“You like observing people, eh?”
Dolf, my room mate for the 3 days I spent in Tagaytay is probably one of the coolest person I have ever met. He’s an engineer by training, a cartoonist by interest, writes for columns, plays in a kick-ass band, and breeds dogs for a living back home in Baguio, the mountain city of the Philippines. Oh, and he also has a gorgeous girlfriend.
He seems happy. Contented. The first time we introduced each other he was almost too polite, the modesty betraying the amazing things he do and have done. In fact, most of the Filipinos I have had the privilege of meeting share these characteristics.
The view of Taal Volcano from our hotel. Unfortunately, time and weather prohibits us from a hike there
I was shell shocked to realise that the Student Leadership Conference is such a huge thing here (the students here have to go through 6-7 rounds of interviews to be selected) in the Phillippines, the country in which Accenture has the second largest office in the world. The students here take pride in being part of the program, and it definitely showed. The various activities revolves around student interactions which often threatened to break into uncomfortable arguments.
But that’s the kind of thing you expect when you pool of some of the most talented students from a country with over 90 million people in a single room and play some of the most annoying music over and over again. I was just contented to sit back and observe them, pitting a comment or two every now and then to defuse any undue awkwardness.
In a way, Jeepneys, one of the most popular mode of transport in the Philippines, typify the Filipino spirit- Unassuming, non-judgemental, and loads of fun!
The intensity of the students there made me realised how fortunate we are back in Singapore. The ease in which many of us are able to get into the top jobs are a stark contrast with the situation there- with so few jobs around, competition is intense. In fact, I think many of these Filipino students will outplay us anyday, and yes, I have worked with some of the ’so-called’ best students here in Singapore.
For a place striken with alleged corruptions of the government, and that is hit by poverty in large parts of the country, Filipinos are immensely upbeat. Some explained to me that is both a strength and a weakness innate in them- life goes on, no matter how hard the situations can be, so why not live it through with a grin? But then again, a live without some seething determination is unlikely to be improved. It forms a peculiar comparison to us Singaporeans- we complain over a hell lot of things here, but give us a few weeks, and we can suceed in pulling off the first F1 night race in the world (which we did).
Graduation!
I am not sure if I will have the opportunity to meet these amazing people again, but like each new place I go, each new life chapter I unveil, this trip to the Philippines has been enlightening.
“You know, it’s an honour to meet someone like you from Singapore.” Dolf, who has lost that initial sceptism and awkwardness, commented on the last night of our stay.
“No. The honour is mine.”
And I definitely meant it.
