WHERE DOES Culiat stand in the middle of chaos?
I am writing this Editor’s Note with mixed emotions, overthinking the many what-could-havebeen of my personal life and of the nation at large.
This 2nd Bulung Culiat issue of the term comes later than planned. I’ve been caught in a family emergency and have been anxious for a period of time. When my mom was fighting for her life in the ICU, I kept myself busy observing other people come and go in the hospital’s facilities.
The great divide between the moneyed ones and those who can barely make both ends meet is a given fact and an unpleasant sight. There is no way one could even romanticize it more – people
crying of despair while choosing between saving a life or burdening the family in debt; healthcare workers literally dragging their feet to attend to emergencies while being victims to inhumane work hours and low pay.
and it’s not even over yet. We are at a time when inflation is at 6.1% and peso vs. dollar is close to 60. More importantly, we are at a time when history is not only disrespected but also revised in broad daylight.
What I’ve seen is chaos, at least for me. I am not new to this, but somehow, I feel like the living conditions get worse for more people. We are at a time when fuel prices surge like a nightmare,
I think this is where organizations like JCI should stand and act. Because at a time when the poor become poorer and basic social services remain insufficient, if not completely unavailable, that is when we answer the call; that is when organizations like JCI Culiat fulfill their mandate of serving the people and humanity.
Everything is political – our choice to answer the calls of time or not is an effect of our political stance. Even love is political. The love that makes and motivates us to give and do more for others, is political. For the historic 70 years of this chapter, thousands have heed the call. Culiat has existed as a venue for genuine volunteerism and brotherhood. It was present at that time when the Kapampangan spirit was washed away by the lahars of the 1991 Pinatubo eruption. Culiat, for the longest time, has been with the people of Angeles City and of Pampanga, celebrating the resiliency of the region with its Tigtigan, Terakan Keng Dalan (TTKD); providing scholarships of technical skills training and connecting its graduates to its partner employers through Alay Skills; reaching out to far flung Indigenous Peoples’ communities with corporate sponsors in Ain’t No Mountain High; inspiring and recognizing outstanding Angeleno students with TOSSA, and many more worthwhile initiatives.
As Culiat celebrates its 70 years of service and brotherhood, may we be reminded of the changing times, of how, now more than ever, our membership in the organization is of greater impact, privilege, and responsibility. May the past 70 years guide us to 70 more, to a heightened spirit and sense of service, to the middle of chaos, with the people and for the people. Cheers!
Charlene Mae Torres
Editor-in-Chief, 2022 Director for Publications
