On 29 December 2021, I wrote a piece for the twice -weekly space we used to call "She Says" that I decided to reread to remind myself of what was going on at the time.
Once again, I was struck. No change? Or not much, really.
It was titled "Being Switzerland," and talked about how people deal with each other. I'd like to reprint some of my words here again — just to show you that in life — no matter how powerful the factors are that can change the world, such as Covid-19 — some things never do change.
Here goes:
"I recently learned a new word: Mudita."
"It is a Sanskrit term with no English equivalent, and it means, basically, feeling genuine joy for others' good fortune."
"It's the opposite of shadenfreude (a German word meaning "pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune," as defined by Oxford).
"Or perhaps, quite simply, it's the opposite of maldita (Filipino adjective for a person that can mean taking delight in distressing others)."
"I laugh, thinking of the many ways some people can quash triumph with a few choice words, outright criticism, or that miserable habit of gossiping, or how difficult it is for some to feel real happiness for others' joys or successes. How sad."
"Jealousy or envy is just another emotion, one that can be managed with the practice of mudita. Yet it is not easy to handle that feeling of discomfort rushing up from deeper uncertainties. It's like a freak thunderstorm."
"Mudita comes to mind now because it's similar to that oasis of positive feelings associated with another term, 'being Switzerland.'"
"This is commonly used to refer to neutrality."
"Not taking sides amid a potential crossfire like that between China and the Republic of Taiwan is the stance President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to take."
Diplomacy was a tack the former President decided to take at the time, and while being non-confrontational was something that seemed so out of character for the man, many supported it.
Who would dare cross China, anyway, right? At least, that has been a general sentiment.
Even under the Marcos Jr. administration, tact and unity are words we now tend to use quite often. It seems the flagrant mood in the time of Dutz has mellowed into what President Bongbong Marcos had always demonstrated — a calm demeanor.
Yet firmness remains in our leaders' resolve. The two presidents may have different styles — Duterte kept a firm hold on his leaders, while Marcos appears more liberal — but I'd like to believe the goals have remained the same.
Circumstances have also had no change. Tensions still exist, now with more development in Taiwan vs Beijing scenario. I mentioned this one year ago:
"The same neutral approach remains for the Philippines, which considers both Taiwan and China as friends."
"Indeed, reports of 'escalating tensions between Taipei and Beijing' put common friends in an uncomfortable position. The fact that China has stepped up military activities near the island is the reason for alarm bells sounding off in neighboring countries."
"President Duterte fears that 'one miscalculation' may spark a war in the region. He said the Philippines will stay neutral if that happens — we will be Switzerland, if at all possible."
Throughout 2022, it had been a little difficult to keep such a neutral facade, at least in our little universe on Florida Street.
The passing of two colleagues and the inevitable humps and dips in each of our own lives — these may be far from the wars going on and wars brewing, but they are battles we, humans, strive to fight just as hard.