I walked down the school hallway with pride, wearing the sweater of one of the colleges I’d dreamt of going to since I was young. I felt comfortable. I felt like I could achieve my goal—until I saw one of my teachers.
He came up to me and exclaimed, “That sweater is the closest you’ll get to that college.”
I managed to push through, despite all the limitations that placed restrictions on me and my aspirations. I can attribute that to pangarap—a Tagalog word that means dream.
My mom invited me to experience Filipino culture through aspects that ranged from social media, politics to daily living. I stayed for their resilience, engrossed by their love, passion, and determination to keep pushing forward.
I started watching telenovelas that featured males fighting to be with their forever loves. I watched the Filipino news to witness them walking in deep floods to find work that wasn’t widely available. And when I visited the Philippines, I was asked to buy bread from a four-year-old child who was selling it to earn money. No matter what the circumstance was, their livelihoods revolved around pangaraps.
“Isang pangarap ako’y naniniwala.”
I believe in this one dream.
“Hindi ako titigil hangga’t aking makakaya.”
I won’t stop as long as I can.
“Unti-Unting mararating.”
It’ll eventually come.
“Tagumpay ko’y makikita.”
I will see my success.
“PATULOY ANG PANGARAP!”
“THE DREAM CONTINUES!” I confidently sing. I agree with you, Angeline Quinto. The dream does continue. Pangaraps inspire me because I know I don't define it as a dream. It means reality.
I associate dreams with the notion that they may be unachievable. I believe in pangaraps instead because I have the faith, optimism, and resilience, that I’ll do anything it takes to make my dreams a reality.
