Daw tanom, nahuhulog an mga dahon, nabalik man gihapon, nabubuhi, nagpapadayon!
Filipinos are like trees: they may shed their leaves when seasons of hardship arrive, but they never lose their roots. Their strength lies in resilience, their hope in renewal, and their beauty in rising again. Just as trees remind us that life continues after every fall, Filipinos embody the truth that no matter how many times they are tested, they will always stand tall and flourish once more. Just as trees lose their leaves in harsh seasons, Filipinos face storms, floods, and earthquakes that strip away comfort and security.
Outside my window are Pili Trees lined-up, almost identical in size and texture on its leaves and lately, leaves are strewn, piling up, and no matter how we sweep them, they come back each day. And then after a few weeks after that double typhoon, the autumn happening stopped, the trees are there robust and erect, flourishing again. The leaves that feel came in small numbers this time, the pile of brown leaves came in trickles they do not bother me that much, they had given me hope.
Though seasons tear, though tempests rage, Filipinos stand, page after page. Like trees that bloom when rains descend, they rise again, they do not end.
After, the shedding, it may be that the hurt may numb the senses and yet the pain will pass, as it would be.
As Typhoons, Calamities, disillusionment and even loss, we as humans are capable of rising yet living again…
