The pledge

We reach a moment where we must commit to something or someone we deeply value. There are just some things we have to do because we don't want this person or this thing to disappear on us. And certainly, we make a lifelong commitment by devoting all of our time and energy to being with someone or to keeping a memory alive.

I feel extremely blessed and happy to have been invited to take part in the music video for the band Oh! Caraga for their song "Ipanumpa Ko” filmed in the rural village of Alcoy, Cebu, that shows the unpretentious beauty of the place as people go about their daily lives performing their responsibilities as parents, children, and members of a tranquil community.

Depending on whose experience the song might be related to, the song has a wide range of interpretations and viewpoints. It might be a friend's pledge to stick with you through good times and bad. A lover's commitment through good times and bad might be a beautiful thing to hold onto forever, the unwavering love of a parent who supports a son or daughter as they navigate the difficulties of life, or the unwavering love of our Creator, who is willing to pardon us whenever we sin. Even if we fall short, he is always willing to reach out his loving, caring hand.

A strong illustration of the desire of the heart to help and nurture others and do well is pledge-making. Declarations and pledges are promises to do or not to do something. These might be private, like our new year resolutions, or public, like making a commitment to take action on climate change.

It can also be an expression of human connection, friendship, love, and family. Words are less powerful than deeds. Promises are deeds that reaffirm our love for and ties to other people. Promises confirm that we wish to share our compassion with others, whether that connection is made through friends, family, or total strangers.

If we have made a commitment to someone, we would expect them to honor it. Wouldn't we be offended and lose faith in someone if they betrayed the promise they gave us? We want other people to trust us just as much as we may trust them, which is why keeping our promises is so crucial. If people don't trust us, they might stop telling us things they normally would. Promises hold a unique place in our hearts since as children, our parents instilled in us the value of keeping them because failing to do so could result in the loss of those who matter most to us --something we never wanted and still don't want.

Making a promise to someone and then breaking that promise shows that we don't value the person. We have made the decision to prioritize something else over our commitment. Others learn that they cannot rely on us even when we breach simple promises. In our relationships, which are characterized by broken promises, small cracks appear.

Any pledge, whether to a friend, lover, neighbor, or stranger who contributes to our identity, is ultimately a commitment to do good and value one another. We need a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, an encouraging word, and a promise to persevere in the face of insurmountable odds.