Bayanihan,
The Spirit of Community
by
Joann Natalia Aquino
"A
profound depth shown through sincerity and compassion bonds genuine
communities. As a global community, this was demonstrated after the
September 11th tragedy. There was remarkable graciousness extended to
one another, and sure enough, the interconnectedness with each and every
individual was evident. Through a tragedy, human kindness and empathy
once again reminds us of our interlinked relationships with one another
and all of life..."
In the spirit of community, when one is hurting, everyone feels the pain. The connection that exists amongst individuals is so powerful; sometimes no words are needed to express the loss, sorrow, hurt, fear, disappointments, happiness, and other forms of emotions humans feel. This is the moral fiber of bayanihan, the spirit of community and the spirit of humanity.
Bayanihan, derived from the word “bayan,” generally means “being a bayan”--a town, a nation, a community in general. Thus, bayanihan is often used to refer to a spirit of collective unity and collaboration with one another.
Though bayanihan can demonstrate and manifest itself in many forms, it is most memorably exhibited in the visual display of old tradition of neighbors in a small village helping a family move, and literally carrying their house and transporting it to a new location. In the past, this communal teamwork was a way for the neighbors to interact and show kindheartedness and appreciation to one another.
Today, though it may be revealed in different forms, the spirit of bayanihan still exists. Time and time again, communities, locally and globally, continuously seek to bring the bayanihan spirit in the present day striving to fight for issues that affects all of us personally and as a community, not only in the local communities we live in, but also in a global point of view. Linking with one another makes it possible for people to help each other and harmoniously work together toward a common goal.
The book “A Different Drum” by M. Scott Peck explores the bases of a community and the basis to an expanding community. From this book, Dr. Peck explores the two main characteristics of a community. These are: 1. A community is inclusive. Groups that exclude anyone for any reason are not real communities but rather cliques. Genuine communities always reach out to extend themselves. Members of a community commit themselves to one another. Decisions that affect the group are arrived at a consensus. 2) A community emulates the real world. It embraces members with many different points of view, who, as they work their challenges through together, come to share and appreciate the many different facets and dimensions of each situation.
From Dr. Peck’s research about communities, it was noted that the key to true communities is to recognize and welcome the realism that we are all different. The diversity of our ideas, personalities, skills, and knowledge, brings all of this for the community to come as a whole. Despite all odds, it is a fact that human beings have the inimitable capability to change and be transformed. By exercising this capability, we can overcome our own individual issues, to both understand and rise above the differences between one another.
A profound depth shown through sincerity and compassion bonds genuine communities. As a global community, this was demonstrated after the September 11th tragedy. There was remarkable graciousness extended to one another, and sure enough, the interconnectedness with each and every individual was evident. Through a tragedy, human kindness and empathy once again reminds us of our interlinked relationships with one another and all of life.
Throughout the course of history, in and through community remains the healing in the world. Nothing in comparison is more important. Yet, in all its intents and purposes, it is quite impossible to be a community where disharmony exists. Nevertheless, the attempt must still be made. Let us fervently continue to make this effort.
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©Copyright 2002. Joann Natalia Garcia Aquino. All rights reserved.
(Article originally published at Filipino American Herald on August 2002. Republished with permission from the author and Editor-In-Chief of Filipino American Herald.)
To reach the author, please e-mail: joannnatalia@newfilipina.com or editor@newfilipina.com.
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