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From time immemorial to the present, competition doesn't seem to
be an alien concept in a world where people strive and thrive to survive.
Of all the things that help us survive—needs, fears,
interests and a sense of calling—fear is probably the most negative.
Fear shrouds the best of potential and deters the unfoldment of one's
greatest asset.
I am penning this article for the people I share the same sentiments with.
I am going to talk about one of the greatest fears of a communication
student from a provincial university. Also, allow me to use my point
of view, I deem this the best way to connect with the reader
and express my thoughts better as the writer.
I honestly don't know where the negative concept of probinsyano
originated and how it evolved to an abhorring idea.
A friend, in his 40s, once told me that probinsyanos were looked down
by Manileños when he was young studying in Manila. It was perhaps
in the past that probinsyanos were ridiculed and belittled for being one.
Maybe because of the stereotype that people in the provinces are barbaric
and less educated than those who are in Manila, the capital of the
Philippines and the nation's center of education, business, etc.
As a college student, I personally have uncertainties, just like
everybody else has, that bother me on my imminent graduation.
"Where to go next?" I'm in a battlefield against the best armed
soldiers trained by the biggest and brightest universities in Manila.
It is with great intimidation that I imagine the setting. Though
I'm definitely fine working here in Pampanga, still, my dream
companies are in Manila. And who doesn't want to work for
ABS-CBN, GMA, CNN Philippines, Philippine Star, Philippine Daily
Inquirer, Summit Media and the like? What I mentioned are the
'rock stars' of my field. My chance, come on.
Recently, I attended a seminar on communication students' possible
jobs aside from the mainstream ones very well known by many. I
found the seminar necessary for discouraged communication students
who are enrolled in a provincial university like me. The speakers,
in their respective fields, gladly shared their insights regarding
the opportunities in public relations and digital media. Remarkably,
one of the speakers, Nico Reyes, a public relations professional
working in Makati, said there's something about a probinsyano that
makes him outstanding. I raised my eyebrow and thought otherwise
because I'm a probinsyano, and there's no way I can think of an edge.
I can't help but compare myself to my friends who are studying
at UP, Ateneo, UST, and La Salle. Their schools are best-seen in their curriculum vitae or resume. Recognizable and
reputable all-Over the country. Meanwhile, the speaker said,
"Probinsyanos value their values and have a sense of community".
After a brief, cursory understanding of what he meant, I left with
these ideas:
1. People living and working in Manila, perhaps, are now so
diversed culturally that they sometimes lack the idea of
'bayanihan' or what the speaker phrased as 'sense of community'.
This is when a probinsyano exercises his values rooted from the
province. The traditional Juan.
2. I thought of probinsyanos' insecurities as good weaknesses,
which respond to the call of humility as a professional. A healthy
fear of knowing you're a probinsyano can be protective; certain
insecurities can stimulate us to great effort. Thereby remembering
Matthew 10:26.
3. Unlike most graduates from big schools, probinsyanos don't
really much cling to complacency. They are hungry to learn more
because of their insecurities.
In our generation, we can be brazenly lazy and can spend
sempiternal hours in front of the computer, which I think is
fine at a certain extent, but we should also exert effort in
finding our strengths and weaknesses.
It's a big, big world out there that we have to face after
the handling of diploma. What boosted me is the idea that
probinsyanos have an edge. Everybody has. We just created and
instilled in us the negative concept of who, what, and how a
probinsyano is. It's all in the mind. We should be reminded
that there are a lot of successful people from the province.
In the end, it's all really about the character. Uncertainties,
fears and insecurities are fed by misinformation, mystery and
lack of understanding. I have come to realize that surviving in
this vast orb is not just about competing and fighting with
other people.It's about finding that commonality and working
things out in harmony to reach something, to be able to
achieve man's want for progress.
Article Written by Paolo Vinuya
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