Breakup vs Daylight Robbery

By Eireen Manikan

No on in the room has not heard of THE breakup of the year most probably. ABS CBN even reported recently that Kathniel dominated the Google search a few days ago. My feed was like a diary in the lives of, incessantly info bombing me with various narratives about the couple and how it went from lollipops and fairies to betrayals and treacheries.

Nothing is new with a relationship gone sour. It is like a body part that can and will experience pain, rashes, and cuts as we go on with everyday living. Nothing should be surprising with the couple involved. Matched at a very young age, with the primary goals of stardom and financial success for their handlers, most importantly, it was meant for them to gravitate and ensure that their chemistry would work. What baffles me to no end is why I and most of us, really, am more affected by it than the STATE my country is in, the seemingly decaying political and financial conditions we have; the “normalized corrupt culture” agencies and businesses espouse; the misogynistic environment other sectors of our society still adhere to; and the general quality (or lack thereof) of our youth who maybe suffering from lack of values-formation, parental guidance, drugs, bullying-issues, childhood trauma and other pertinent issues that shape an individual which makes an impact in being a member of the community.

Suddenly, we have something to say about the breakup. Instantly, we have become love experts and analysts posting our 2-cents worth about the relationship.  The nagging questions that kept me up the other night were… Was I this vocal when I witness injustice? Corruption? Bullying? Do I analyze and share what I think about unsolved killings? Drugs? Disgusting practices of government agencies and businesses I am privy to? The answer left me with a deep sad sigh and another detrimental angle to my scoliosis, of course.

This irony that many of us suffer from can be attributed to three things.  First and most ironically, we are love and family suckers. Period. We always prefer to talk about affairs of the heart than any other maybe because of our familial nature where we feel an affinity towards everyone and hence, see the couple as part of ours with relatable heartaches to boot. Surprisingly, currently where couples who call it quits are becoming more common, it still tugs at us more so if they have become our sources of short happiness or entertainment. As family oriented as we are, it brings us great discomfort (even for just a while till we go on with our lives) to hear any version of severance that we are wont to express or say something.

Second and most sadly, we are of the belief that if it doesn’t affect us directly, then it is of no concern. This apathy is more likely the one that will bring us to great ruin. Corruption in the government? Didn’t happen to me directly. Bullying of other’s children in school? Well, at least it’s not mine. Workplace harassment and discrimination? Not to me directly, thank God. We have been so used to taking ourselves out of the equation and shielding us to form an imaginary bubble that we do not realize the bubble is suffocating us and will kill us eventually. Why shouldn’t we show indignation and disgust with what we see done to others?! (As much as we huffed and puffed with DP’s alleged betrayal?) Others, who are part of our community and who may be dealt with by our loved ones at one point or another? Also, with what is being done to our coffers, a portion of which, however tiny it seems, come from us?

Last but least likely, we prefer happy endings. Who doesn’t? So, we much rather prefer to talk about love stories gone wrong with the hope that it can be repaired, and we will have the kind of ending we usually see in the movies this couple star in. In contrast to silently accepting our fates that this country has gone to the…