By Ariem Venezuela Cinco
December 23, 2024 – On my way to work this gloomy morning, as I gazed through the window of the e-jeepney that slowly waded through the rain, the misty chill blurred my view. Through the haze, a murky river came into sight under the bridge. It was festooned with beautiful lilies – it was a sight to behold, or so I thought, but I couldn’t help but sigh.
As a biology student, my lessons in ecology reminded me that this surface beauty often gesticulates an underlying tragedy. The river’s ornamentation was not a celebration of life but a forewarning of death beneath the surface. This phenomenon, known as eutrophication, occurs when excessive nutrients spur the growth of plants like waterlilies, suffocating aquatic ecosystems in the process.
Such a vista compels reflection. Growth, often romanticized as inherently good, can have devastating consequences. As in nature, so too in life. And life, indeed, is an oxymoron. Adaptation and survival are essential, but not every ecosystem is suited for us, nor does every environment need us. To insist on blooming in every space we occupy can result in the suffocation of others who previously thrived there. This raises a profound question: What good is personal growth if it comes at the expense of others’ survival?
In the workplace, for example, competition, however toxic, is often viewed as a catalyst for innovation and productivity. In one’s pursuit to get ahead in their career journey, rivalry happens and it undermines collaboration and trust. When employees become too engrossed vying for promotions they tend to either hoard information, undermine colleagues, or succumb to sycophancy leading to a hostile the ecosystem that stifles collective progress.
In biology, ecosystems flourish through balance. Each organism contributes uniquely, sustaining life for the collective. Yet, invasive species disrupt this equilibrium, much like unchecked individual ambition can destabilize a community. The waterlily’s spread in a river chokes the oxygen supply, depriving fish and other aquatic life of their ability to thrive. Similarly, human actions—whether in relationships, workplaces, or communities—must be measured not only by personal success but by their broader impact.
In the current political landscape of the Philippines, leaders often prioritize maintaining power for political survival over addressing the pressing and imperative needs of the people. That, instead of focusing on implementing sustainable programs to provide long-term solutions, leaders focus on providing topical, band aid solutions to critical issues as in the form of dole outs. Valuable time is spent on endless probes in the guise of legislative agenda. These investigations, while ostensibly aimed at accountability, often undermine government stability and divert attention from urgent and critical matters. For instance, the impeachment cases filed against Vice President Sara Duterte have dominated political discourse, overshadowing other pressing concerns such as zero budget in 2025 for Philhealth, a lifeline for millions of Filipinos, especially the indigent and the working class.
Additionally, while the country faces severe flooding and infrastructure challenges, the President’s flood control projects remain mired in debate. This unnecessary flex of political power, whether through incessant investigations or partisan skirmishes, ultimately comes at the expense of every ordinary Juan dela Cruz, who continue to suffer from scarce healthcare, unstable infrastructure, and some unaddressed socio-economic challenges. These power struggles, aimed to prove who is dominant enough to prevail, undoubtedly deepen societal divides and abates the trust of people in their leaders.
Indeed, when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. This ancient African proverb is as true today as if these words were first spoken. This idea is likewise eloquently opined by William Faulkner in The Sound and The Fury that “man will not only endure; he will prevail.” But prevailing must not mean domination at the expense of others. True survival lies in coexistence, in allowing ecosystems—whether natural or social—to thrive collectively.
Henry David Thoreau, an American naturalist and philosopher, captures this sentiment in Walden: “Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” Growth is meaningful only when it respects [not when it suffocates] the spaces it inhabits.
The idea of “blooming where we’re planted” suggests perseverance, but it fails to recognize that not every ground can nurture every seed. To insist on staying and growing in a space unsuited for us may destroy the alluring harmony sustaining others.
The waterlily in the river is a poignant metaphor: its beauty masks the destruction beneath, a reminder that what looks like progress can, in fact, be devastation.
“What good does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” asks the Bible. Similarly, what good is growth if it extinguishes the life and vitality around it?
Sometimes, the most courageous choice is not to adapt and endure but to step away, allowing others to thrive. In doing so, we honor the delicate balance that sustains all life, proving that true growth is measured not by individual success but by the harmony it fosters.
I wish neither to be the blooming waterlily in the river, nor its collateral damage underneath. So, I must take that courageous choice.
About the Author: Ariem V. Cinco is a life-long learner, pragmatic educator, and realist leader from Eastern Visayas.
