Beyond Brushstrokes
By Maria Victoria Rufino
Everyone has a particular quirk or a peculiar mannerism.
The narcissist “I — Me — Myself” loves to admire her image in the mirror; the miser who counts pennies and irons his cash bills; the OC (obsessive compulsive) germ-hater who douses his hands with alcohol; the intense exercise freak who has cycles of work outs and weighs ins; the picky OC woman who washes stuff (clothes, dishes) every night; the superior being with the inflated, afflicted ego. These oddities are found around the world.
In the local scene, the selfish individual with the “territorial fence syndrome” thinks only of his domain. He excludes the community that he belongs to. (This happens more frequently in the big cities rather than in the simple, rural areas.)
To illustrate, let us observe an urban residential village. The house (big or modest) is usually kept immaculately clean. The garden or yard is impeccable. It has with flowering plants, healthy trees, and a lush lawn or hanging plants.
Beyond the fence is a different scenario. There is an assortment of tossed litter, dried leaves and twigs, weeds, garbage right outside — on the sidewalk or the empty lot.
For some odd reason, the homeowner only keeps his/her immediate surroundings clean. Anything outside the perimeter wall is considered “outside the boundary” and therefore, not in the area of responsibility.
“It is not my territory. It is outside my fence. Why should I care?”
The driver, motorcycle commuter, and pedestrian are among the flawed characters. With a natural predilection for shortcuts, the driver (public or private) disregards traffic rules and regulations — when it is convenient. The motorcyclists weave through traffic. They ignore signs and consciously breaks speed limits. There are thousands who suddenly crisscross from behind — left and right — and surge like swarms of ants. They are hazards who even scratch cars as they pass.
The pedestrian jay walks and avoids the white pedestrian lane. He waits for his bus ride on the highway. Until recently, he used to throw cigarette butts in the sidewalk and smoke in the no-smoking zones. No that there is nation-wide no smoking law, there are no more human smokers — except for the smoke-belchers.
Self-absorbed, self-important, he considers himself beyond the rules and laws. “I can do as I please; when I please; where I please.”
The lazy employee (office staff or household member) tends to take his work for granted. He/she is slow in completing simple tasks but quick to take stretched lunch and snack breaks, siestas. He/she rushes out to punch the bundy clock. The lackadaisical attitude shows that he/she is there to collect a salary but not work and earn it.
In contrast, when the Filipino is transplanted to another country, he is transformed into a model citizen. It is an amazing change in a different land. The loud, reckless, devil-may-care character becomes a subdued, disciplined, law-abiding individual (while he is residing abroad). He works hard and is proud to do so.
As soon as he sets foot on native soil, he reverts to his carefree, careless ways — with a sudden change. It’s a puzzling reversal, a personality switch. A quirk a la Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?
In the gated villages, one would expect a certain amount of order and discipline. After all, the genteel residents are well-educated, well-mannered, and law-abiding citizens. Their families and staff are expected to behave in the same low-key fashion.
There are glaring exceptions. As expected.
A speed freak terrorizes innocent strollers. His antics cause major accidents. Unfortunately, the influential driver-owner manages to pass the blame conveniently. The power tripper carries a gun to intimidate the victim.
At resorts, the serenity of nature is an essential element. However, the indulged, pampered set and their underlings exhibit variations of the “Me-first/I-feel-important syndrome.”
From dawn till dusk, despite specific restrictions during certain hours, the roar of motorbikes and jet skis echo through the restricted zones. The culprits feel entitled to disturb the peace.
People blindly disregard hazard signs.
This irresponsible attitude is evident in the utter disregard for the environment. (During the summer season, the favorite island destinations have plastic, broken glass bottles, and cigarette butts that litter on the beaches.)
The seas, rivers, and lakes have become convenient garbage dumping areas. Careless passengers on inter-island ships and local ferries contaminate the waters with trash. Factories and squatters located along the riverbanks pollute the water with toxic chemical and human waste.
Factories and dilapidated vehicles spew noxious fumes. The owners simply do not care about the atmosphere or the safety of the general public.
This behavior is bizarre. Some questions come to mind.
Is it carelessness or callousness? A lack of self-discipline?
Or the selfish desire to be different?
Maria Victoria Rufino is an artist, writer and businesswoman. She is president and executive producer of Maverick Productions.
