Happy !

Hope you’re having a great start to your week, kahit maulan and baha in many places right now.

As I'm writing this another typhoon is passing through, I didn't bother checking the name na.

And dahil masarap ang kape ko, naalala ko from somewhere that "The Filipino Spirit is waterproof" daw.

Kasi sa lagi-lagi nating experience ng baha and kalamidad, we still find time to make the most of the situation daw, and have fun with it pa nga.

I don't mean to downplay all the destruction to lives and property. I know it's definitely a big deal but somehow na-alleviate ng konti kahit papano through positivity.

As Vivian Greene used to say: “All storms pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

I don't know her either, but sikat daw yan sya dati. Buti na lang I have ChatGPT to give me quotes from dead people any time I want. hehe.

As Pinoys we don’t just endure; we rise above these challenges with an infectious sense of humor and unwavering positivity. Sobrang daming memes about our calamities, it's ridiculous.

Look at that sobering fact above.

Now look at what we would spin it to:

Look Ma! World record tayo! "More Tropical Cyclones are entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility than anywhere else in the world!" Iba talaga ang Pinoy! Numbah one baby!! ^_^

Go figure.

May super typhoon story din ako when I was living in Makati during Ondoy back in 2009. Our apartment near Rockwell Power Plant literally was the lowest point in the Barangay, almost level na sa Pasig River.

Usually, September has an average TOTAL monthly rainfall of about 15 inches. However, during Ondoy, it rained a terrifying 17.9 inches in just under 24 hours. That's 1 month's worth of rain in A SINGLE DAY.

That fact above + bad urban planning + plastic and trash clogging our drainage systems + our catchbasin location = rainwater from everywhere else in our street going onto our first floor.

Super combination ng bad trip, men. Ang malas naman ng spot.

Samantalang just a few apartments up the street, they were all dry. Leche sila.

So naturally bilang photographer I got the camera out and went to town. In hindsight syempre I know this was incredibly stupid. Ondoy was one of the record monster floods of that decade, and it went on to claim more than 300 lives.

So clearly, there was real cause for alarm.

"Couchsurfing Idiot in real life"

I posted this sa wall ko back then and people went nuts sa caption. Maraming western friends nag-pm or comment na magpapadala na daw sila ng support.

Sabine my Austrian Friend: Let us know if we can help in any way, if you need clothes or cash, I'll start a donation run with my friends here.

Shoden: Wow! That's super nice of you, but don't worry that's unnecessary. It happens all the time, and it's not really a disaster for me, or else that would have been much worse.

Sabine: I like your attitude! Unfortunately, our world here is far too materialistic… we can all learn a lesson from that! Many people forget how important it is to be healthy and happy - because that’s something you can’t buy with all the money in the world.

This resilience is so profound that it often leaves an indelible impression on anyone who witnesses it. Example sa taas yung Austrian friend ko.

Samantalang the Pinoy friends ON THE SAME POST were just commenting about how relaxing this all was.

Why though?

It's probably because for Pinoys yan na ang normal sa atin, so our resilience has been built through generations.

So why am I sharing all of this here? What do floods have to do with freelancing and working from home?

A lot actually.

As Filipinos in our own country, we’re used to facing many natural and very REAL challenges. We quickly bounce back and continue on with our lives.

Pero why though, as Freelancers when we do outreach and we're met with just a few negative comments, just a few rude people online, just a few months of unsuccessful prospecting, e give up na agad tayo?

E di pa nga tayo nawalan ng kuryente, or di pa nga tayo working in ankle deep water. Di pa nga tayo nawalan ng bahay or livelihood.

Why do we back out from simply tapping a few keys on the keyboard, and porke't we got ignored a few times lang e ayaw na natin?

Bakit ganon?

Why?! (Yes I translated it lang hehe)

I have some suspicions and wild guesses but I don't actually know anything haha. I am not your guru. ^&^

Akala nyo I have all the answers ha.

I know anti-climactic ang email natin today. But I'm really just genuinely curious. How can we be so tough and resilient and soft-skinned at the same time?

Pa-share naman ng bagyo and freelancing outreach story mo o.

If you have ideas on why we're like this, share mo din. Who knows baka makahanap tayo ng breakthrough together. OMG.

Cheers,

Shoden “couchsurfing idiot” San

PS1. If you found this a good read , and you have friends who are interested in reading email rants like these please forward this to them and let them sign up sa ating munting list .

PS2. eto din yan, but mas swabe. Share mo sa wall mo, I need subs parang awa mo na. ^_^ https://sendfox.com/WorkFunHomePinoy



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