via Ezra Felice S. Capati, Pressroom PH
“Bahala na si Lord”
“Bahala na si Batman”
You’ve probably heard this phrase from a friend, classmate, or sometimes family. This is a Filipino phrase expressing resignation or reliance on fate or a higher power and avoiding responsibility. It can be used for fun, but sometimes this sentiment can be problematic.
Imagine a group of friends whose motto is "bahala na.” You didn’t plan, you didn’t prepare, and when things go wrong, you blame it on others. We keep on blaming instead of owning up to it. Success favors those who move with intention. We need to take accountability, especially in our decisions in life.
Those who say bahala na are often the ones who caught themselves in a cycle of inaction and blame. They avoid hard work, planning and preparation, surrendering everything to fate.
"I do not know anyone who has got to the top without hard work. That is the recipe. It will not always get you to the top, but it should get you pretty near." -Margaret Thatcher
When I was in elementary school, I was offered “STE,” which means Science Technology Engineering. I said, bahala na. Then, I applied. I made one of the biggest decisions in my life. Others failed, and others dropped out of the program right after the first year of high school, but I did not care nevertheless how slow I am in learning. I wanted to do it. But I had no idea how it would affect me as a person.
Bahala na is an attitude; it is not bad, but it is also not good. Just like any other thing on the earth, everything has positive and negative consequences.
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t use the Bahala Na phrase or always use it. It’s just that this phrase becomes our coping mechanism. We use this when we run out of good options and leaving fate seems like the only great choice. Not doing anything is much worse. It’s like we accepted defeat.
So, when you are faced in a worse-case scenario where you have to choose, perhaps you have to use your “Bahala Na” spirit; after all, you only live once. But, ask yourself if it is really worth the risk to have your life have an unpredictable choice. If not, make sure to make a choice wisely with preparation and planning.
