Bayanihan is a unique Filipino word whose closes English equivalent is “Team work”. But the word speaks of more than that. It is derived from the word bayan which means “nation, town or community.” The word bayanihan means a “spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular goal.”
It is said that the origin of the word found its meaning in the olden times. The tradition in Philippine towns is that members of the community help out families that move to a new place of residence. During these times, almost the whole community help out the new immigrants by literally carrying the house using bamboo poles and bringing the house to it’s new location.
Bayanihan is often depicted in a lot of paintings by National Filipino Artists. It speaks of the Filipino unity and portrays that a particular goal can be achieved if we work together as a united people.
In modern times, since houses are already made of concrete, it is impossible for us to see an actual Bayanihan taking place. They say that even if we don’t see bayanihan anymore through the carrying of houses, the spirit of bayanihan is still with us as a people.
However I disagree with the opinion of our leaders. We as a people have abandoned the spirit of Bayanihan. I am not saying this because houses are made of concrete that the practice of Bayanihan has been abandoned. I am saying this because it is the hearts of Filipinos today that are made of stone. Filipinos do not anymore possess the patriotism and the love for our country that became flame of passion that burned in the hearts of our ancestors and national heroes. Today, we see Filipinos involved in corruption anytime, anywhere and anyplace. There are those who may not be participating in corruption, however they have a very indifferent towards it whenever they see one taking place. Since we have not worked together as a people to help eliminate the cancer of corruption in society I can truly say that we have failed to lived up to what Baynihan truly means.