It’s Time We Stop Glorifying Pinoy Resilience

Every time disaster strikes, we see the same images, from kids playing in the flood to families smiling while receiving relief goods. These moments are often proof of “Pinoy resilience,” which is our ability to smile and keep going no matter what. But this comes with a dangerous idea: turning survival into something to celebrate while ignoring the suffering that comes with it.

From Compliment to Cop-Out

Filipinos have always been strong in the face of hardship. From disasters to financial burdens, we adapt, rebuild, and move forward. But over time, “Pinoy resilience” has stopped being just a virtue…it has become an excuse.

When leaders, the media, and even other countries praise our “spirit” without asking why we keep facing the same problems, they use resilience to cover up poor planning and slow action. The real issue is not that we are resilient—it’s that we shouldn’t have to prove it constantly.

The Hidden Cost of Constant Coping

We’re taught from a young age to just endure—think of the times someone has told you, “Tiisin mo lang ‘yan!” But behind this mindset are sleepless nights, unpaid debts, and emotional wounds that never fully heal before the next crisis hits.

Experts say our culture’s pressure to stay cheerful can stop people from seeking help. Over time, constant coping without real change leads to burnout and depression, not just for individuals but for entire communities. Think of the families who’ve rebuilt their homes again after a typhoon or parents leaving the country to earn money after losing everything in floods.

Demanding Real Change

“Pinoy resilience” should never replace strong disaster preparedness programs, safe infrastructure, and social programs that protect the most vulnerable. Because while we should still value bayanihan, we must also demand action, accountability, and solutions before another calamity hits.

At its core, we deserve to live in a country where we don’t have to prove our resilience so often. Because real progress means making sure that the next generation’s strength comes from opportunity and security, not from surviving tragedy over and over again.

READ: Where did the billions in flood control projects go?

“Pinoy resilience” is something to be proud of, but it should inspire change, not replace it. We need to turn our strength into action so that future generations won’t have to prove their resilience as often as we do now.