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There are various benefits to being poor and happy. Not in monetary
terms, or in the form of material possessions. The benefits are more
meaningful and the best part is that many rich people don’t even
know what they’re missing.
Majority of people in the Philippines is poor
and happy. (If majority of the population is unhappy, we will be in
big trouble). A small percentage is considered rich and quite a
number of them are unhappy, (Many rich people are never happy with
what they have and they always want more).
According to a US-government-funded World Values
Survey, the Philippines ranked 38th in terms of happiness, trailing
other Southeast Asian nations such as Thailand (27), Singapore (31),
Malaysia (34), and Vietnam (36). “Denmark is the happiest country
in the world in our ratings,” said Ronald Inglehart, a political
scientist at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social
Research, who directed the study. “Denmark is prosperous — not
the richest country in the world but it is prosperous.”
The ranking is not important now, but the timing
is crucial.
If the survey were made after Manny Pacquiao clobbered David Diaz to
win the Lightweight Championship of the world title a few weeks ago,
the results would be different. When the referee raised Pacquiao’s
hand in victory, what country was the happiest in the world? The
Philippines would have won hands down.
How can researchers from a rich country like the
United States
make a survey about happiness in a poor country like the
Philippines? They equate happiness with prosperity. Many poor
Filipinos (majority live in the rural areas) equate happiness with
simple things such as having a good meal after a hard day of work in
the rice paddies or later singing My Way in a karaoke bar.
The researchers asked the following questions in
a survey of
350,000 people worldwide: a) Taking all things together, would you
say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy, not at all
happy; b) All things considered, how satisfied are you with your
life as a whole these days?
If the survey were made after Pacquiao’s
victory, the unanimous answer of Filipinos, rich and poor alike,
would be “very happy” and “very satisfied.” If you ask the
poor farmer after he has eaten his meal or after he has acknowledged
the applause of people in the bar for sounding like Frank Sinatra in
singing My Way, his answer would still be “very happy” and
“very satisfied.”
Being poor and happy is a way of life in rural
communities. Poor people lead quiet lives and they are grateful and
happy for whatever blessings come their way.
In fact, many Filipinos would prefer being poor
and happy to
being rich and miserable. People in the first category put emphasis
on happy, and it doesn’t matter that they are poor. Those in the
second category may flaunt their riches, but they are often
miserable. Being poor and happy is bliss. The taxman will not touch
you. Thieves will not bother to surprise you with a visit during the
night. Because you have nothing to lose, you have no fear.
But the rich and miserable are scared and
restless. They hire
bodyguards for protection and security guards watch over their
property. They fear the taxman, and some run away when they see a
beggar coming. Their movements are limited. They are lonely and
isolated.
Mention the word happiness and many people would
think of things that will make them happy, or things that will make
them sad. They will not think of the word as a term to describe
their existence. “If the wife
is happy, then I’m happy,” said a sleepy-eyed husband. He said
he tried to slip in after a long night out with friends, but the
wife was waiting. He said they had a long talk (Read: The wife did
all the talking).
If you ask Filipinos: Would you consider
yourself a happy person? Many would hesitate before answering
“yes” or “no.” Others will
say “depends” or shoot back with “why” and “who’s
asking.”
It is also possible many people will not give an
honest answer. If you ask, “What is your happiness level?” You
would get a shrug. Besides, would you base your answer on your
material possessions, physical attributes, spiritual attitude,
hopes, dreams and aspirations? What about people who smile a lot?
Does it mean they are happy? Well, smiles are misleading. In fact,
many smiles are fake. Some people smile only during a pictorial
because the photographer barks “everybody say cheese.”
Many happy people I know even suppress their
smile because they have several front teeth missing. When they laugh
they cover their mouths with their hands. When they put their hands
down, the smile looks like a sneer.
Small happiness. Big happiness. Can you be
totally happy? People cannot tell the difference. When you look into
the mirror, do you smile? If you do, don’t let the wife catch you
grinning, or you hear her say: “I’m glad you realize, at last,
that you have a funny face.”
palaciosjp@sss.gov.ph
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