5J143

Saturday, 9:00 a.m., October 22, 2007. Pain struck our ears. Deafening pressure was forcefully penetrating our ear drums. Air packets are coming our way. It shook the vessel as if it would tear it into pieces. Two hours later, the plane landed at Hongkong Chek Lap Kok International Airport.

I was amazed with how Hongkong is. Advanced technology. State-of-the-art! That I must say. Every man, woman and children is adept with the fast-paced technology that has brought convenience to everybody. Every citizen is a busy bee. They are busy robots designed to make their life even more convenient. Walking fast, even running faster to catch the MTR or the Metro Transit Railways to reach their point of destination. It seems that no one is riding the bus or even the cab, well except for the tourists like us of course. While riding the speeding MTR, people are so busy with their whereabouts. People busy talking on the phone. People operating their latest gadgets. Teenagers and lovers busy making out while sitting or standing. I was in a culture shock. An Asian country with culture like this? With economy like this? I asked myself. Is being liberal goes with progress? Can a country be so progressive while preserving its culture and values at the same time? These questions made me reckoned that Philippines can attain such kind of development without sacrificing its culture and values. At first, I thought I just want my recent life in the Philippines where I can sit around a lazy afternoon and relax, watch a good movie or even enjoy a sumptuous dinner with friends. But on second thought, I could also enjoy the finest of things while living life like a busy robot, why not?

Recalling before I left for this trip, people in Sacred Heart College are busy doing their tasks preparing for the Mission Audit last November 5-7, 2007 (which I have to congratulate everybody for its success). People were aligning their individual/departmental/institutional activities to the SHC Thrusts for 2006-2010. The Thrusts tagged as TEAM or The Eradication of Extreme Hunger and Poverty, Ensure Environmental Sustainability, Access to Primary Education, and Ministry to Families of Migrants and Persons Living with HIV/Aids would help make this nation a progressive one. Maybe even far more progressive than Hongkong. All I think is that we need to have patience, cooperation and discipline. I have seen how the people of Hongkong showcased these traits. Their daily brisk walks and long travels would show their patience. I can see their being disciplined and cooperative in their daily endeavor. They carefully follow instructions and guidelines as the voice-over in every shows and every place speaks. They have to prioritize and give way to the kids and the elders in which this country do not. They fall in line like the ants that is going their way. They have special lane or walks for the blind in which at first I was very curious about. I asked myself, “what are these specially designed embossed tiles for?” Then one morning I happen to see a blind girl walking along on those tracks. Alone, I can see her as she felt safely walking the subways, ride the elevators, escalators and the MTR which made me realized that a progressive nation can also be the safest place to live. I hope everyone would emulate the efforts of other nations in order to achieve the progress and development that they are enjoying for so many years. Why not the Philippines and its citizens work hand in hand to achieve their desired goals – A Progressive Nation, The Safest Place to Live.