Pliant Like The Bamboo

It is about a story of a mango tree and a bamboo tree. The two were unable to agree as to which was
stronger between them. They called upon the wind to make the decision.

The wind blew Its hardest. The mango tree stood high. It did not yield because it knew it was strong and
sturdy. The mango tree did not sway. It was too proud, too sure of itself, but at last, its roots gave way
and it stumbled down.

The bamboo tree was wiser. Knowing it was not as robust as the mango tree, every time the wind blew,
it bent its head gracefully. It made loud protestations, but it lets the wind have its way until it finally got
tired of blowing. The bamboo tree still stood in all its beauty and grace.

The story expresses a lesson about humility and resiliency. Even in the slightest breeze, the bamboo tree
sways gently with the wind. It is firmly rooted and does not break. Similarly, Filipinos are known to be
modest and versatile. We are pliant like the bamboo tree. We did bend a little, but still, we keep moving
forward even in little steps. Importantly, we continue, despite the many uncertainties in life.

Filipinos deal with different types of people every day. We can adjust to changing situations, be it bad or
good. Do you remember a long time ago when we were conquered by superior countries? The Filipinos
had been through a lot, but the Filipino nation endured them all. Undoubtedly, we know that we are not
strong enough to fight back against stronger foes, so we yield and have survived. We did not cower in
the face of enemies. We are a brave nation, having through lots of hardships, we know when to step
back and rethink our actions.

The Filipinos are very resilient people. We can recover from the challenges that come our way. Despite
countless problems, we emerge victoriously. Unquestionably, the road to take was not easy. In the end,
the Filipinos withstand it all because we chose to be optimistic and to stand our ground. We never give
up easily. We remain standing just like the bamboo tree.