Surfing the web, this near-sighted Ibaloy writer learned that “creativity” is defined as “the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work”.
Based on this definition, our beautiful archipelago of delicious coconuts and smiling carabaos is blessed to be home to numerous creative individuals or artists in the visual arts, writing, music, theater, and the like.
Some have even gained international recognition for their artistic achievements like singer-actress Lea Salonga, Baguio-boy Kidlat Tahimik (Eric de Guia) in filmmaking, and painter BenCab (a long-time Baguio resident).
Of course, there are those with naughty minds who would say that if stealing public money or corruption is considered a creative endeavor or an art form, then some of our “honorable” officials would definitely be “world-class”. Just kidding.
Anyway, let’s not forget that Baguio City, our beloved congested Summer Capital and original home of my fellow vanishing Ibaloys, was also chosen as a Unesco Creative City in the field of Crafts and Folk Art in 2017, the first local government unit in the Philippines to be accorded that prestigious distinction.
So, again, it should fill our collective Pinoy heart with pride that we have so many creative individuals among us who deserve our praise and support.
Still on the topic of creativity, I’m shocked to read an article stating that Filipino students have one of the weakest creative thinking skills in the world, based on a newly launched global benchmarking test where 15-year-old Pinoy students scored 14 points on average in the creative thinking assessment of the 2022 cycle of the Programme for International Student Assessment, placing our beloved country in the bottom four among 64 countries.
The report disclosed that the Philippines’ score is also below the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average of 33, according to the PISA results. How sad.
Well, what can I say but ask what our honorable leaders (most of whom are from political dynasties) are doing about this? Aren’t our youth supposed to be the “fair hopes of our motherland” as proclaimed by no less than our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal?
To be fair, we all play a part in rearing our children as their parents, teachers, guardians, and whatever else. It takes a village to raise a child, as the saying goes.
We better get our acts together for the sake of our youth. We can start by electing the right leaders in next year’s elections. Just saying.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless and keep us all safe.
July 5, 2024
