Teacher's teacher

Webster's Encyclopedic version teaches us: the term crab is a noun which refers to the 10-legged,short-tailed crustacean, it can also refer to an ill-tempered person. As a participle, crab implies "to scratch or pull to pieces" or to "find fault". Why this has become a common trait given to the filipino is a point the teacher wants  us to give more thought. When Manny Pacquiao said in an interview whether or not the rumor about him and Krista Ranillo is true, he told the Filipino people to leave his private life alone. Pacquiao added he already gave glory to the country so as to his private life, the people do not have business anymore. He further added it is the crab mentality among us that prevents us from progressing.

Here we are; here is teacher's teacher who gave accolade to a boxing champ and prayed for his triumph because he fought not only for money but for the country. It is sad to note that Pacquiao missed the point of what "crab mentality" is.  You see, now that he is our hero, anything he says, everything he does will be scrutinized. If in fact he has no illicit relationship with Ranillo then he will just answer, yes  if there is and no if there isn't. All other consequences will be part of his decision-making. Like all of us, Pacquiao will have to decide what is right and should there be repercussions for his mistakes, like us, he too will spend more time with his God and ask forgiveness if there is need.

So where is "crab mentality in all these? It is placed on the part of those who just want to pull down anybody because of ill-will. There are people who do this, not only Filipinos. Any person can develop this mentality. We attribute it to Filipinos because we analyze our actuations as a people and sad to say, there are many of us who scratch people who seem to have many while we barely have any or find fault at someone who has it all while you can barely be acknowledged by people you work with.

Let us then find the fault in each of us and use  this awareness to correct it. In the case of Pacquiao, he knows he is now a role model and we have few left the young people can identify with. He has been given by God all the blessings which most of us will not experience so he has to be careful and though difficult to do, live up to the mold.In our little ways, we are also called to become role models therefore live moral lives.

At the end of the day, we all fall short of our calling because all of us need  to be saved.