For good

I am obsessed with the second installment of the Wicked movie, where both witches Glinda and Elphaba find themselves in a moral dilemma while trying to fight for their friendship. Anyone who has seen the movie would be moved to tears, especially if you have cherished friendships as such. Growing up as an only child gave me more leeway to treat my friends as my siblings and eventually carried them with me in every part of my life. Seeing the Wizard of Oz characters also triggered my inner child, as I was fond of them also back then.

The reason Wicked hit differently this time is because, in the Philippines today, we are living in a moment where relationships such as friendships, communities, even institutions are being tested by the choices we make. Just like Glinda and Elphaba, we often find ourselves torn between what is easy and what is right. Nowhere is this more evident than in the current climate of public service and accountability.

This past month alone, we have seen events that force us to question the values that bind us as a nation. The controversies surrounding budget insertions, allegations of corruption, and the silence or evasiveness of some officials challenge our belief in the integrity of the systems meant to serve us. It is in moments like these that the people who choose to “do good” --whether whistleblowers, journalists, civil society workers, or ordinary citizens-- stand out.

The truth is, standing for what is right often means standing alone or worse, standing against people you once trusted. Yet, just like in Wicked, we are reminded that doing good is not always glamorous; sometimes it means making hard decisions that may cost us relationships or comfort. The Filipino spirit seemingly shines amid all this such as being struck by calamities and showing “bayanihan”, among others. We see youth groups organizing donation drives faster than local officials can convene a meeting. We see journalists demanding accountability when the easier path is to look away. There are even citizen movements that will help uncover the truth about our missing taxes.

Perhaps this is what “for good” truly means: not simply being good, but choosing goodness as a lifelong commitment. This is especially so when it is inconvenient and uncomfortable. In a country grappling with misinformation, governance issues, and natural disasters that worsen each year, our moral choices matter more than ever. Whether we are in public office, in the newsroom, in the classroom, or in our own households, we must place ourselves in the shoes that Glinda and Elphaba eventually faced. This answers the question what kind of person we want to be known as in the story.

Friendships, like democracies, survive only when nurtured by truth, courage, and compassion. If we choose to hold onto these (even when the world tells us otherwise) then perhaps, in our own little ways, we can change things. Maybe not magically but meaningfully. We must act to lobby for change in our country, for good.