The wise mentors of our college years and young adulthood often reminded us of valuable advice. Unfortunately, in our youth, we were too preoccupied with other priorities and activities to truly absorb their wisdom. As a result, we grew older and found ourselves unprepared and vulnerable when faced with various challenges and circumstances. We had been given necessary guidance by others who had experienced similar hardships and had learned from them, but because we didn’t listen, we had to go through the same painful process ourselves. This continuous cycle of ignorance and its negative consequences is commonly known as a “vicious cycle”. It is essential to periodically review our past experiences to ensure we don’t forget the lessons learned. Additionally, we should share these stories with future generations to prevent them from falling into the same traps. Let’s explore a few different interpretations of the vicious cycle:
1. A vicious cycle occurs when attempting to solve one problem inadvertently creates new problems that ultimately lead back to the original issue.
2. It is a chain of events in which the response to a difficulty gives rise to a new problem that worsens the initial challenge.
3. A complex sequence of events forms a feedback loop that reinforces itself, resulting in detrimental outcomes.
Continually reminding ourselves of the meaning behind this personal or societal ailment is crucial. We need to strive for a future where intelligence prevails over stupidity. The vicious cycle represents a situation where we seek answers but instead encounter false information or misguided conclusions. We believe and apply these falsehoods in our lives, only to find that our circumstances worsen as a result. I’m sure many of you, particularly those in the senior population, can relate to this. Judging from the current state of affairs in the Philippines, it seems we have been caught in one vicious cycle after another in recent decades. Despite staying informed through news and engaging in conversations, it appears that we haven’t learned much, if anything at all. Many senior citizens lament that things are worse today than they were in the past. If readers suspect or believe that I am writing with bias, it shows that the vicious cycle has influenced their objectivity. It is merely coincidental that after fifty years, we now have another Ferdinand Marcos in Malacañang. However, we must remember that the older Ferdinand did not create or discover the vicious cycle phenomenon; he only implemented domestic martial law and suffered its disastrous consequences. Both before and after his rule, we allowed the vicious cycle to maintain its grip on us. It may seem naive to hope for collective learning at this point, but I cannot stop trying to contribute to raising awareness about our collective ignorance. The constant repetition of the deadly sins of poverty and corruption within Philippine society and governance constantly reminds me of our failure to progress. Although fifty years have passed, poverty has improved only superficially based on statistics, but its true impact remains just as painful and persistent. Corruption, on the other hand, may be more prevalent than ever before. So, how can I claim that the vicious cycle is weakening when the responses to these long-standing problems have only created new ones that exacerbate the originals? I question whether we can provide a summary of the most discussed topics then and now, with five decades in between. My suspicion is that the same anomalies have worsened over time, exemplifying the nature of vicious cycles. My concerns have intensified due to two factors. Firstly, the rise of disinformation, misinformation, and fake news. All the good that exists can be overshadowed or manipulated by the bad, presenting itself as the truth. A weary population, tired of deciphering lies from truths, may eventually succumb to the loudest noise. Secondly, our children, including those slightly younger and older, are experiencing a learning poverty. In other words, they are more susceptible to manipulation. If uncovering the truth from a deluge of disinformation proves difficult for our children and society in general, what lies ahead for our future? I acknowledge that disinformation is not unique to the Philippines and that it afflicts numerous other countries as well. However, I can’t help but fear for a nation and culture so deeply intertwined with communication, including its economic well-being. Those directly involved in communications as their livelihood will be most affected. Let’s not forget that our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry sustain the country, as agriculture declines and manufacturing remains primarily focused on value-added services. OFWs are highly sought after due to their excellent communication and interpersonal skills. However, if disinformation and the inability to distinguish truth from lies prevail, we could lose this advantage. The consequences for the BPO industry, which relies on effective communication and customer relations, could be dire as well. Since I don’t hear much national discourse about these pressing issues, it’s possible that I’m misinterpreting the situation or simply being pessimistic. Perhaps people are adept at living day-to-day without worrying about the near future, viewing life from a different perspective. How can I blame them when even our leaders, both in the public and private sectors, remain relatively silent? It could just be my perception, and I hope that’s the case. I pray that I’m mistaken. But despite my hopes, I still worry.
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