Search for Meaning

Sounds like a 1960's syndrome, but when I look back during the past five years when I am supposed to be on retirement, I am meeting more and more people in search for meaning in their lives, or more specifically, something meaningful or significant to do. I am simply amazed to what length and sacrifices they will go just to do something they believe can make a difference in other people's lives. Their efforts seem to balance so much greed and selfishness around us.

During the first few months after retirement, I met people from a group that goes by the acronym FRIENDS. I forgot already what the acronym stands for, but I met some of their members who turned out to be retired professors from the University of the Philippines inLos Banos (UPLB). I learned they would go to remote areas in the country, e.g. Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon Province, and give free advice to farmers groups on the latest technologies to increase farm yield in ways that do not harm the environment. They could have earned millions from this consultancy services, but they chose to dispense them free. Simply amazing in a world where you are charged for practically everything!

Two years ago, I went to Dumaguete City to find out more about an institution run by an NGO which is into making bamboos a profitable source of materials for housing, furniture and handicraft. We went to the Buglas Bamboo Institute which is doing pioneering efforts in this side of the country in advance techniques to grow bamboos and in exploiting commercially the many uses of this wonderful crop. The staff brought us to their facilities and briefed us on how they plant bamboos which they learned from the People's Republic of China, which is promoting organizations of bamboo users around the world.

My wife and I were able to see the vat with chemicals mixed with water where bamboo poles are kept for days so they would not be attacked by bukbok, that perennial insect or whatever that makes bamboos rot. We saw the plantations and the buildings made of bamboos. There was even a resort with structures all made of bamboos. Then we were brought to a workshop where young people, trained by the Institute, were rushing the varnishing of newly-finished furniture bound for Lebanon. Surprise of all surprises, we found a former classmate here, also from UP Los Banos and also retired, working as business adviser to the Institute "for lack of anything to do at home," he said. He is married to Ruth Ruiz, an old friend and former colleague at the national planning agency.

I have met such people, young and old, both in the Philippines and abroad, who are involved in cause "bigger than themselves," as we used to say during those idealistic college days. They inspire me no end. Yes, at this very ripe age of 64, we still need to be inspired. The examples they set show that the pursuit of noble causes is still alive during this time and age.

Cheers!