haiyan destructed the country and left the Visayas region helpless and devastated. Filipinos again proved to the world that we care for each other in helping our fellow countrymen in standing up again and live life no matter what happens along the way. Even other countries showed shared their concern and care to the Philippines by sending donation and reliefs to ease the pain that each family in Visayas is currently experiencing. I am one of the many people who cried when I watched the news and read articles showing how dreadful the situation in the affected areas. I am very helpless that I dont know how to show that I care and that I want to help. I joined every fund raising activity and fun run for a cause to show my sympathy to the victims of Haiyan. To be honest, I am a very tough person but in times like this a hard heart will be easily crashed. In the middle of the situation here comes the President of the Philippines who tried to be very tough for his people. He stood on every controversy that was against him. People say that he is a very apathetic President because he can even show his full smile in every interview that he has and that he is a very arrogant person in telling to the world that the situation is under control and that the situation is very manageable even if the media is telling the other way around. Somehow I am quite amazed on how the President handled the situation, singling out all the controversies; he showed his tough personality in showing that he cares for his people. Even

if he was very hesitant to accept the real situation he had this positive outlook that everything is fine that some of the Filipinos did not see. I somewhat understand his strategy during the catastrophe with regards to the relief operations and on how the government solve the problem. The President did not show any weakness during those times. He is trying to project an image that he can be capable of helping everyone since he will never surrender in finding ways and making decisions that will sustain the help for our country. In addition to that, he is a person with diplomacy and integrity that hastens the transaction from other countries to extend their help. Without our Presidents courtesy and good relationship with other country, even if the United Nations exists, the overwhelming help from other countries is a manifestation of good governance. I am not pro-administration or anti-administration, but what I am trying to point out is that the President showed toughness and firmness despite a heartbreaking situation because he wants to stand for his people and show that he cares in his own way as the leader of his country. And I believe that in his strategy, Filipinos brought out the best from them in times of calamities and disasters. On the other hand, taking the sides of those people who believed that the President must empathize and put the situation of the victims in his shoes, I believe that they have a point. In times like calamities and disasters people must show they care by empathy not just sympathy. People must feel how those affected people feel so that they can help them not only with material things but also with emotional and psychological means. It is very difficult to remove the memories of these people who experienced Typhoon Haiyan so people must at least give their best on how to uplift the spirit of every Filipino in Visayas. Uplifting their spirits by talks and presence will give them hope that they are not alone in the battle. They have a shoulder to cry on and can draw strength from people who are willing to help them by any means that they can.

Toughness in this situation is not a prerequisite in caring. Putting yourself in the situation of the victims will bring out the soft side of every person. Helping people is not trying to give those people affected lessons but rather making them inspired and hopeful that there is still life after every darkness on the way. As a person coming from a religious background, I can say that I am well equipped with so much caring to others without showing toughness but showing goodness to them. The situation in the Haiyan incident is a lesson on how to show care to people and on what is proper or not. People might be tough or not in the end their goal is to help the people. But the question now is which one is more effective in every situation in life. Putting myself in a different perspective, coming from the University of the Philippines, I can say that students develop their sense of individuality by molding the students to be tough and strong in every situation. I am a very good example of that, caring is somewhat very hard for me to do since I was raised and born to be independent and I show I care by trying to be strong whenever a friend needs help. Assessing myself, I can say that people around me draw strength and inspires them to be better. My personality influences other people that any problem in the world is created by people and it is only us who can solve them. But this situation does not apply to all. People have their own style in showing how they care may it be positive or negative and in the real world and real situations it may vary from one person to another. The lesson in Haiyan incident gave me a clearer picture on the different styles on how to shown care to other People. The President, the Filipino people and I have different ways on how to care. Caring can be considered a universal language and no matter means it is shown the essence of caring will still be more powerful to show that someone is loved, respected and important. Being tough is just an act on how to show care that depend on the means on how to be

tough, if being tough means staying strong, giving strength to others and serving as an inspiration to others than toughness is a positive thing. But if being tough means trying to prove your personal point, giving someone a lesson without a cause and being an apathetic person then being tough is on its negative side. Toughness and caring goes hand in hand when it is used on a positive way. The spirit of caring will never be jeopardized if the intent the one giving it is pure and without reservations. I am tough but I know how to use it and show that I care with the people around me.