AN OPEN LETTER TO THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS

October 14, 2010

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MEMBERS AND OFFICERS OF TALUGTOG INTERNATIONAL

To Our Dear Talugtog International Members and Officers:

Before we started calling again for advancement of our organization, Talugtog International, we considered the pros and cons, the positive and the negative reasons why we should reorganize. As we all know, our organization has been established a couple of years ago but didn’t go further as we hoped for. With the encouragement of the Talugtog International, Hawaii Chapter, the desire to reorganize the California Chapter was again reignited and the move was imperative.

Following is an excerpt from the letter from the Talugtog International, Hawaii Chapter, please read:

THE POSITIVE REASONS:

1.     Desire for Recognition – Some of our friends from Talugtog who are now in California did not have a chance to be recognized in (a) political scenes and (b) academic scenes. US of A provide more freedom and opportunity. Therefore, it is our duty to share that opportunity to Talugtog International members. The only thing we should be careful is the tendency of the human nature to overdo certain freedom. Nonetheless, one way to check this appetite of overdoing is to put people together in a friendly and non-threatening environment.

2.     Desire to Serve – The desire to serve is sometimes motivated by the recognition that awaits participants.

3.     Security Among Familiar Friends – Because California is so vast geographically and culturally, members of Talugtog International are inclined to trust people who they have known for a long time. Sometimes, our familiarities to each other may have negative impact because of our knowledge of each other’s weaknesses. However, the virtue of forgiveness and kindness can conceal those imperfections. Nevertheless, covering up each other’s imperfections is something that can be cultivated and exercised in our organization and also this is an opportunity for Christianity to demonstrate the grace of the Lord.

4.     Caring for Our Seniors – One way to make seniors happy is for them to see that the adults and the youths are united. This unity will give the seniors the sense of security that their families will be in good hands should they pass away ahead.

5.     Caring for Our Younger Generations – As Filipino parents, we desire that our children will be better than we are. Way back home we experienced many restrictions financially, socially, spiritually and academically. We want our children to be proud of their Filipino heritage. The seniors and the adults can help these children to be proud of their roots by sowing them clearly where they came from. We can also instill to them that it was the grace of God that brought them to their present condition.

THE NEGATIVE REASONS:

1.     Failures of Past Leaders and Organizations – The past should be our stepping stones and our tutor so that we do not follow the mistakes of the past.

2.     Differences in Status Quos and Religions – Status quos, religions and other diversified differences should not be brought out and discussed during meetings. The common goal should be focused on meetings.

3.     Organizing Costs Time, Resources and Energy – There is a sacrifice to be made but there is also a reward to be expected. Travel time to meetings is very precious and costly.

4.     People are Skeptical and Do Not Want to Cooperate – People are naturally logical and they want clarity, simplicity and practicality. It is the duty of leaders to guide the group as simple as possible but also the duty of members to express what they can contribute, recommend and suggest for the good of the organization.

As an organization, we should not direct our attention to the negative reasons why we should go forward in making our organization successful. Instead, we should try our best to analyze the positive reasons, embrace and extend our kindness to each other in a way that we can share our blessings to our people we left behind in our own barangay who are less fortunate. This organization has been formed to bring us together, track our roots, and meet our relatives, friends, classmates, teachers and neighbors. In addition, we will spend the time to share and recollect our past experiences when we were still in Talugtog and a chance for us to maintain our culture and introduce and instill the virtue of compassion to the next generation.

On the preceding note, this letter of encouragement would be an instrument, as we read and analyze it day by day whenever we find time, and perhaps will make all of us think that, not only we can make a difference to the lives of the next younger generation but also we can make our older generation, whose hard work and never ending difficulties as they were bringing us up, becomes more meaningful and rewarding.

Good luck to all and may God be with us always!