Max Enriquez

      I recently had a friend come to me, distraught because she felt like she was letting her parents down. Coming from a family of achievers, she had grown up knowing she had to meet certain standards, and when she finally cracked under the excessive pressure, she felt like a complete failure. I've always felt that Filipino culture was riddled with unhealthy mindsets, particularly the deterministic belief that someone should, will, and has followed a certain path because of their background. After all, just because your family excels at a certain profession like politics doesn't necessarily mean that you will and should pursue that same profession.

      I've come to believe that, while our backgrounds give us an inclination towards certain actions, it is our choices that determine whether or not we give in to them. A person can be surrounded by bad influences but still choose to do what is right, meaning that those who choose evil do so willingly and knowingly. In essence, I believe in compatibility, that previous factors have a hand in guiding us but that we still freely choose and therefore are responsible for our actions.

      I believe this is especially true when it comes to how these actions affect others. I’ve come to realize that Philippine determinism causes an endless wheel of suffering. People believe a certain demographic is inclined to certain actions that they believe are bad so they will treat them badly. This cycle will then be reciprocated causing widespread distrust and loathing because we’ve all developed negative expectations of each other.

      For better or worse, I’m thankful that people do not always end up following the paths others have designated for them, paths often feel more like traps than anything else. One day, I hope my friend doesn't have to feel that she is confined by what her parents, society, or even possibly the universe dictates. I hope that one day, she looks inside herself and realizes that she has the freedom to be free.