Grit and the overseas Filipino

THERE is something about the remarkable resilience of Filipinos. In times of natural disasters, we often hear about the adaptability and resilience of Filipinos, and our ability to bounce back time and again. One can perhaps consider this as an intrinsic characteristic of being a Filipino, coupled with the deep belief that the Almighty will provide.

And of course, there's grit. Sometimes used interchangeably, they generally refer to how well someone carries on and perseveres amid hardships. Resilience is considered a factor in someone's well-being, while grit is considered an important trait for athletics, or military success, and of late, the academic ability to withstand challenges, notwithstanding the student's intelligence quotient.