Angela Gabrielle Bacang

Apathy: Killing Society Silently By Angela Gabrielle Bacang What would you do if you saw someone in a “life and death” situation who desperately needed your help? Would you give a hand to save that person’s life? Or, would you just stop and stare, feel scared and walk away? If you are the type who is afraid to get involved because you are concerned for nothing else but yourself, then you’ve got a serious problem: APATHY, or the lack of interest in things that other people find moving, just like watching a dying person on the street. Instead of doing something to help, you opt to stay out of the way or won’t even bother to look back. That reminds me of a shooting incident that took place near SPi, in Barangay Bagacay in December of last year. Based on the report made by DYEM news reporter, Brandon Teves, two males were shot in a type of incident the Philippine National Police of Dumaguete calls “riding in tandem” (one shooter and a driver on a motorcycle). One witness, a registered nurse, narrated how she was refused assistance by two tricycle drivers after asking them for help to send the dying victims to the nearest hospital. The first driver simply ignored her while the other told her that he had no gasoline, etc. Seriously? Although the gunned down men were somehow brought to the hospital when someone was finally willing to help, one of the victims was proclaimed dead on arrival at Holy Child Hospital. What do you think would have a happened if those first two tricycle drivers did not refuse and had helped the victims right away? This display of apathy is a shame, especially since we live in a city that is supposedly famous for being the “city of gentle people.” I have personally witnessed this same show of cowardice and sickening apathy in a drowning incident that occurred at the coast off the Rizal Boulevard last November 2013. The onlookers, including myself, saw 8 or 10 police officers in the area. Those men, supposed servants of the people, never bothered to go down the shore in order to retrieve the unconscious woman who was already battered by huge rocks and waves. The policemen showed no concern or alarm and were even taking their time chatting with the others who all seemed hesitant to have their uniforms get soaked in water. Aren’t these men supposed to be our protectors in the face of danger? That woman out there was DROWNING to death! An auxiliary officer at last came down and bravely tried, for countless attempts, to carry the drowned victim’s body up to safety. What was more disappointing? While waiting for an ambulance, no first aid, no CPR, no nothing, was given to aid the victim. How long can we stay this way–being uncaring or practicing cowardice? What if the same situation happens to one of us? How would you feel if somebody refused to help us in our time of need? It’s sad to think that we are becoming more and more indifferent when we are supposed to be citizens of a collective society. It is our role to take part in societal issues and that includes helping those in need in our own little ways. Is that too much to ask?