DEATH FAD

            We learn to appreciate things only when they’re gone.

            That is the sad fact, an eminent evidence of hilarious human stupidity.

            I’m just so irritated by the brow-raising reactions of people for the deaths of Francis Magalona, Michael Jackson and the latest, the death of the former president Cory Aquino. My system of understanding cannot comprehend their way of thinking.

            First, people should be realistic. Death is inevitable. Fame, money and power can not save you from it. No one can escape death.

            Second, their deaths can not change the reality. Philippines will still remain Philippines. Rather than trapping ourselves to past memories, why don’t we focus our attention on solving the issues confronting our present, on materializing the realistic optimism of a brighter tomorrow.

            Third, their lives have been spent so passionately. As what Abraham Lincoln said, “At the end, its not the years in your life that counts, it’s the life in your years. I don’t get the point of people pouring tears and showing melancholies over their graves or what I call “public display of affection for the dead”. Besides, why only when they’re already past away do these people learned to recognize them? Do these people mean they will never learn those great things about these personalities without them reaching their deaths?

             The fact that these personalities are public figures does not divulge the wholeness of their personal lives. So I doubt if everybody really knows these personalities very well for them to act that way.

            I’m also disgusted by those who prioritizes their reaction over their analysis, by those who cannot make their own judgment before they act, by those who are not so strong that they merely follow the fad in the society.

            I’m looking forward for the several months to come, of how the fad will slowly fade through the days, of how people will return to their usual routine of apathy over relevant and important social issues.

            Those who come across this write-up might say that it is a disrespect and dishonor to the late Francis Magalona, Michael Jackson and the former president Cory Aquino.

            Well, if they really respect and honor those personalities, they should use their deaths as a lesson and inspiration and not just a means of searching for “temporary social belongingness” by patronizing the “seasonal death fad.”

            First, if they really respect and honor the memories of Francis Pangilinan, then they should prioritize original pinoy music first before music. Futhermore, they should learn to differentiate nationalism from colonial mentality.

            Second, if they really respect and honor the memories of Michael Jackson, then use him as a good example. Discover your talent. Show it to the world. Reveal that Pinoy pride. Give passion to your life.

            Third, if they really respect and honor the memories of former president Cory Aquino, then they should learn the difference of democracy from imperialism, the difference of realistic optimism from idealism, of masses from the ellitists, of truth from deception.

            Then I’ll have to say, resist the fad. Give honor and respect to the memories of Francis Magalona, Michael Jackson and former president Cory Aquino.