KUNG AKO IKAW: Mga Payo ni Manày
Iris Palma in Tips and Advices
Jan 17, 2021 • 2 min Read
The Blame Game, Part 2| E di ikaw na!
We all have heard of some poor soul blurting out these lines during a heated argument a la Bobbie of Four Sisters and a Wedding or Bryan of Seven Sundays:
- Bakit parang kasalanan ko?
- Is it my fault that I worked hard para sa kung anong meron ako?
Bobbie and Bryan, played by Bea Lucero and Dingdong Dantes, are accomplished. At least, yun ang kuwento sa movie. They have the kind of life that we can only dream about and, sadly, we feel envy or anger just because they are what they are. I mean some people feel that way. There is inggit or galit just because the Bobbies and Bryans of this world have the money while we are broke and unhappy. They have good jobs and we are still looking for the best job that pays an insane amount of money.
And when the Bobbies and Bryans speak, we respond in the only hurtful way we know: E di ikaw na! Mayaman ka kasi. Matalino ka kasi. Bobo lang ako at mahirap!
Why, my friend? Why do we respond with such venom? It is never Bobbie’s fault that she has been promoted several times. It is never Bryan’s fault that he has a good job that really pays.
Our shortcomings are not their fault. Their success should have inspired or encouraged us to do better. But should nothing good happen despite our efforts, then that is life. Things happen. We fail. We succeed.
Stop blaming someone for your shortcoming. Start living.
Manày is the quintessential contemporary Tita with a heart of gold, a conscience of a nun (should that be ‘none?’), the drive of a teenager, and the language of one who has lived long enough to see both sides of the coin. Her words may hurt you, but they are expressed for your own good. Tough love and kindness are difficult to balance. So go ahead. Ask at your own risk.
